This is an opinion column.

It’s not a joke anymore. Charles Barkley for Alabama Governor is a thing.

Sorta.

A nonprofit has formed, celebrities are donning “Alabama needs a rebound” T-shirts, petitions to put Sir Charles on next year’s ballot as an Independent candidate are being passed out and signed.

Whether Barkley is on board or not.

Adele Culp, one of the organizers of Allabama.org – emphasis on the ALL – tracked the former Auburn superstar down last week outside the Ballin’ in Boutwell basketball event in Birmingham. The group had already reached out to him, trying to convince him Alabama needs somebody who really cares about Alabamians.

“We told him what we were doing,” Culp said. “He was hesitant at first.”

But she and others waited in an alley outside the basketball are

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