Unexpected fallout from the Lakers' breakup

[kellinator]

It appears that for the first time ever, I've come to like Shaquille O'Neal.

I still think some of the stuff he says is moronic. But hey, the sportwriters are right. He stays out of trouble, he sticks to his word and he's funny as hell. Plus, he's not Kobe Bryant.

But, okay, here's the real reason I'm really liking Shaq today:

"I was down here the other day working out with the kid from Vanderbilt we got (second-round pick Matt Freije), and I told him, 'I'm gonna come across the block, and if I get doubled, I'm gonna pass the ball to you and you're gonna have a wide-open jumper, or (forward) Udonis Haslem is gonna come down the lane and he's gonna get a dunk, and you're all gonna get big contracts.' He said, 'What do you mean?' I said, 'Just look at the history. Travis Knight. Horace Grant. A.C. Green.' He said, 'Shaq, you're one of the coolest guys I've met.' "

Comments

[jerseygirl1.livejournal.com]

I have always liked Shaq, because he works his ass off and he sticks to his word! he may say some silly things (like his marriage vows read, "For richer or richer") but shit, the boy is at least willing to work for what he has! Hell, he finished his degree at LSU. he did not HAVE to, and maybe he didn't work as hard as other student-athletes, but he still did it like he said he would.

I was living in Florida when he first arrived in Orlando, and from the start he made his presents known in the community. Every game he welcomed two underpriviledged kids to attend the gaem in his seats, and gave each kid a (size 22) shoe after the game.

That impressed me... he gets free shoes. he could sell them and make more money, but instead he gave them away. I dunno, when you consider many of the basketball superstars out there, he is a top guy IMHO!

[amary.livejournal.com]

Yeah...seems that Shaq is smarter than I gave him credit for (which admittedly wasn't much). He might say dumbassed shit from time to time, but he's not arrogant. He gives back to the community and hasn't forgotten where he came from.

I also think it was a classy move thanking the L.A. fans the way he did. And anybody who dislikes Kobe Bryant is okay by me.