2 days ago
"I hope he stops when I'm done eating my meal, because I'm eating my meal" - Charles Barkley had issues with Monaco royalty's dining protocols
"I hope he stops when I'm done eating my meal, because I'm eating my meal" - Charles Barkley had issues with Monaco royalty's dining protocols originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The Dream Team that competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics was, without a shadow of a doubt, sports royalty. A group stacked with bona fide basketball legends such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, they were cheered and adored wherever they went.
Despite their reputation as the kings of the court, their legendary titles seemed insignificant compared to those held by the princes who reigned over Monaco. And so, as the team prepared to have dinner with Prince Rainier and Prince Albert during their stay in the popular principality renowned as the playground of the ultra-rich and famous, the players were briefed on how to behave in the presence of royalty.
This also included how and when to eat — something that Charles Barkley had an issue with.
High-brow behavior
Dealing with members of a royal family requires a certain level of etiquette and decorum, especially when it comes to dining. According to Kim Bohuny, the NBA's manager of international events, she briefed the players and coaches on the customs and expectations of dining with royalty.
"We had dinner with Prince Rainier and Prince Albert. There's very strict protocol," Bohuny shared. "You know, you can't eat until Prince Rainier eats — things like that. We were reviewing it with the team beforehand, and I think it shocked some of our guys."
While many understood what was expected of them, some, like Barkley and Karl Malone, were shocked. Craig Miller, Team USA Basketball's director of public relations, still remembers how the legendary forward reacted to the information he received.
"They said if the prince puts his fork down and stops eating, you all better stop eating," Craig narrated. "And Charles said, 'Well, I hope he stops when I'm done eating my meal, because I'm eating my meal.'"Malone was equally shocked
Bohuny was sharing all these in perfect English. However, she might as well have been speaking in a foreign language with how little things made sense, especially to those who grew up just sitting at the table and immediately chowing down after saying grace.
One such player was Malone, who grew up in Summerfield, Louisiana — a community in northeast Claiborne Parish.
"I'm from the country. Our etiquette is pretty much, 'Pass me the beans,' and we pass it down," he said.
Malone didn't mean any disrespect to the established customs of fine dining, but it was simply how he was raised. Spoons, forks, plates — that's all there was to it. No fluff, no fancy words or complicated courses. Just good food and good company.
"It took me a while to understand the rules. This glass was on this side, and this fork was for this…" he continued. "You know what? Let me eat. You're talking about a fish out of water — that's how I felt. I had a nice suit on, I guess."
Considering the fact that there weren't any international incidents reported during the Dream Team's brief stay in Monaco, it's safe to say everyone managed to navigate the table settings just story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
