Sir Charles for Governor?

In 2014, some star-power could come to the race for Alabama's highest office.

Basketball Hall of Famer and Leeds native Charles Barkley told NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno Wednesday that he plans to run for governor of Alabama that year.

"They need my help," he said, with all seriousness. "It's still like 1977 in Alabama."

Barkley said the late 1970s was around the time that he was a public school student in Leeds, and not much has changed in his opinion.

Leno asked him why he's waiting until 2014 to run, and he said he needed to meet the residency requirement for the job. Alabama's Constitution requires that you live in the state for at least four years before running.

Barkley, who lives in Arizona now, said he recently purchased his mother's house so that he could meet that requirement.

He also might be trying to get his political resume together with a possible run for mayor of Leeds. Friends and family have apparently asked him to run and he's considering it.

Barkley told Leno that if he decides to run for governor he will make his announcement on The Tonight Show.

I wonder where he stands on constitutional reform?

Check out this link about the would-be politician: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/02/15/charles-barkley-promises-to-run-for-alabama-governor-in-2014/

P.S. The post mentions that Barkley has recently lost a signifcant wad of money gambling. I wonder how he'd resolve the bingo dispute that's currently shutting down the State Senate if he were governor?