At the risk of providing fodder to the Shaq-haters out there (a group to which I do not belong):
Did anyone see the tail end of the ESPN interview with Shaq, aired on SportsCenter last night? The interviewer asked him if he thought there's ever be a time when he and Kobe could sit down and have a conversation. Shaq's response was "I don't know who that is."
Let's assume for a moment that there's good reason behind the souring of Shaq's relationship with Kobe. As it is, such an assumption isn't too difficult. Even if this is truly bad, as intense as the media wants us to believe - come on, Shaq. You can do better than this response. If you're really set on never talking to Kobe Bryant again, it's easy enough to say that. The response he gave, in contrast, invites far more attention to the matter than I think what everyone involved would want.
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2 comments:
What that response demonstrates is the immaturity inherent in Shaquille O'Neal. For all of the supposed negative attributes in Kobe Bryant (arrogance, stubbornness, inability to communicate effectively), Shaq should also be taken to task for the deterioration of a dynasty and the dissolution of that productive and successful partnership. Shaq is immature and petulant; he only likes to play if people will play by his rules. He's going to take his ball home if other kids won't follow his lead.
Given that Kobe has said nothing more about Shaq since the pair split up, one would think that Shaq would be able to stay silent on the subject, if not simply move past it all and get on with his life. The Miami Heat made the NBA semifinals. They would've beaten the defending champs had their best player been healthy enough in games 6 and 7. Isn't that enough for him or is he still bitter that his boss chose the other guy?
This has nothing to do with "Shaq-hating" as much as it has to do with telling it like it is. Shaq is a favorite son in the American sports landscape. Just because he's big and funny and has an Al Pacino-like haminess about him, that doesn't mean that he isn't as much of a brat as the rest of the chumps populating the ranks of celebrity.
I agree completely. Shaq is absolutely smart enough to know that there's no such thing as bad press. If fueling the feud is what it takes to keep his big flabby ass at the forefront of the day's sports commentary, then that's what he'll do. Don't forget, he's got a contract negotiation coming up. He needs all the leverage he can get to justify ripping up a guaranteed $30M in 2005-2006.
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