The last NBA player to deliver the “Kiss of Death,” was Mario Elie of the Houston Rockets. In 1995, Elie nailed the critical 3-pointer to complete the Rockets comeback, and eventual elimination of the Phoenix Suns.
That was the last true “Kiss of Death” that was kissed in the NBA. Until this morning.
Appearing on ESPN’s “Mike & Mike,” NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said that if he “had to vote today,” he would vote for Republican candidate and Ohio Governor, John Kasich.
Here’s how Barkley described his thought process:
Ninety-nine percent of the time I vote Democrat, but there’s not a Democrat in the race that I like. … I would like to see Elizabeth Warren or the mayor of San Antonio — those are the only two Democrats that I would vote for … Right now I like John Kasich, the governor of Ohio … He’s the only person that I’m really paying attention to right now, to be honest with you … Like I say, I prefer to vote Democratic, but I have really been considering looking at a Republican, and right now I’ve been studying John Kasich … I haven’t made a final decision. I want to vote Democratic, because I think they … are more open-minded, but right now, If I had to vote today, I would probably vote for John Kasich — but I haven’t made a decision.
Earlier in the year, Barkley had also expressed a liking for two other GOP candidates, in an interview with Sports Illustrated:
"I like Chris Christie. I like Jeb Bush. I like those guys."
But Kasich has for now locked up the Round Mound of Rebound vote. I have to imagine the Kasich camp – despite what they may say publicly – was none too pleased to hear the news, that while running in a GOP primary. A well-known liberal celebrity who votes Democrat 99% of the time, sees their candidate as the next best alternative to Fauxcahontas and a mayor who is ideologically, somewhere to the left of the Castros. The other ones I mean.
Whether Barkley will play Mario Elie to Kasich’s Phoenix Suns remains to be seen. However, in a Republican primary season dominated by antiestablishment, anti-liberal anger, there are better endorsements Kasich could have gotten.
