Charles Barkley: Dwight Howard should tell Kobe Bryant to 'shut up'

CHARLES BARKLEY has an opinion on just about everything. And, apparently, a short memory.

On Monday, Barkley appeared on the "Dan Patrick Show" and said that Lakers center Dwight Howard should tell off meddlesome teammate Kobe Bryant.

Bryant has said on several occasions that Howard should stop complaining about playing with a shoulder injury.

"He should have already told Kobe Bryant to shut the hell up by now, or [tell him he's going to] kick his ass" Barkley said. "He should have done that by now because, as a man, there's only so many times you can call me out publicly. If you keep calling me out publicly, I've got to come back at you at some point. I think [Kobe] has crossed the line somewhat lately . . .

"At some point Dwight has to say, 'Hey man, you need to shut the hell up and get off my back. It ain't up to you. You ain't my coach.' "

Barkley must have forgotten all the times he blasted teammates throughout the years.

It's always funny until someone gets hurt. Just ask Francisco Liriano. The Pirates lefthander finally explained how he broke his right arm in the offseason.

It had been reported by El Caribe, a Dominican newspaper that Liriano said he had slipped and fell in the bathroom.

Liriano has said he has no idea where the paper got that story. However, some might argue, it's less embarrassing than the truth.

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Liriano said he broke his arm slapping a door to scare his kids who were in another room at his home in the Dominican. That was on Christmas Day, 1 day before he was to fly to Pittsburgh to sign a new 2-year deal.

Liriano reported to spring training Monday, but probably won't see game action until early May.

"It's coming along pretty good," he told the Associated Press. "I'm going to take it 1 day at a time and see how it feels over the next couple of weeks."