Pat Riley Calls Shaq's Critical Comments of the Heat 'Sad'

Pat Riley doesn't even have time to coach the Heat these days, but he's making time to respond to some derogatory comments that Shaq made about him and his former Heat teammates. Riley called Shaq's recent criticisms of him and the Heat "sad," and I'd have to agree. Shaq basically blamed Riley for the Heat's current situation, saying he refused to be the scapegoat when Riles was the one with all the power. Shaq then had this to say about his current situation, backhandedly slapping Riley in the process:

"I love playing for this coach and I love playing with these guys," O'Neal told the Globe. "We have professionals who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I'm actually on a team again."

It's not surprising that Shaq would bash his former team after he's long gone, because that's what he's done his entire career. He bashed Penny Hardaway after leaving Orlando, bashed Kobe, Phil Jackson, and Jerry Buss after leaving the Lakers, and now he's doing the same to the Heat. So this isn't news, but it is needless. The Heat are the worst team in the league; I don't recall anyone specifically blaming Shaq for it. It was a combination if injuries to him and D. Wade, along with some poor roster moves that left the team in it's current, league-worst situation.

Riley's response, one that questions why Shaq would bother to do this, is a refreshing one.

Instead of going back and forth through the media sniping with the Big Cactus, Riley simply made Shaq's comments seem unnecessary.

"When you're 9-40, we're all frustrated. I mean everybody's at fault, we all were. Everybody was feeling bad and nobody wants that.

"He didn't want to be there, he didn't want to play for that kind of situation, 35 years old. He wanted to go to a contender and we sent him there. We sent him to Utopia and we're left here with the carnage and I don't know why he's not happy."

Exactly. Do you think it's easy for Riley and Wade to watch Shaq basically escape from a life sentence at Shawshank to play with a stacked team like the Suns, while they're still trapped in that prison? They don't need the added frustration of hearing him mouth off at them through the press. Shaq should just play pretend policeman and keep his mouth shut where the Heat are concerned, because as Riley put it, he's in a perfect situation. The fact that Riley is left to clean up the mess that he created is punishment enough.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-26-2008 @ 11:17PM

Rusty@therustygourmet.com said...

Riley is a class act. Shaq? Not so much.

3-26-2008 @ 11:28PM

tien said...

Shaq is horrible to watch on court, he's slow going up and down, he gets into temper tantrums and knocks guys over--and off the court he'll have the occasional funny sound bite even though no one understood what he said..and then there's the crap that he pulls like this.

3-27-2008 @ 12:06AM

the cooker said...

You people all seem to forget that Riley is the President of the Heat and put that crap team together!

3-27-2008 @ 12:49AM

George B Vieto said...

Shaquille doesn't know the saying "If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all." Yet when Bill Walton criticizes him Mighty Mouth has to scream foul. How anyone puts up with this joker I don't know.

3-27-2008 @ 1:04AM

Sandy said...

Shack has no manners, when Tim Duncan of the Spurs offered him a hand up when he fell, Shack refused it. I used to like Shack, now I think he should retire, he spends most of the time on the bench anyways.

3-27-2008 @ 1:10AM

Gern Wormstead said...

Riley is a piece of crap, not that he's wrong in this instance. He bails on his team whenever it suits him, and he got rid of Stan Van Gundy in a less than honorable way. He's a scumbag. But I guess the end justifies the means in America no matter how shady you are.

3-28-2008 @ 10:29AM

Steve D`Amico said...

Well , it`s a combination of three situtations:1- Shaquilles age, 2-Dwayns`s injuries,3-failure to make any trade to replace two very good 3 point shooters, Capono & Posey(not to mention Posey`s defense).

Disregard the comments of any other disgrunted player on that Championship team, bucause they (the team) probably partied all summer and started the next year way out of shape.

Now I follow the Suns---Shaquille is a aging super star that is expected to bring the Suns a championship--Not going to happen, not this year anyway.

3-27-2008 @ 8:07PM

mg said...

I'm disappointed that Shaq is showing such a lack of class. I used to be a fan, but no more.

3-30-2008 @ 2:58AM

bigmouth said...

i used to look up to that guy they call "godfather of the nba", he's entertaining and most of the guys in the league think he's the friendliest most likeable guy in the nba. we've all heard and read about his bashing of his former teams n teammates, u give him that cause "HIS THE MAN" ~but that's not the case anymore.. he has no right to bash the miami heat. they've put him in a contender team, while dwade n the heat are left at the bottom.. he should be thankful.
i thought he was a class act. man, he's totally CLASSLESS. shaq has too much time on his hands thinking about the heat on the suns bench. tsktsk.

3-30-2008 @ 11:41AM

texasproud said...

Shaq needs to remember that Pat Riley led his team to a championship two years ago. Shaq is an immature "man" and needs to thank his lucky stars the Suns wanted him and are finally winning some games. It won't last. He will be put in his place soon enough. He needs to learn to show a little respect to his former coach and former teammates.

3-30-2008 @ 7:25PM

The Original RON said...

Guys we can't have it both ways.Pat Riley is considered a genious and it is because of players like Shaq,Kareem,Magic,Worthy,D Wade always surrounded with 2 or 3 superstars on every team that he has coached.Now is the time to prove what kind of genious he is.You want to talk about a good coach who doesn't get enough credit its (ZEKE)just kidding guys.No honestly look at what Jerry Sloan has done with the Utah Jazz.Maybe because he hasn't won a championship,but give me Jerry anyday over anybody.

3-30-2008 @ 12:52PM

To George B.Vieto,it seems he never has anything good to say about certain people.I've been reading his posts all over.Bill Walton your hero was nothing but a pot smoking hippie who I believe was over-rated.Why shouldn't Shaq respond to his comments like I respond to yours.Could the smoke have affected you too!