Charles Barkley has been arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving.
Gilbert police Lt. Eric Shuhandler says an officer with a task force that targets drunken drivers saw the former NBA star run a stop sign around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning in Scottsdale.
Shuhandler says Barkley declined to submit to a breath test but was given a blood test. The results have not come in.
After Barkley was processed, he was cited and released. Shuhandler says Barkley left the scene in a cab.
Barkley played 16 NBA seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, and played on the USA Olympic "Dream Team" in 1992 and 1996. He was an 11-time NBA All-Star and league MVP in 1993.
You can always count on Charles. Of course, he's sorry.
Charles Barkley: a new apology before a new year.
4:20 PM, December 31, 2008
Charles Barkley Charles Barkley, the outspoken and popular member of TNT's "Inside the NBA" studio show, was arrested early this morning in Scottsdale, Ariz., on a drunk driving charge.
Barkley immediately apologized for his actions in a statement.
What is charming about Charles Barkley is that he apologizes. Early and often.
What is confounding is that he has to apologize so early and often, as he did regarding his gambling debt.
Sometimes he is asked to apologize and doesn't, as when he threw a guy through a window. And sometimes other athletes, such as Scottie Pippen, refuse to apologize for what they said about Charles.
Driving drunk, however, is something that TNT officials should worry about more than the gambling or Barkley's outspoken honesty that brings the show high ratings and attention. Sometimes an apology shouldn't be enough.
