Stanley Cup Final: Charles Barkley’s Playoffs Interest Good For League

The NHL has always been looking for a non-hockey face to promote its sport and has been given a gift during this Stanley Cup Final — and the playoffs in general — in Charles Barkley

That is right, folks. Former NBAer Charles Barkley, the Round Mound of Rebound, loves the Stanley Cup Final and the Stanley Cup Playoffs in general.

Barkley goes out of his way on NBA-related broadcasts to promote hockey. This is huge because this time of year, especially in the earlier rounds of their respective playoffs, the NHL and NBA were competing for viewers. While the NBA might be more the popular sport in the USA, Barkley could be helping bring in other viewers to hockey.

I personally love Barkley, who used to be a regular guest on a local sports show. His interviews were must-listen radio. I tune into TNT just to see how verbally fight with Shaquille O’Neal on live TV.  I think I love him more now because of his love for hockey and the NHL.

Barkley’s hockey fandom isn’t just recent

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Sir Charles has been a hockey fan since his days with the Philadelphia 76ers following the 1990s Eric Lindros-led Flyers teams. He stated his favorite player was goaltender Ron Hextall because of how much he cared. He also became friends with Blackhawks greats Chris Chelios and Jeremy Roenick.

In edition to having been a fan since the 1990s, he is up to date on players he wants to meet. He has even met Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin before.

Barkley also went out of his way to put down the NBA playoffs and raise up the Stanley Cup Playoffs recently:

"“Thank God for the NHL playoffs,” Barkley said on the NBA’s TNT postgame show. “That’s what I’ll be watching in the back instead of these blowouts.”"

The thing about the comment is Barkley is right. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are way more exciting than NBA playoffs.

The NHL has more parity than then NBA. Nobody expected the Blackhawks to lose in the first round of the playoffs to the eighth-seeded Nashville Predators this season. The Predators have played well enough to make the Stanley Cup Final and have it tied at 2 against the Penguins.

Sir Charles takes in a Final game

I had the pleasure of attending a Stanley Cup Final game in 2010. It was the greatest sports experience of my life. That is saying a lot for me, as I grew up during the Bulls’ dynasty era of the 90s. I was able to attend many regular-season games during that era.

During Monday’s Game 4 in Tennessee, Barkley compared the atmosphere of Nashville to those at the old Chicago Stadium while the Michael Jordan Bulls teams played.

Sir Charles has even gotten some practice playing hockey. He got lessons when he was “Hockey Night in Canada” earlier this year.

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With everything said and done, Barkley is not terrible for the game of hockey. He is great for the game of hockey, and hopefully he continues to be involved in some way after this year’s postseason.