With Shaq’s retirement tweet sending waves through Lakerland earlier this week everyone has on their rose colored glasses looking back at the greatness that was Shaquile O’Neal. But not me. For at least this one day I’m going to take the cynical road and reflect about a few things that always bothered me about Shaq’s career. Here’s a short list of my worst memories of the big fella.
5. Fat Shaq
One of the things that will always be debated is how good Shaq could have been if he’d been more willing to work in the off season, if he wanted it more. Compared to the legendary work ethic of Kobe Bryant, Shaq seemed like an unmotivated sloth. And while you can’t argue with three championships, an MVP, and countless dominating post season performances, the fact is he could have been better.
Consider the 2000-2001 season. Shaq was coming off his MVP year, probably the greatest season of his career both in terms of team play and individually. While Kobe had worked tirelessly to improve his game over the summer, Shaq had taken it easy. He came into camp as Bryant put it “fat” and the lack of conditioning may have directly led to the Lakers mediocre start (6-4 over first ten games) and a lingering toe problem for the big man. Eventually O’Neal got himself in shape and the Lakers clicked as a team, burning through the final stage of the regular season and storming the playoffs with a record of 15 – 1. This was probably the peak of the Shaq-Kobe era but one wonders if it could have gone longer and could have reached an even higher summit had Shaq been willing to put more work in.
4. Calling Out Jerry Buss
Definitely not Shaq’s most endearing moment here. During a preseason game in 2003 Shaq dunked a ball then glared over in the stands at Lakers owner Jerry Buss while shouting out, “Pay me.” Actually, that’s kind of the sanitized version, with other accounts referencing a choice profanity. Regardless, it wasn’t the classiest of moves and in the court of public opinion, the Diesel wasn’t exactly winning over hearts and minds.
Next: Two More Shaq Memories I Would Like to Forget
3. Shaq vs. Bynum
In a way one of my favorite memories of Andrew Bynum is also one of my least favorite of Shaq because it is emblematic of a time when O’Neal finally took shape as a villain in the eyes of Lakers fans. During Bynum’s rookie season in a nationally telecast game versus the Heat the young Lakers center had one of the all-time greats throw down over his head on a put back. Undeterred, the rook called for the ball on the other end then made a sweet fake and baseline pivot for the dunk, leaving Shaq in his wake. As Bynum ran back down court he gave Shaq a forearm love tap, to which O’Neal did not take too kindly. Shaq responded with a vicious forearm of his own (dangerous, but not fully connecting) that should have got him tossed. It was the exact moment where I really started disliking him.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd-FLEDTfao
2. His Rap Attack on Kobe Bryant
In terms of lack of class, nothing is more emblematic than Shaq’s public disdain for Kobe Bryant. Over the years there have been many veiled attacks, some sniping to the press, particularly during the height the Lakers feuding days. O’Neal was more than willing to continue his verbal assaults after leaving the Lakers (whereas Kobe mostly stayed quiet about it) but nothing quite compares to freestyle rap in 2008
Kobe Bryant had just lost the NBA Finals to the Celtics, still one title behind Shaq’s four. The Big Freestyler was performing at a club in Phoenix when he unleashed a diatribe of hatred directed at his ex-teammate. He called out Bryant for being unable to win a title without him and also used some profane language to ask Kobe if he was, umm, familiar with one of his body parts.
At the time (and still) it just seemed unnecessarily spiteful… a jerk move. Yet in the end Kobe got his. After he went on to win the next two championships, Bryant made sure the national audience watching the Finals post game knew how pleased he was to pass Shaq. And after how Shaq dissed him, I probably would have done the same.
Next: My Least Favorite Shaquille O’Neal Memory
1. Becoming a Boston Celtic
When it comes down to it everything on this list is pretty inconsequential but there are certain offenses for which forgiveness is extraordinarily hard to come by. Could the revolutionaries forgive Benedict Arnold? Could Caesar forgive Brutus? Can Lakers fans forgive Shaq for his Bostonian betrayal?
What upsets me isn’t just that Shaq shamelessly went to a title contender just for purposes of picking up an extra ring (jealous of Kobe much?) but he picked the most hated rival of the team upon which he built his legacy. As callous as Kobe might have seemed over the years, do you think he ever would have done that? Would Magic? Would Bird or Michael? No chance.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GalOEk_bME
All in all, despite anything I might say here and any reservations I might have, when Shaq’s jersey is hung in the rafters of Staples Center next season I will be standing and applauding with everyone else, making sure the big fella gets the due he deserves. Just want to get the bad memories out of the way first.
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