What’s the fun in a boxing watch party without a tub of fried chicken to bite into as the action heats up? Charles Barkley knows that all too well. And of course, he can’t see his friends go hungry either. Well, it was crisis time in this boxing bout watch party Chuck was attending, a good 30 years back. The group ran out of chicken. And Barkley used his pull to ensure a local KFC in Philadelphia remained open so that no one was left hungry.
Advertisement
Barkley had joined friends on the night of September 12, 1992, to catch the big bout between Julio Cesar Chavez and Hector Camacho. He was just back from winning a gold medal for Team USA at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. It was still a month from the 1992-93 season. And though Barkley was traded to Phoenix Suns in the summer, he had not left town.
Needless to say, his presence in his friend Anthony Martin’s neighborhood turned the watch party into a major spectacle. Due to the crowd, there was a shortage of chicken at the nearest KFC. Although the closest other location was closed, Barkley convinced the workers to remain open and accommodate their orders. The series of events are chronicled in the biography, Barkley, by Timothy Bella.
“The KFC employee had already shut down the grill at the store a half mile away when Martin’s friend stormed inside with a desperate plea: Charles Barkley is over at the house and we need a bunch of fried chicken.”
Barkley’s friend, Martin, was panicking, trying to ensure there was enough food for everyone. His initial attempts to convince the KFC workers to make more chicken fell flat. However, once he was able to get Barkley on the phone, the NBA star’s power was on full display.
“Facing a skeptical employee who thought there was no way Barkley could be in Southwest Philly, Martin’s friend got Charles on the phone and passed the call to the manager. Charles spoke to the man for five minutes and convinced him to turn the grill back on: ‘This is really me’,” wrote Bella.
Barkley attended the boxing watch party not just to experience the fight. It was a display of friendship and Barkley’s way of returning a favor to Martin.
Martin’s influence in Barkley’s business career
Barkley was leaving for Phoenix, and attending Martin’s watch party was to thank his friend who had played a crucial part in the NBA legend’s career outside the court.
“Martin had made gold-tipped shoelaces worn by Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham that were of interest to Charles,” Bella wrote. “Once the shoelaces gained popularity, Martin partnered with him on a kids’ basketball hoop branded with Charles’ name.”
Martin’s involvement in Barkley’s business ventures helped solidify the NBA star’s presence and status in the business world.
Before Barkley had met Martin, he didn’t know how to capitalize on using his name as a brand. Barkley remained extremely grateful for Martin’s influence in his career. The watch party, and the chicken intervention, were the least he could do to thank his friend.
