Shaq finally gets put in his place
Kelly Dwyer ripped Shaq a new one in Monday’s Behind the Box Score, and it’s about time. People always give Shaq a pass, but the guy is one of the most selfish individuals in basketball. Here are some highlights:
And at what point are we going to learn to accept this sort of idiocy and pettiness as a significant part of the overall package, and not something to be ignored? This isn’t a lion in winter situation. This guy was lyin’ in spring, summer, and fall.
I admire his accomplishments, the way he treats people (fans, lower-rung team employees, the many benefactors from his wonderful charity work) who don’t make millions off the NBA, but there’s absolutely no reason to act this childish. And worse than Shaq is our ability to forgive and forget. Not because we’re sporting WWJD bracelets, but because he makes us laugh. I’m just as bad as anyone, in this regard. I don’t wear the bracelet, but I tend to forget how nasty he’s been to people who don’t deserve it, just because he occasionally dances funny.
[…] It clouds our judgment. What image comes to your mind as soon as I say “Lakers, 2004”? Probably Kobe, newly-tattooed, chucking jumpers against the Pistons while dealing with the impending Colorado trial. You never think about Shaq showing up to camp completely out of shape, or whining about a contract extension all season.
Read the full text at Ball Don’t Lie.
