When he initially won it from Bockwinkel, the AWA was on ESPN every week and was still selling out arenas in their territory.
I think it is because Barkley was just such a stud on that Suns team. He never got them past the Jordan and the Bulls, but he carried them on his back right up to the brink. I remember that Bulls/Suns series. Barkley was a manchild.. Ewing never put a team on his back like that. Malone didn't either.
Barry Bonds. Good call. Not only did he not get one, but he choked badly in an NLCS or two. And he is arguably the best baseball player ever (and it's a reasonable argument).