Shaq surprisingly announced his retirement Wednesday, and did so using a social media service that he’s endorsing and has a financial stake in. The announcement came out of nowhere, had odd timing, and caught people off guard. The media began its Shaq love fest all day, playing tribute videos and pumping out best Shaq moments and quotes lists. I really feel like everyone’s being taken for a couple of reasons.
First off, I believe he’s going to be back. He had a bad and injury-filled year in Boston, but he’s been saying he wants to play for a few more years. This just seems too abrupt for to me to believe Shaq is comfortable with his decision. Secondly, while Shaq was colorful and humorous, the guy was a petulant baby who was extremely insecure despite his 7-foot 350-pound plus intimidating frame. It’s somewhat irritating the love fest shown for this guy; it’s as if everyone forgets history when someone retires. My point is that Shaq had several moments throughout his career where he really lost me because of what a jerk he was, so I feel compelled to remind everyone of those moments.
So here they are, Shaq’s Top 10 Worst Quotes and Biggest Jerk Moments:
10) “Win a ring for the King” – Shaq uttered this catch phrase July 2nd, 2009 when he was traded to Cleveland. He stated his mission was to help LeBron James win his first ring. Shaq was 37 years old and called himself one of the top five centers in the league at that time. The reality is he could barely move, was ineffective, and he couldn’t touch the numbers he put up in Phoenix the year before. Shaq just thought much more highly of himself than anyone else did at the time.
9) “I got hurt on company time, so I’ll rehab on company time.” – Shaq before the ’02 season began. He had a bad toe and instead of getting surgery early in the summer, he waited until the Lakers’ pre-season began in ’02 to get the operation. That phrase he uttered showed his attitude and work ethic. It proves Shaq only considered basketball a seasonal job, not a year-round one.
8) “I’ve won at every level, except college and pro.” – Shaq, responding to critics for not having won any titles. This was before he had won his three in a row with the Lakers and when he had gone to the Finals and lost. This was typical Shaq, making an excuse and saying something that made little sense. Right, because winning in high school or AAU ball is what really matters.
7) “You tell me who the real Superman is,” – February 12th, 2010 Shaq said this after a match-up with Dwight Howard won by the Cavaliers. Just another example of Shaq’s inability to share the spotlight with anyone. It’s another display of Shaq’s fear of any other talented big man. Instead of respecting the emerging star’s game, Shaq only took shots at Dwight. It was completely unnecessary, but typical Shaq.
6) “Pat Riley is the best coach I’ve had” – Said by Shaq in June of 2006 when he helped the Heat win their first title. It’s one thing to praise your coach, which Shaq did, but he was making a point to tell the world Riley was better than Phil Jackson. There’s nothing wrong with thinking that, but it’s the timing of his announcement. Saying it privately to a reporter is one thing, but announcing it to the world the moment you win a title just makes you seem like you have a major vendetta. Clearly Shaq harbored a lot of hate in his heart and it manifested itself in many classless ways.
5) Shaq accused of stalking former mistress – In 2008, Shaq was ordered to stay away from an Atlanta hip hop performer and former mistress. The allegations were priceless. Shaq allegedly “threatened her with bodily harm and made harassing phone calls in which he breathed heavily into the phone before hanging up.” Who cannot see Shaq breathing heavily into the phone? Oh yeah, I can totally picture that. Knowing what a bully Shaq is, can anybody be surprised by these allegations? Of course not.
4) “No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis.” – Said by Shaq in March, 2008 after he was traded to Phoenix about his former Heat teammates. Other parts of his quotes were “We have professionals who know what to do. … I’m actually on a team again.” Just another example of how Shaq burns bridges everywhere he leaves. Nobody, and I mean nobody, had uglier divorces than him.
3) “Tell Yao Ming, ‘ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh” – Shaq in January of 2003 made fun of Yao Ming and then denied he was being racist. He was threatened by another center who was talented and encroaching on his turf in terms of big man popularity. This was typical Shaq — unable to share the spotlight with anyone and then going off on a racist rant to defend himself. On top of that, he lashed out on a player who by all accounts has been polite and courteous off the court. Typical jerky Shaq.
2) “Pay me, Pay me” – Yelled by Shaq at Lakers owner Jerry Buss during a 2003 preseason game in Hawaii. It shows that Shaq’s motivation is money, that he didn’t have the tact to handle things off the court, and it just shows his utter lack of class. Can you imagine any other player scolding his owner and demanding that the owner pays them in the middle of a game? Nobody else would pull off a stunt like that.
1) “Kobe, tell me how my a$$ tastes” – June, 2008, Shaq said this in a rap song he performed on stage. The rap was caught on camera and shared around the internet. Once again it shows that Shaq needs to get the last word, that he’s always in attack mode, and that he can’t let things go. He also looks foolish because Kobe ended up winning two rings without him and retired with more titles: five to four.
