I believe this qualifies as our second manufactured, somewhat embarrassing media-vs-player fight in recent times, following the Terrell Owens-Keyshawn Johnson spat. (Funny, same network involved. Hmmmm...) Luckily, Shaquille O'Neal rescues this tete a tete with ESPN commentator Bill Walton by quoting a little-known regulation from the Big Man Code.
In Shaq's defense, you can't really call him a liar for saying he's going to bring a title to Phoenix. You could call him wrong or ridiculous or unbelievably naive about his own skills, but you can't really call him a liar. It's a good point -- he can't play in Miami but he can win a title in Phoenix? But Walton protests too much... for someone who allegedly forced his way out of Portland by exaggerating his injuries.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 21)
2-12-2008 @ 5:09PM
Suns Fan said...
Bill Walton, Who is Bill Walton? Never heard of him. As a Suns fan I hope you all just keep slinging the jabs at Shaq. I beleive him when he says he is going to make all these idiots eat their words. Shaq was burnt out on the Miami scene. He is happy to be in Phx where they now have all the peices in place to make a run. Deal with it Suns haters the Suns will be a bigger handfull than ever. Welcome to Phx Shaq.
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2-12-2008 @ 5:46PM
Alan said...
Shaq doesn't address Waltons point though, he just says he is not good enough to express his opinion.
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2-12-2008 @ 5:56PM
Thomas said...
Who is Bill Walton??? Are you 5 years old? Or have you really never heard of the guy who was twice the player Shaq could ever hope to be.
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2-12-2008 @ 5:56PM
Ed said...
Phoenix would have a better chance of winning a title if Charles Barkley came back and played. Shaq is just another Phoenix Suns Management FUBAR!
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2-12-2008 @ 6:01PM
Angela said...
I like Shaq, he make the game fun. "Bill What his Name cannot play" so he should not be mentioning The Big Man name I will be watching the Sun for now on.
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2-12-2008 @ 6:00PM
gaye clark said...
Take it from someone who has lived in the same Orlando town and has known Shaq for for many years. He is a man of his word, a hero of sorts and a "good" man at the very least. Trust him all the way!
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2-12-2008 @ 6:00PM
jay said...
YOU NEVER HEARD OF BILL WALTON? THEN, YOU SHOULDN'T BOTHER TO WATCH BASKETBALL. HE IS TRULY ONE OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS TO STEP ON TO THE COURT. SHALL WE SAY HALL OF FAMER?
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2-12-2008 @ 5:59PM
popnpep said...
I am a Phoenix Suns fan and I think Shaquille O'Neal will screw everything up. The Suns are a very fast team and this dude is slow and overweight. The Suns did not need Shaquille, the Suns needed Shawn Marion and we have lost him to get this overrated player.
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2-15-2008 @ 2:46PM
Fred said...
Walton one of the greats who went 100% BOTH ends of the court.......listen up Shaq
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2-12-2008 @ 6:18PM
at times fan said...
Shaq is ours now and if he says he can help win a title here I believe he can do it as long as he remembers he can't do it by himself. He is just 1 very BIGGGGG member of he team......but I still miss Shawn M.
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2-12-2008 @ 6:06PM
dave m said...
Mongo say you not big. Mongo say that if you not big, you not smart and you not express opinion no matter how valid. Mongo say, valid is big word. No wonder the world hates us when somehow losers like Shaq get paid. You are so worthless Shaq on so many levels. You are a hollow human being. You couldn't pay me enough money to hang out with you, or to even respect you. I have atched your carreer and it is a joke. You are a true embarrassment to the honorable game of basketball. Go F yourself and yo mama.
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2-12-2008 @ 6:07PM
marvin said...
SHAQ IS OVER RATED, OVER WEIGHT AND OVER DONE. JUST PUT A FORK IN HIM...........
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2-12-2008 @ 6:07PM
Jacklyn Lopez said...
Shaq was at his best with the LAKERS; now;
I don't think he could help win a championship
with the SUNS; .........I still like Shaq alot;
but; as a LAKER FAN......I can't be on his side.
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2-12-2008 @ 6:09PM
Jai said...
Shiznit on Bill Walton...being a Hall-of-Famer doesn't make you a god. If that were the case, my UNCLE would be a god but, sadly, he's just a (family) man. LoL
...and btw, my uncle IS a Hall-of-Famer, and former player for L.A.
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2-12-2008 @ 6:13PM
Darryl Sedgwick said...
Bill Walton was a great college player but in the NBA you cansay he had one grat year the year the Trailblazers won the NBA championship he did have Maurice Lucas knocking every out Walton should tone it down and give Shack a chance at it he does have 4 rings
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2-12-2008 @ 6:13PM
tkline said...
Walton isn't even a has-been. He's a never-was
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2-12-2008 @ 6:19PM
Monymoo said...
Shaq is a true hero for all kids of today. Not only is he a role model, but he is a reserve deputy sheriff AND a college graduate. Bill Walton needs to shut up and be respectful. Shaq is a good person with a big heart. Don't be a player hater!!
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2-12-2008 @ 6:20PM
willieo said...
i think suns fan was being sarcastic since it appears no one "got it". bill walton is so ridiculously overrated it's laughable. and it's unfortunate for us poor viewers his mediocre b-ball career has carried over into broadcasting for entirely too long. when he works a game the sound on the t.v. goes down.
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2-12-2008 @ 6:19PM
John Mock said...
Who is Bill Walton, a wanna be, a truly waste of a basketball player. He stayed hurt most of his career. He has no right to critize anyone. Shaq would have walked all over him even in Walton's hayday, which was not very long. A sad story, which should end up putting Walton back on the street eating his health food(prunes).
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2-12-2008 @ 6:23PM
Smitty said...
Anyone who says that Bill Walton was a better player than Shaq just doesn't know much about basketball. I liked Bill in his playing days and I like him now, but he routinely makes some outrageous comments, and those he stated about Shaq are outrageous. One of the ways we look at great players is what they brought and accomplished to their teams. Please explain to me how Shaq doesn't blow Bill out of the water in such comparison?
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