You are known by the company you keep. If that's truly the case, then Cleveland Cavaliers fans should be worried.Shaquille O'Neal has been hanging out with Triple H, Crime Time and a midget named Hornswoggle. If you don't recognize them, congratulations.
They are pro wrestlers. And if you think that's bad, consider who else Shaq's been trying to see.
He attempted to crash the White House gates, perhaps to invite Barack Obama to be on his new reality show. It's called Shaq Vs., where O'Neal competes against other athletes in their sports.
Shaq undoubtedly thinks he could do a better job running the country than the current president. Before the red states weigh in, remember that Shaq would think the same thing if George Washington were still in the Oval Office.
Between his referee gig on WWE's Monday Night Raw, his TV show, his prolific Twittering and his White House non-visits, where does Shaq find the time to work at his real job?
He doesn't.
I was hoping the Cleveland trade would motivate Shaq to finally get his priorities straight, or at least show up at training camp weighing less than LeBron James' house. Now I'm afraid Cavs fans are going to discover what people in Orlando, LA , Miami and Phoenix already knew.
Shaq is far more interested in being Shaq than being a basketball player.
Being Shaq means pursuing every whim, indulging every desire and getting motivated when he darned well pleases. It means not doing everything you can to earn a champion's invitation to the White House.
Shaq will still go down as one of the all-time greats. But how much greater could he have been if he'd gotten maximum use out the most fearsome body in NBA history?
What if he'd had Michael Jordan's brain? OK, that's probably not fair, since nobody had MJ's drive and killer instinct.
So forget MJ, what if Shaq had had Wilt Chamberlain's attitude? When it comes to pure physical dominance, only Wilt could match Shaq.
Wilt certainly had his diversions, 20,000 of them if you believe him. But he always showed up to play, and his incredible stats prove it.
Shaq-o-philes will say only one statistic matters -- rings. O'Neal has four, twice as many as Wilt. Then you must ask how many more he would have had if his ego hadn't gotten in the way in LA?
Kobe Bryant shares plenty of blame for that divorce, but one thing that drove Kobe crazy was Shaq's work ethic. Kobe would spend the summers working on his jumper. Shaq would spend them working on another bad rap album. He'd show up in camp pushing 400 pounds and spend the season playing his way into shape.
That worked when Shaq was in his 20s. Not only is it harder in your 30s, but all that excess tonnage had a cumulative effect on O'Neal's joints. In the immortal words of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: "You try dragging Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes."
You try dragging half a Bill Walton or Bob Lanier up and down the court for 17 years, as Shaq has done.
Jabbar made that comment playing Roger Murdock, the co-captain of the doomed flight in the movie Airplane. The cockpit banter with Peter Graves was worthy of an Oscar, at least if you don't mind kids being asked if they've ever been to a Turkish prison.
There's nothing wrong with athletes pretending to be actors or having whatever fun they want on their time off. I wouldn't have thought twice if Dwight Howard had shown up to referee Monday Night Raw, mainly because I know he would be in the weight room the next day trying to get his biceps larger than Triple H's.
If he wasn't in the weight room, Howard would be in the gym trying to get his free-throw percentage over 50 percent. Shaq lost the benefit of that doubt around Kazaam, which was 13 years ago.
What will he do next to promote his brand? Fight Jose Canseco? Become the Mets GM? Start dating Kate Gosselin? Crash the next G8 Summit?
Simple basketball was never enough. He always wanted to be an entertainer, celebrity and multimedia giant. Shaq's done that, but at what cost?He also wants to be remembered as the greatest center in Lakers history. The LA days were glorious, but Shaq's overall career will never match Roger Murdock's.
At Shaq's age, Kareem averaged 22.0 points and 7.9 rebounds. It's been five seasons since Shaq averaged 20 points a game.
Kareem averaged 10.1 points a game when he was 41. Shaq will probably weigh 1,001 pounds when he's 41.
You can pretend to be a lot of things, but you can't fake the hard work that leads to longevity. Shaq's act has worn thin, which is why his last two teams were glad to get rid of him and his bloated salary. It also didn't help that he ended up trashing Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Stan Van Gundy and anyone else who threatened his status.
Even Shaq's not egocentric enough to think he'll be Cleveland 's main man. He'll provide plenty of quips, tweets and the occasional big game. But you can't be encouraged about the way Shaq's preparing his 37-year-old bones for the upcoming grind.
He still seems to think he can get by simply being Shaq. That's why he showed up unannounced to see the president.
"The white house wouldn't let me in," he wrote on Twitter. "whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?"
Because sometimes just being Shaq isn't enough. And this Shaq won't be enough to get the Cavaliers a real invitation to the Oval Office.
If it's any consolation, they can always go over to Hornswoggle's house.
Latest Shaq Photos
FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2009 file photo, Phoenix Sun's center Shaquille O'Neal watches the NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge basketball game in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, file)
AP
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal holds a giant panda on his lap at the Panda Breeding Research Center in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province on July 16, 2009. Shaq had earlier visited China's famed Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese kung fu, and said he was hoping to improve his martial arts skills and bring them to the basketball court. TOPSHOTS CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal arrives at a school and later distributed basketballs the students while visiting Mianyang on July 14, 2009, a region in Sichuan province that was hit by a devastating earthquake in May 2008. School officials in southwest China have been slammed for confiscating basketballs that iconic NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal signed and gave to four teenage boys at the school. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal fools around with his minders as he visits the Panda Breeding Research Center in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province on July 16, 2009. Shaq had earlier visited China's famed Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese kung fu, and said he was hoping to improve his martial arts skills and bring them to the basketball court. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal gets mobbed by his Chinese fans after he held a basketball clinic at a school and later distributed the basketballs to the students while visiting Mianyang on July 14, 2009, a region in Sichuan province that was hit by a devastating earthquake in May 2008. School officials in southwest China have been slammed for confiscating basketballs that iconic NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal signed and gave to four teenage boys at the school. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal conducts a basketball clinic at a school and later distributed the basketballs to the students while visiting Mianyang on July 14, 2009, a region in Sichuan province that was hit by a devastating earthquake in May 2008. School officials in southwest China have been slammed for confiscating basketballs that iconic NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal signed and gave to four teenage boys at the school. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal conducts a basketball clinic at a school and later distributed the basketballs to the students while visiting Mianyang on July 14, 2009, a region in Sichuan province that was hit by a devastating earthquake in May 2008. School officials in southwest China have been slammed for confiscating basketballs that iconic NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal signed and gave to four teenage boys at the school. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
MIANYANG, CHINA - JULY 14: (CHINA OUT) NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Shaquille O'Neal holds a child during his visit to a middle school which was hit by the Sichuan Earthquake on July 14, 2009 in Mianyang of Sichuan Province, China. (Photo by Lei Yuandong/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal
Getty Images
MIANYANG, CHINA - JULY 14: (CHINA OUT) NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Shaquille O'Neal is surrounded by fans during his visit to a middle school which was hit by the Sichuan Earthquake on July 14, 2009 in Mianyang of Sichuan Province, China. (Photo by Lei Yuandong/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal
Getty Images
MIANYANG, CHINA - JULY 14: (CHINA OUT) NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Shaquille O'Neal visits a middle school which was hit by the Sichuan Earthquake on July 14, 2009 in Mianyang of Sichuan Province, China. (Photo by Lei Yuandong/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal
Getty Images
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
NO WAY KAREEM WAS BETTER THEN SHAQ.
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU WERE CENTER IN SCHOOL DURING LEWS TENURE, YOU WERE 6'8 AT BEST. WHEN SHAQ PLAYED, THEY HAD 3 GUYS ALL OVER HIM EVERY GAME(7 FOOT 300 LBS).
THIS FOLLOWED HIM INTO PRO'S AND HE'S KINDA WORE OUT. KAREEM WAS ABLE TO FLOAT ANYWHERE BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY THOUGHT HE POSED A THREAT.
Shaq is 37 years old but is coming off a All-star year. Wilt retired at 36. Bill Russell retired at 35. Kareem didn't bang and played with Magic and a great team toward the end of his career. For a 37 year old he is doing just fine.
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? ARE DID YOU NOT SEE JABBAR IN HIS PRIME?
man i agree with everything on this article. i truly hope shag retires after this season and no other team signs him
Shag is preparing for life after his NBA playing days end. After the Cavs are done in this years playoffs, (1st round?) Shag's big wasted money pay days are over, so he needs something else. Odom is now a Laker, which means no championship for Cavs. Patch
What a dumb article.
Shaq`s publicity blitz is intended primarily to take pressure off James, who was virtually the whole Cavs. team last year, folks idiotically claiming he was the best ever, which no one will begin to really have a clue about for another dozen or so years, unless he messes up early, which would be unpleasant. A shame Howard can`t shift back to power forward so Shaq would have a chance of starting with him, but at least Shaq will have a chance to back him up, like he backed Ming Yao last year. A shame for Shaq`s lovely wife, who has reunited with him, and kids, they have to freeze in Cleveland while Shaq tours the nation, but I think they`ll enjoy Shaq`s last hurrah more than he will all the same. Yeah, would be nice if Shaq played more of a foot and maybe 7 inches taller, more than twice the weight Tom Smothers, vocally and comically, and Dick Smothers, with a bow, instrumentally, letting his rap group become an opening act, even that would be more mature than Spike TV`s WWE. But at least Shaq got his MBA from the University of Phoenix, and may be ready to play an adult after 44 or 42 or 41, the ages Parish, Jabbar, and little bit Stockton, among others, retired at.
Biggest loser in the NBA. No one in history has ever had such a one-sided game. All ya gotta do is hack him everytime he gets the ball down low, and he becomes completely ineffective. Kareem could shoot, and he could run. Shaq hasn't been able to run for years now. Too many cheeseburgers or something. Maybe my prayers will be answered, and he'll trip and fall on the court, and land on LeBron, and do us all a favor!
Yes, Kareem is the greatest center in Lakers history end of discussion.
If for no other reason than possesing the greatest, most unstoppable shot in the history of the NBA...The Skyhook.
Some people are just too easily impressed by Shaq's narcissism and sound bites.
Its easy to triple team a guy whose go to move is the dunk.
The single stupidest thing I may ever read on fanhouse is the first guy who posted "Kareem was able to float anywhere because no one really thought he posed a threat."
WTF?...THE SINGLE GREATEST SHOT EVER...THE SKYHOOK!
What do you think he's doing on the TV show? It's a sports show, where Shaq has a week to challenge stars from opposing sport games.
Shaq is 5th all time in scoring and has (4)championship Rings and (6) NBA Finals appearances, including (3) Finals MVP's...He averaged 20 or more points for 14 consecutive years (tied record) and has taken (3) different teams to the NBA Finals. People listen, Shaq is a proven hall of famer and has endured more punishment than any other player in NBA history.... Give him break about his weight. It is amazing he can still walk after all those beatings!!! Whether you like him or not bashers, The Lakers would not have won (3) championships in a row without him. Sorry, but Kobe (boy wonder) Bryant was a nightmare back then, and it took the ego of Shaq to reign him in. Shaq will only benefit Lebron, and look out for Cleveland to make a run to the NBA Finals, with Shaq being a major contributor.
Wilt was a scholarship track and field athlete at Kansas, sang solo on a hit record when he played with the Philadelphia Warriors, learned bits of several languages touring with the Harlem Globetrotters in the off season, lived in New York City, when he won his first nba championship, with the Philadelphia 76ers, started a pro volleyball league as an athlete, acted. Didn`t stop him rebounding several seasons better than anyone else ever, scoring several seasons better than anyone else ever, setting the nba field goal percentage record for a season, which no one else comes close to, 72.7% shooting, was the only center ever to lead the association in assists. Shaq isn`t spreading himself too thin. Kareem plays sax and flute. Lots of guys in the nba aren`t one dimensional. One of the reasons some perform on UNreality shows. Another is balcks are an increasingly high precentage of commercial, broadcast, television viewers, but opportunities for black actors are few, and mainly to play racist stereotypes which repulse everyone, not just blacks. So for black viewers to see positive role models, or anything remotely close, they have to look more to musicians/singers and athletes than to actors. Yes, Shaq gave up on himself after his championship in Miami, stopped moving his feet on offense, started saying he USED to be a good player, but Bill Cartwright, assistant coach at Phoenix, helped him find himself again. He`ll probably be an all star and win a championship this year. I hope he doesn`t give up on himself again after that, even though the nba may lowball him, hoping he`ll retire, when they start chatting about his next contract. He can still do the job, in and out of the nba. And hopefully he can take that to the bank.
its not shag....its shaq. god damn.
y is this site hatin so much on cleveland and shaq. what did they ever do to u. shaq has always been part of the national spotlight, that didnt stop him from contributing to 3 championships in LA and 1 in miami. also so what if he hasnt averaged 20ppg in over 5 seasons. this season in 75 games(the most games he has played in since ten seasons) he averaged 17.8ppg and had a 61% fg%(a career high)and was an all-star for the 15th time. varejao averged 8.6 ppg, z 12.9ppg, ben like .2ppg and sasa i dont even care enough said. so DAVID and all u other columnists on here who r bashin the cavs stop writing these immature, stupid articles take a look at a stat sheet and keep ur annoying voice hole shut'til the season starts
This is nothing new. Ive been saying this about Shaq his entire career through all the "Shaq fever". He has hardly no talent. He is one of the most , if not the most, DOMINANT player(s) of all time but is nowhere close to the most talented. He used his size and weight to an unfair advantage and if not for being the personality and star he was to the league he would have had horrible foul trouble his entire career. All he ever did was hook his shoulder into his defender and move them to the side with it, which is clearly an offensive foul. As soon as the refs started calling it his game got extremely limited. God can you imagine if he actually had worked on parts of his game instead on relying mostly on what was god given in size. Can only imagine what Jordan thinks when he looks at Shaq's career and wishes he had that size combined with his drive and straight will power. Always have hated Shaq ever since he left me favorite player of all time - the one and only Penny... Keep shining Anfernee, you will always be #1 in my book. Loved seeing that last 16 point spark with the Heat and was hoping to see you one more time but still appreciate how EXTREMELY hard you worked to try to come back and its not easily forgotten by this fan.
My bad i meant Shaq hooked his *elbow* not shoulder, ha was typing in a hurry....
Come on please shut up if u dont know what ur talking about, take a look at the film. Shaq in his younger days and la was mobile,agile and unstoppable. To say that he had an unfair advantage because his weight and height? You should slap urslef, what about Wilt? How many 7 fters were around when he played? He was the biggest and strongest. was it also an unfair advantage when Jordan played, because he was better then everyone else, had more drive? Please stop if u dont know what ur talking about...Cavs Will when it this yr, Odom sucks he choked in playoffs, if it wasnt for ARiza they wouldnt have won. The only team that can stop the cavs,and give them a run is Celtics.
The reason Shaq usually didn`t get called for offensive fouls, when he blasted thru guys, usually with his left shoulder, is because he out quicked them, not because the refereeing was rigged because he was famous, and outplaying guys was how he GOT famous. Yes, if he had used the elbow or shoulder it would have been his foul even though they were out of position, which is of course why he generally didn`t. But guys have to be squared up a stried in advance to be able to take a charge. So Shaq would fake one direction, go another, maybe more than once, imply a pass, anything within the rules to get guys to over commit, then he`d go the other direction, very quickly. Guys were just too slow to stay in front, like with James now. After he won his Miami championship, he lost patience, stopped forcing guys to over commit first, just tried to power thru, and got calls against him. So assistant coach Bill Cartwright at Phoenix reminded him of his fundamentals, reminded him the refs NEVER gave him anything on reputation, and he`d have to earn his playing time with aggressive finesse play inside. He stopped playing the way opponents had always falsely accused him of playing, brought back the patience, finesse, started moving his feet again, and the calls started going his way again, so he became an all star again. A shame for Orlando he left, dazzled by the big city hype in LA, but HollyWeird got bored with him, so it took some abscence in Miami and Phonenix for HollyWeird to say, hey, Shaq is an all star, didn`t he used to play here, thought he`d retired, so now he has a fad unreality show, sharing James` spotlight. One of the better centers ever. Heavier and stronger even than Wilt, though not as dominant as Wilt was individually early in his career, not part of the top dynasty in nba history like Bill Russell was, but having done pretty well for his teams and himself so far. And if he plays 22 years like Parish, or 20 like Jabbar, will probably has done better than Parish and maybe better than Jabbar. Nothing flashy, he`s left Flash to Hardaway, Bryant, Wade, etc., but he`s been getting the job done. We`ll see if he plays one or two other places after Cleveland, but if this economic depression which was supposed to end this summer but didn`t ends next summer, Cleveland would probably be follish to let him go, unless they can`t hold James, which seems probable they can`t, but he`s from Ohio, maybe he`ll stay, rather than head south. He isn`t used to decent winters, like Howard and Wade and Yao are enjoying. If signing Wallace means Mikki Moore leaves, the Celtis may be okay if they stay healthy, but if Glen Davis leaves, the Celts will not have enough youth or muscle to compete with Orland and Cleveland.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar...the best Laker center!
Shaq is OLD!
That man is now...FATHER TIME!!!
Ahahaha!