Charles Barkley may be the greatest radio guest on the planet. Every time he joins a show, the interview is full of gold.
Take for instance Barkley’s visit on the “Dan LeBatard Show” on 790 The Ticket in Miami on Thursday.
Barkley spent most of the interview discussing finances in light of ESPN 30 for 30’s “Broke” documentary, but he also touched on Shaq’s beef with Dwight Howard. Barkley says Shaq told him he’s trying to motivate Dwight Howard with all his criticism of the Lakers center, but Barkley believes there is something personal going on there.
“I love Shaq, but I had to pull him aside. First of all, that’s just silly to say. I’m starting to wonder if he just doesn’t like Dwight Howard,” Barkley told LeBatard. “Shaq is one of my best friends, but there’s something going on there. I don’t like it to be honest with you.
“I like Dwight Howard. I think he’s a terrific player and a really good kid. But it seems like Shaq is starting to get a little too personal. I like Brook Lopez, but I’ve never been drunk enough to say he’s better than Dwight Howard.
“I think his criticism has been a little bit unfair to Dwight.”
Barkley spent the majority of the interview discussing finances. He brought up a term I heard for the first time, and it’s something he calls “black guilt.”
“You gotta tell your family — I mean your momma, your daddy, all your cousins when they come out of the woodwork — I’m not going to give you money anymore. I probably gave away three or four million dollars to my friends,” Barkley reflected.
“I call it black guilt.
“[My friends are] like, ‘Dude, we made it.’
“I’m like, ‘We made it? I made it. We never lifted weights together. I made it. I’m the one lifting all these damn weights and running up here guarding Karl Malone and Michael Jordan. You’re not doing anything actually. I’ve never seen you in the weight room in the morning.'”
When asked how he deals with his wife questioning him about giving money to family and friends, Barkley delivered another classic line.
“Until somebody get a rebound, I don’t think they’re going to tell Chuck what to do.”
The entire interview is well worth a listen. Go here and fast forward to the 22 minute mark.
