At six-feet-four-and-3/4-inches tall and 254 pounds, Charles Barkley of the Houston Rockets is built more like a football lineman than a professional basketball player. His body earned him the nickname, "The Round Mound of Rebound," and his physical style has made many of his opponents wish he did play football. In his career, "Sir Charles" has established himself as one of the best rebounders in the National Basketball Association (NBA), often having to fight against players who are six to eight inches taller than himself. In both 1992 and 1996 Barkley was named to the U.S. Olympic "Dream Team" and following the 1992-93 season he was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP). Outspoken and controversial, Barkley has overcome many difficulties to establish himself as one of the top 50 all-time players in professional basketball.

Charles Wade Barkley was born February 20, 1963, in Leeds, Alabama, which is ten miles from the...