Charles Barkley may have a bad hip – but he sure as hell wasn’t going to let that stop him from leaving Phoenix to visit dear friend and fellow TNT co-worker Craig Sager, over 1,000 miles away in Houston.
Barkley recently underwent hip-replacement surgery, his doctor giving him one clear restriction: no traveling.
Of course, Sir Charles has never been one to follow the rules; after all, he’s said himself he’s not a role model.
Barkley immediately flew to Houston to spend time with Sager as he went through final prep work for his Wednesday bone marrow transplant, his third.
Barkley’s visit was a reactionary move; according to the Associated Press, Stacy Sager, Craig Sager’s wife, contracted a bad enough cold to be told by doctors to keep her distance from her husband, as to not put his health at risk.
Upon hearing the news that Sager wouldn’t have his strongest supporter by his side is when Barkley decided to travel to Houston, against his own doctor’s orders, to be at Sager’s bed-side.
(via @AP & @FOXSports) pic.twitter.com/FD3b9k2fVC
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 1, 2016
Following the same AP article, Barkley’s doctor was absolutely furious upon learning his patient had defied his orders.
Barkley informed the doctor that it was an emergency.
“We go to see Sager to cheer him up and by the time you leave you’re like, ‘Is anything wrong with him?’, [Barkley said]. He has the most positive attitude … When you go to try and cheer him up his attitude is so upbeat he cheers you up.”
Barkley’s action didn’t go un-appreciated, evidenced when Craig Sager II, Sager’s son, tweeted this:
Have to thank Barkley for keeping my Dad company today in Houston as he finished his final prep work & for being there every step. 💯
— Craig Sager II (@CraigSagerJr) August 31, 2016
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Photo Credit: Twitter, Craig Sager Jr.
