The Big Diesel

I personally love Shaquille O'Neal.  I think he is one of the top 5 funniest athletes of all-time and one of the only ones who backs up all his shit talk with his game.  In my opinion he can talk trash about whoever he wants and get away with it because, well he is Shaq.  People try and say that he runs his mouth too often but I think its good for the NBA and that it is hilarious.

Shaq's latest fued is with Toronto Raptors Forward Chris Bosh and began when Shaq called him the "RuPaul of big men."  You better be laughing right now.  He also has an ongoing feud with Stan Van Gundy and the Orlando Magic as Van Gundy says that Shaq "flops" and should know better than that after all his time in the league.

In response to the RuPaul comment Bosh had this to say, "I didn't laugh or anything; it wasn't funny. I was kind of upset with that. He's been around the league for a while, and I expected a lot more professionalism out of him. I thought we were cool. Whatever."  Get over it.  If anything your lucky he didn't point out that you legitimately look like a raptor.

This is nothing new to Shaq however as over the years he has battled players much better than Chris Bosh.  Let us not forget that Shaq had an ongoing beef with Kobe Bryant in which he once rapped at a NY nightclub, "Kobe tell me how my ass taste."  Shaq does not back down.  He is also notorious for calling the Sacramento Kings the Sacramento Queens and renaming Eric Dampier "Erica Dampier." The man will literally do anything or say anything at anytime.

The best part is that even the media has given him a free pass over the years because he is so entertaining and engaging in interviews.  The media loves Shaq because every time a microphone is in front of his face he is saying something funny or at least news worthy.  If another NBA player tried to say half the stuff Shaq says he would be bounced from the league real fast but when Shaq says it everything is fine.  It really is the best double standard going.

Another great thing about Shaq is his many nicknames.  Over the years he has amassed quite the collection of nicknames including: The Diesel, Shaq Fu, The Big Aristotle, The Big Daddy, Superman, The Big Agave, The Big Cactus, The Big Shaqtus, The Big Galactus, Wilt Chamberneezy, The Big Baryshnikov, The Real Deal, and Dr. Shaq (after earning his MBA from LSU).  Those are some of the greatest nicknames in sports and they are all for 1 man.

Like I said before the man can talk some smack but he can also play.  Here is a list of some of his accomplishments in the NBA:

4-time NBA Champion
2000 NBA MVP
'92-'93 NBA Rookie of the Year
3-time NBA Finals MVP
2-time NBA Scoring Champion
3-time All-Star MVP

15-time All-Star  

So whether you love him or hate him you have to respect his game.  Shaq is going to be around for a few more years and hopefully continues to bring me some joy with his hilarious burns of anyone who gets in his way.  

Did I mention that after he dunks he looks at his hand as if in a trance?  Hilarious.

Random Youtube Video:

Kobe vs. Shaq New "Beef"

If the feud between Shaquille O'neil and Kobe Bryant is going to be called "Beef" then I would have to say that this beef is burnt and needs to be thrown out. Last night while watching the College World Series I was informed, by the ticker at the bottom of the screen, that Shaq had insulted Kobe in a freestyle rap at a club on Sunday night. Apparently Shaq said, "Kobe couldn't do without me" and things of that nature. Whoa stop the presses someone in sports said something negative about somebody else.

Does anyone really even care anymore? I know I don't. How starved are you for a media story that ESPN and other sports media sources feels the need to make a federal case out of someone rapping? Shaq burned Kobe ooooh its not as if the whole thing will end violently with a steel cage match. Both players will go on about their business and the incident will be forgotten by both men in less than a week. The fact is Shaq said something then will be forced to apologize as to not fuel the "fire" and Kobe will say its not a big deal. Case closed.

But we all know that won't be the end of it don't we. The media will try and drag this out for as long as possible and when the two players meet next year it will be blown so far out of proportion. When asked about his action Shaq had this to say, "I was freestyling. That's all. It was all done in fun. Nothing serious whatsoever. That is what MC's do. They freestyle when called upon. I'm totally cool with Kobe. No issue at all." As if he is going to say anything else.

Hopefully this incident goes away quickly and without little discussion so it never gets brought up again.