Shaq interview with Jackie McMullan (takes shot at Kobe, Wade)

[lon3lytoaster]

QUINCY, Mass. -- Shaquille O'Neal lounged in his family room last June observing the Lakers' championship celebration on his flat-screen television, listening to the comments of former teammate Kobe Bryant with a bemused smile.

When asked what his fifth championship meant to him personally, Bryant declared, "I got one more than Shaq. So you can take that to the bank."

"My first thought [after hearing that] was, 'Well, I guess I'm still relevant,'" O'Neal said. "Kobe is still thinking about me, I guess. I'm still someone to be measured against.

"But I don't compete with little guards. I don't compete with little guys who run around dominating the ball, throwing up 30 shots a night -- like D-Wade, Kobe.


"Well, I'm not done."

Hardly. Actually, The Big Shamrock is just getting warmed up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&id=5620537

Seems a little unneeded, no? Not sure why he felt the need to go on and smack talk Wade.. Kobe, I understand and I'm not thrilled with what happened in Miami this summer but don't think Wade deserves any hate.

[slamtheking]

QUINCY, Mass. -- Shaquille O'Neal lounged in his family room last June observing the Lakers' championship celebration on his flat-screen television, listening to the comments of former teammate Kobe Bryant with a bemused smile.

When asked what his fifth championship meant to him personally, Bryant declared, "I got one more than Shaq. So you can take that to the bank."

"My first thought [after hearing that] was, 'Well, I guess I'm still relevant,'" O'Neal said. "Kobe is still thinking about me, I guess. I'm still someone to be measured against.

"But I don't compete with little guards. I don't compete with little guys who run around dominating the ball, throwing up 30 shots a night -- like D-Wade, Kobe.


"Well, I'm not done."

Hardly. Actually, The Big Shamrock is just getting warmed up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&id=5620537

Seems a little unneeded, no? Not sure why he felt the need to go on and smack talk Wade.. Kobe, I understand and I'm not thrilled with what happened in Miami this summer but don't think Wade deserves any hate.

I don't remember hearing about any bad blood between Wade and Shaq after their title.  Perhaps there was something brewing under the surface after Wade got a lot of the accolades when it was Shaq that carried that team to the title.

[moiso]

I remember reading of a bit of tension between Shaq and Wade but I don't know if it's true or how significant it was.  It did seem like Shaq kind of quit on Miami his last year there.

It may seem like Shaq is taking shots at Kobe and Wade but his point is sound. 

[soap07]

Perhaps there was something brewing under the surface after Wade got a lot of the accolades when it was Shaq that carried that team to the title.

I'm sorry, what?

[banks336]

Maybe it's just me but, this part from the full interview has me pumped!
 "O'Neal said one of the main draws of Boston was to play alongside Garnett, a player he said was unfairly maligned last season.
 "Kevin looks really good," he said. "He had a season [last year] sort of like mine. He's a big-time player who got an injury, and no one would give him the benefit of the doubt. He's got this bum knee and everyone wants to write him off.
 "Me too. I hurt my thumb, have surgery and all of a sudden, it's 'Shaq is done.'
 "Well, I'm not done."

[moiso]

Maybe it's just me but, this part from the full interview has me pumped!
 "O'Neal said one of the main draws of Boston was to play alongside Garnett, a player he said was unfairly maligned last season.
 "Kevin looks really good," he said. "He had a season [last year] sort of like mine. He's a big-time player who got an injury, and no one would give him the benefit of the doubt. He's got this bum knee and everyone wants to write him off.
 "Me too. I hurt my thumb, have surgery and all of a sudden, it's 'Shaq is done.'
 "Well, I'm not done."

This part just shows how hyper sensitive Shaq is.  KG's and Shaq's situations were not even slightly similar.

[Drucci]

I'm amused by Shaq's shots because they concern rivals and long-hated "enemies" (although Wade is not hated or disliked by Celtics fans in general he will probably be with the Heat for the years to come) but at the same time I find these shots classless and uncalled for.

I remember reading of a bit of tension between Shaq and Wade but I don't know if it's true or how significant it was.  It did seem like Shaq kind of quit on Miami his last year there.

It may seem like Shaq is taking shots at Kobe and Wade but his point is sound. 

I read the same thing about some tension between Wade and Shaq, and there were some post-Heat encounters that showed it on the court :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdHF215m7w8

[KCattheStripe]

Shaq has always talked about how he compares himself only to other bigs. That's why, just after the passage you quoted, he talks about how he'd actually be frustrated if Duncan got a 5th.

[indeedproceed]

This is good. This means we can clearly define the "I like Shaq always running his mouth, even if in actuality he'd talking out of his butt" crowd from the "I don't care if he is the most charismatic sports personality since Magic, real Boston Celtics don't run their yapper." crowd.

[Drucci]

By the way, thanks for posting a link to the article, I just read it and it's really interesting. Sounds like Shaq will be part of the 2nd unit and has already accepted it. He also claims Marquis will have a great year. Here are some interesting quotes :

"I'm surrounded by veterans. We had a great battle [last Thursday] at HealthPoint. It was something I never had before -- three, four, really great players all in one pickup game.

"It was me, Kevin [Garnett], Marquis [Daniels] and the Turkish guy [Semih Erden] against Ray [Allen], Paul [Pierce], Jermaine [O'Neal] and Big Baby. Amazing. Really high intensity."

O'Neal predicts Daniels, who was injured early last season and never won the confidence of Doc Rivers upon his return, will play a more significant role this season.

"I know Marquis well," he said. "I know what language he speaks. He's gonna help us, I know that.

"He's one of those players who got caught up in the system. He'd be a starter on a lot of other teams. But here, he's not going to play over Paul, or Ray, or Rondo.

"So he's coming off the bench and I told him, 'It's going to be great.' I told the same thing to Nate [Robinson], Big Baby. I told them, 'Here we come. We're the BBM -- Boston Bench Mob.'"

Shaq has repeatedly insisted he doesn't care whether he starts or comes off the bench for the Celtics, but indicated he expects to be part of the second unit.

"Doc and I have had some conversations," Shaq said. "Really, at this point of my career, it doesn't matter. Jermaine is younger than me. If they want to start the younger guy, fine with me."

[Prof. Clutch]

By the way, thanks for posting a link to the article, I just read it and it's really interesting. Sounds like Shaq will be part of the 2nd unit and has already accepted it. He also claims Marquis will have a great year. Here are some interesting quotes :

"I'm surrounded by veterans. We had a great battle [last Thursday] at HealthPoint. It was something I never had before -- three, four, really great players all in one pickup game.

"It was me, Kevin [Garnett], Marquis [Daniels] and the Turkish guy [Semih Erden] against Ray [Allen], Paul [Pierce], Jermaine [O'Neal] and Big Baby. Amazing. Really high intensity."

O'Neal predicts Daniels, who was injured early last season and never won the confidence of Doc Rivers upon his return, will play a more significant role this season.

"I know Marquis well," he said. "I know what language he speaks. He's gonna help us, I know that.

"He's one of those players who got caught up in the system. He'd be a starter on a lot of other teams. But here, he's not going to play over Paul, or Ray, or Rondo.

"So he's coming off the bench and I told him, 'It's going to be great.' I told the same thing to Nate [Robinson], Big Baby. I told them, 'Here we come. We're the BBM -- Boston Bench Mob.'"

Shaq has repeatedly insisted he doesn't care whether he starts or comes off the bench for the Celtics, but indicated he expects to be part of the second unit.

"Doc and I have had some conversations," Shaq said. "Really, at this point of my career, it doesn't matter. Jermaine is younger than me. If they want to start the younger guy, fine with me."

I love that he said, 'and the Turkish guy.'  Haha.

[moiso]

BBM, baby!  I love the 2nd unit pride.

[indeedproceed]

Someone ought to make the T-Shirt now before anyone else does.

[Prof. Clutch]

I'm fascinated by the pick-up game that Shaq spoke of.

Shaq, KG, Semih, and Marquis vs. Big Baby, Jermaine O'Neal, Pierce and Ray.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall watching that game.  Who guarded who?  I mean, obviously one team has a size advantage but the other has shooting and mobility advantages.  Did they run full court?  Who do you guys think won? 

[Assassin70]

Go SHAQ!

Love this!  I cant wait for the season to start.  I am going to 4 or 5 games this year instead of my usual 3