And now from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN, the Axviles with your

host, David Axelrod.

There's only one Charles Barkley, one of the great basketball players of all time, one

of the most luminescent personalities of our time.

I caught up with Charles in New York a few days ago for my CNN TV show, and we talked

about his cut on the state of basketball and the state of the world.

Charles, good to see you.

Thank you, thanks for having me.

Lots to talk about, but I want to start by going backward and talking about Leeds, Alabama,

where you grew up.

I read somewhere about your first day at the Leeds Elementary School, and that there were

some folks who weren't that happy that you were there because you were one of the first

black students to integrate this school.

Yeah, it was surreal because there was an older guy named Mr. Allen.

I'll never forget Mr. Allen.

He drove me and two other kids because there was an all black school in my neighborhood.

And this is first when we started segregating, right doing segregation integration.

And we got driven.

There was no bus service.

That's how early this was.

So Mr. Allen drove me and two other kids to the school.

And obviously with kids, we don't understand all that stuff is going on.

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