Things are not going well for the Miami Heat. At the same time that Pat Riley and his three hour practices returned, Dwyane Wade injured his shoulder, which could end the Heat's chances for a repeat trip to the Finals. Yep, bad news all around, so I guess it's predictable that Shaq would be a little cranky and feel the need to start shooting his mouth off.The Heat trailed by as many as 30 in Dallas the other night before losing by 12, and after the game Shaq was asked about Dirk and the MVP award, and in the discussion he commented on Nash's two trophies. From the Arizona Republic:
After Miami's loss in Dallas on Thursday, O'Neal was engaged in an MVP discussion as it related to the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki. O'Neal questioned how the media picks MVPs and said the award has been "tainted" the past two seasons. O'Neal was the runner-up for Nash's first MVP in 2005.Now we don't have the entire transcript, so it's possible that this wasn't a full blown slam on Steve Nash. But given Shaq's track record of mouthing off to the media, I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt here. Steve Nash, who for the most part always says the right thing, only had this response:
O'Neal repeated "tainted" references to reporters.
"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry he feels that way."





















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 55)
2-24-2007 @ 1:20PM
Pete said...
Well, Shaq's last championship is tainted even more, so he should just shut up. Why are Heat players so sensitive? I maybe wouldn't have given Nash his first MVP at the time, but in retrospect it's alright with me, he has worked even harder since then, and he got even better. Shaq hasn't improved since around 1995.
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2-24-2007 @ 1:39PM
Narong Subsin said...
Wow, Shaq is the next Charles Barkley. What a cry baby.
He lost the MVP because of his attitude. Nash deserves
every one of those MVP and I hope he gets this one too.
He a hard working, unselfish, classy guy. He is fun to watch and good example for the the kids. I wish there is more player like Nash in the Suns in the NBA.
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2-24-2007 @ 2:12PM
billyclub said...
Stop crying Shaq any oaf thats 7 feet tall can play basketball..try dominating and being as tall as Nash...
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2-24-2007 @ 2:22PM
kristen blan said...
Shaq hasn't had an mvp season in years-and being an MVP is about attitude and how you display yourself on and off the court. Shaq is old and heavy and needs to retire. Steve has the numbers to do it again this year, the only person even close is Dirk. How can shaq criticize such a great player, and guy-he doesn't even do endorsements unless it all goes to charity-he is now and will always be MVP!
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2-24-2007 @ 2:31PM
fastbird78 said...
Shaq is just sorry his Heat team is going nowhere this year. He has his rings, now he needs to go away like all the other Kobes in the world!
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2-24-2007 @ 2:31PM
Rack73 said...
I glad someone in the NBA had the nuts to say something about the MVP BS that has gone on over the past two seasons. Shaq is right as rain. The media has been used by the commissioner to improve the image of the league and its' player's with the sponsors, season ticket holders, and the networks. Enter Steve Nash who is a very good player, but by no means the MVP of the NBA. If they would have just waited they could have had Derk, whom I think really deserves the honor.
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2-24-2007 @ 2:31PM
jasonmk said...
Poor Shaq, his career is nearing its end, and his team is going nowhere fast. D-Wade is the reason they won it all last year. I guess he has to find a way to keep his name in the media. Talk about ignorant! I live in PHX and see games when Nash doesn't play, and the Suns are a different team. Without him they are a .500 team. Dirk should win it this year, but Nash's previous two are testaments to how athletes should be. He is a great player and an even better person. Maybe he could give Shaq some humility lessons.
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2-24-2007 @ 2:45PM
bigdog1 said...
50 greatest,4 rings, and a hall of fame career allows shaq to say whatever he wants.the mvp used to go all the way to the finals (like shaq did)and not exit the playoffs in the second round (ala steve nash,tim duncan).
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2-24-2007 @ 2:53PM
bigdog1 said...
the league could give nash 10 mvps but phoenix will never win a championship.y'all had a better chance with the cry baby charles barkley.
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2-24-2007 @ 2:54PM
ina martin said...
actually shaq never said steve nash's mvp were tainted. he never once gave us a particular persons name. the media is always blowing interviews out of context. they edit the interview before it even airs on tv. stop hatin'!!!!!
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2-24-2007 @ 3:07PM
Mark Kelly said...
The NBA is all about raising the profile of white players for marketing reasons. This happened in horse racing at the end of the 19th century after black jockies totally dominated the sport. Eventually they were driven from the sport. The NBA is developing and "harvesting" white players from all over the world. Nash would never be MVP if he were black, even if he "said all thr right things." Look at Nash v. Wade last year in the playoffs. No contest. In a total draft of all NBA players Nash would never be picked first.
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2-24-2007 @ 3:17PM
Remixing said...
Stop regurgitating the crap you hear from others. He outplays everyone taller than him? He's a 6'2, that's the freaking average height for a point guard. Iverson should be getting all the MVPs since he's only 6'0 then, right? I had no prob with his first MVP, but it was obvious the fat nonathletic members of the media were trying to live vicariously through Nash the second time around. If someone gives you the MVP when you average 5 PPG does that mean you deserve it if you increase your PPG the next year? What a dumb argument. I'm even Canadian but I can tell when people are full of crap with regards to Nash.
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2-24-2007 @ 3:25PM
Art said...
If Nash were black then Shaq would not be so vocal. Racism is Shaq's problem cause he cannot blame himself for being less then what he was because his ego will not let him.
Steve Nash gets it done and makes his teamates better. That's what MVP do. They do not complain, they are team players. That what basketball and sport is about. Not like the ghetto busters want to believe. Me! Me! Me! When you are stupid and you open your mouth and stupid things flow, you let it be known who is the class act and who is not! Well said Shaq.
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2-24-2007 @ 3:34PM
Al D. said...
It doesn't matter if Shaq said that the MVP's that Steve Nash won were tainted, I believe that alot of people believe that. I don't think Steve Nash was the best player in the league the past two years and his first MVP should have went to Shaq. Steve Nash did make the Suns better but Shaq also helped the Heat and made them a better team. Steve Nash deserves one MVP but not both.
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2-24-2007 @ 4:16PM
Steve said...
If shaq played as good as he runs his mouth then maybe we would win. Oh but wait they dont give MVP to part time players...he just needs to shut up
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2-24-2007 @ 4:16PM
John Rutledge said...
Its hard to imagine anyone more deserving of the MVP the past two years than Nash given Phoenix's record with and without him. I had the opportunity to watch him the other night against the Clippers and the Phoenix offense is remarkably efficient when he's on the floor. He makes everyone on his team better by keeping them in the game at all times.
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2-24-2007 @ 4:17PM
DDS said...
Comment number 1, I couldn’t have said it better myself…no way does the heat deserve to be called the defending champions. If shaq wants to bash a voting process so much, why doesn’t he start with his vote into the all star game!
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2-24-2007 @ 4:28PM
nashfan said...
It's sad that Shaq is so bitter. He needs to retire, he doesn't play that much anyway. There is not a more team player in the NBA than Steve Nash!! He deserves MVP again.
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2-24-2007 @ 4:30PM
Aaron Byers said...
Look, not to down Nash, but I strongly agree the first MVP should have went to Kobe because he had taken a team that shouldn't have been seen in the postseason and gave the Suns one heck of a fight. Overall, Nash has help the Suns to be even better with or without him on court. Shaq, don't hate because you couldn't carry the Heat in a boat if you wanted to.
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2-24-2007 @ 4:30PM
Sam said...
There is no way Steve Nash is a great player. I agree he has been very good for the last few seasons, but don't just go around pronouncing the guy as great.
If he is so great and is so "VALUABLE" to his team why can't he, at least, lead them to the final? He has many other very good players. I guarantee that he will not get to the NBA final unless he, at some point when he gets to the twilight of his career, goes to a contending team like others have done - Malone, and Peyton.
As for Shaq, the guy calls the shots as he sees them, and for the most part, he is right. Ride on Shaq. At least, you have won four championship titles.
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