My rookie post on this great board. I read a post on Palm Beach Post and thought it's interesting. I could not believe it's what shaq said. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/heat/content/sports/epaper/2006/10/23/a2c_heat_1023.html "There will come a time in my career as a master where a young ninja will take me out," O'Neal said, using another in a long line of martial arts metaphors. "That's just how it happens. If you look at all the karate movies that's how they go. There's one young hungry ninja and he has to beat the guy with the white beard. The old guy with the white beard is the one you have to take out." What did shaq suggest? Yao, be ready this season!!
He could be talking about Yao, or he could be talking about D-Howard whom the Heat played against last night. There have been comparisons made between Howard and Shaq.
Btw, isn't Shaq already a Sheriff? He just wants to be everything, doesn't he? so Shaq is a Philosopher, Sheriff, and now a Kung Fu Master?
Shaq was on Quite Frankly a while ago and when he was asked about other big men in the league he didnt even mention Yao's name He did refer to amare and d.howard though he is not the only person who thinks they are better big men, only knock is they are not true centers He also said he is the only true center left
I thought Jet Li was planning on retiring from action films? If so, maybe we can put him on the bench. He'd be pretty handy against Bruce "Lee" Bowen! And he can take Ryan Bowen's spot. C'mon Cap Space Gurus, make it happen!
Well since Yao has already surpassed Shaq, Yao doesn't need to "take him out", that was accomplished in his second season.
Well, that says a lot about how Shaq views Yao Ming, in fact, as a true center. He has no problem to praise Amare and Howard, because they play different style. I just don't want Yao to play too hard tonight. If he gets Shaq really upset, Shaq might throw elbows around.
The elbows Yao can handle; he gets 'em every night. It's Shaq's stupid-large clown feet I'm warier about. I thin Yao'll be fine, though.
I think this metaphor is way off. In this case, Shaq is not wiser , stronger and Yao is not little. Actually, he is the opposite of an old master. He is more like a washed out old timer, which used to the hercules of the league.
If Tom Cruise can be the Last Samurai, then Yao Ming can be a young ninja. I'm a firetruck. I doubt there's a single GM In the league that would rather have Shaq than Yao.
I'm not surprised. First, it's obvious Shaq has the maturity of a 15 yr old. That's why when Shaq feels most threatened by Yao he won't even recognize him. He mentions Amare and Howard but like he said they aren't actually centers thus there's not really a comparison anyways. I don't blame Shaq for still feeling like he's the best center, but there's no harm in saying Yao is next in line. I think deep down he knows he's already in 2nd and slipping.
I wouldn't call Shaq washed out. Sure, he is declining rapidly, but he is far from washed out. As for Shaq giving credit to D.Howard and Amare, he isn't the only one overlooking Yao. Lots of the national media are doing the same (dime mag picked D.Howard as their choice to take over from Shaq the other day). The good thing is that Yao knows that the only way to shut all these so called 'pundits' up (and to shut Shaq up) is to play the games. Like he said in his rookie year 'basketball isn't something you talk about, tis something you play and show people'. Ehh, something to that effect anyway .