Charles Barkley, NBA Icon, has been public about his support of same-sex marriage for years. Back in 2006, the A.P. quoted him as having switched from Republican to Democrats when the GOP "lost their minds." He stated his support of gay marriage. He was also upset with people using their religion to oppress others: “Religious people in general are so discriminatory against other people, and that really disturbs me," he said. "My idea of religion is we all love and respect. We all sin, but we still have common decency and respect for other people. So right now I'm struggling with my idea of what religion is."

And I love this exchange from 2008 on the CNN Situation Room between Wolf Blitzer and Sir Charles:

BLITZER: All right. One quick point before I let you go. You used the phrase "fake Christians" for conservatives. Explain what you're talking about.

BARKLEY: Well, I think they -- they want to be judge and jury. Like, I'm for gay marriage. It's none of my business if gay people want to get married. I'm pro-choice. And I think these Christians -- first of all, they're supposed to be -- they're not supposed to judge other people. But they're the most hypocritical judge of people we have in this country. And it bugs the hell out of me. They act like their Christians. And they're not forgiving at all.

BLITZER: So you're going to get a lot of feedback on this one, Charles.

BARKLEY: They can't do anything to me. I don't work for them.

BLITZER: You feel comfortable saying all that?

BARKLEY: I feel very comfortable saying I'm pro-choice, and I'm for gay marriage. Very comfortable.

BLITZER: But you can't lump all these conservatives as being fake. A lot of them obviously -- most of them are very, very sincere in their religious beliefs.

BARKLEY: Well, they should read the part about they're not supposed to judge other people. They forget that one when it doesn't fit what they want it to say.

Just so—in a pre-game comment on Martin Luther King Day this week, Charles had the following to say about the famed civil rights leader: “You know, people try to make it about black and white. He talked about equality for every man, every woman. We have a thing going on now—people discriminating against homosexuality in this country. I love the homosexuality people. They are great people.”

Thank you, great Charles Barkley…and having not posted a shirtless photo of an athlete for over 36 hours---here’s how Mr. Barkley looked “back in the day,” before there was more of him to love: