TMZ Post
That's a pretty funny clip, and Shaq getting the crowd to chant "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes" was priceless. But is Shaq really so jealous of Kobe's solo success this season that it's the only thing on his mind? Whatever the reason for Shaq unleashing this verbal beat-down, one thing's for certain: those four games between the Lakers and the Suns next season just got a whole lot more interesting.
UPDATE: Shaq backtracked a little when he was asked asked about this by Stephen A. Smith. His comments, after the jump.
"I was freestyling. That's all. It was all done in fun. Nothing serious whatsoever. That is what MCs do. They freestyle when called upon. I'm totally cool with Kobe. No issue at all. And by the way, don't forget, six albums, two platinum, two gold. Anybody who knows me knows I'm a funny freestyler. Check the NBA DVD when I was rapping about Vlade Divac during my first championship run. Please tell everybody don't make something out of nothing."
Bad Blood in NBA History
A freestyle rap by Shaquille O'Neal at a New York City club has reopened one of the biggest NBA feuds in recent memory. Shaq's verbal assault, directed at Kobe Bryant, blamed his former teammate for ruining his marriage and imploring him to "tell me how my [expletive] tastes."
TMZ.com
Shaq, left, and Kobe have had a long history of verbal jabs throughout their careers in the NBA. Their highly-publicized feud initially festered after O'Neal's departure from Los Angeles. The verbal attack is just the latest in a long line of memorable NBA feuds.
David S. Sherman, NBAE via Getty Images
As the Nuggets were pushed to the brink of elimination, star Carmelo Anthony, right, reportedly heckled head coach George Karl by yelling "Just don't sit there!" during a game versus the Lakers.
Jeff Gross, Getty Images
Mavericks player Jerry Stackhouse poured fuel on a fiery rivalry between Dallas and New Orleans when he tore into Hornets coach Byron Scott, right, and called him a "sucker" in a radio interview last week.
Getty Images (2)
One of the most infamous incidents in NBA history took place in 2004, when Ron Artest, right, was suspended 73 games for starting the "Malice in the Palace" brawl during the Pacers' game in Detroit.
Allen Einstein, NBAE via Getty Images
NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo, right, had a rocky stint with the Warriors in the late 1990s, highlighted by a notorious attack by Latrell Sprewell, left, during a 1997 practice. Sprewell choked Carlesimo for nearly 15 seconds until being pulled off by several teammates.
Getty Images (2)
Ten players were ejected in a December 2006 fight between Denver and New York when the Knicks took exception to what they felt was the Nuggets running up the score.
Frank Franklin II, AP
The Knicks and Heat had a couple of unforgettable battles during their matchups of the late '90s. One of the most indelible playoff moments came when Alonzo Mourning, right, brawled Charles Oakley in 1998 with New York coach Jeff Van Gundy wrapped around his leg.
Mark Lennihan, AP
Back in 2002, Shaquille O'Neal, then with the Lakers, tried to go after Brad Miller, right, but couldn't connect with a punch. The players received
three-game suspensions for their scrap.
Fred Jewell, AP
The Suns and Spurs have been the NBA's most bitter rivals over the last couple of years. Suns star Amare Stoudemire, right, took the rivalry to a new level when he called the Spurs dirty and said he might want Bruce Bowen's home address.
Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
6-23-2008 @ 6:08PM
LAKERS SUCK said...
Brett,
How does my ass taste?
Sincerely,
Paul Pierce
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 6:09PM
andy schremp said...
well i gotta say i got love for both shaq but and kobe but shaq's rapping career ended a long time ago and he should have left it at that. This freestyle obviously shows his jealousy towards kobe bryant.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 6:13PM
rstetz said...
Whats he talking about? He hasn't won a championship by himself, he's always needed a superstar guard to get it done (ie Kobe and Wade).
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 6:43PM
Bill Lakin said...
Shaq says all of these outrageous things and always gets a free pass from the press. Great player in his day but now he's a classless has-been.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 6:38PM
Martin said...
I'm a little confused here. Shaq, with Nash and Stoudemire, couldn't beat San Antonio in the playoffs but Kobe, with arguably lesser players (Odom and Gasol) could.
Shaq better get his digs in this year, because with Bynum's return, the Lakers will be winning several championships in the coming years, and when Kobe has more rings then Shaq, Shaq is going to be short on material to rap about.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 6:51PM
Dave said...
Please Shaq-fu, just go away.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 7:00PM
Lakergregg said...
Message to Snaq...KAREEM WAS, IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE BETTER THAN YOU!
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 7:01PM
Yep said...
That was hilarious! People are taking this way too seriously. It was a freestyle and you are supposed to make yourself out to be better than everyone when you do it. If you can make it funny that is a bonus. I mean he had the crowd chanting "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes!" That's classic. Kobe needs to come back with something. Too bad he can't rap. He can whine though... yeah.. Kobe why don't you come back and whine about it... blame it on your team... your good at that.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 7:07PM
Don said...
Pssst... Yep... it's *you're*.
Anyway, I guess we can all see who the child is here. Classless. Sure, funny. But none-the-less, classless.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 7:07PM
Ryan said...
Shaq, why you talking all this smack,
just move on, stop talking about what Kobe lack
http://www.collegefastbreak.com/
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 7:38PM
john said...
Shaq, I just lost any remaining ounce of respect that I had for you. What a loser. You are washed up and won't win another championship ever. Give it up.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 7:54PM
Kris said...
"But is Shaq really so jealous of Kobe's solo success this season"
Solo success? Choking in the playoffs doesn't count as success Brett.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 8:06PM
Daniel said...
how can you put it any better than comments 2 3 and 4
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 8:03PM
the cooker said...
I am not a Shaq fan, but seriously, I do not get all of you Kobe fans! What the heck has he ever lead his team to? He shoots 40 times a game and goes to the stripe another 30 so he should lead the league in scoring, but he has never led his team to a championship by himself as he promised.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 9:07PM
janitorwill said...
Why are all you people defending Kobe all of a sudden. When he allegedly raped a white girl you want to string his ass up. And when he wanted out of LA you called him a baby. The truth is he hasn't gotten the job done. And Shaq is just having some fun with the rapping. I'm a Heat fan and I still like the guy. He got us a championship and me my fake ring.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 9:35PM
saberspurs said...
Shaq is the most pathetic person i have ever seen. he needs to stop thinking he is the best players still and accept that is time is over. Shaq should be telling duncan how his ass tastes after he got destroyed by him in the playoffs.
He has always been second on the team. first it was kobe, then it was wade, now its nash and staudemire.
His old ass should just retire.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 9:49PM
RealDeal said...
Everyone Calm Down. This is a FREESTYLE RAP. Have you guys ever been to a freestyle rap session? You're supposed to be FUNNY and DIS HARD. This is pretty tame for a freestyle rap but Shaq is HILARIOUS. He just made it more exciting for you next year so if you suck Kobe's _ _ _ _ stop crying... this is comedy.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 9:56PM
jay said...
realdeal- I'm not sure when the last time you went to a freestyle battle was, but usually you get gully with a dude when he's face to face with you, not when the guy is across the country and can't come back at you. This is more like a diss track mixtape than a freestyle flow.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 10:09PM
Mack said...
If Shaq wont to know how his ass taste I think he is big and tall enough to turn his head around and take a big bite out of it and test it for himself then he can see how taste and also how it smell as well.
Reply
6-23-2008 @ 10:30PM
MARY said...
Shaq is some loser. Retire and give everyone a break that really loves the game. Your time is over. Get over it. You needed Kobe and then Dwayne to get the rings and now you are wrecking the Suns games.
TIME TO RETIRE, SHAQ-FU
Reply