Pretty classless comments by Shaq. Seems like he always has bad things to say about his former teams. I wish Riley would have been harsher. Riley: Shaq's Heat criticisms are 'sad' Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Pat Riley. (Getty) Pat Riley. (Getty) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK -- Pat Riley can't understand why Shaquille O'Neal keeps talking about the Miami Heat. Riley responded to O'Neal's criticisms Wednesday with some of his own, saying his former centre was wrong to disparage some of his old teammates and trainers in a Boston Globe story. "It's sad that he says those things. We shared so much here, together, for three years, good and bad, 3 1/2 years," Riley said, referring specifically to the Heat's 2006 NBA title. "I just think it's sad that he's got to do that." Riley dealt O'Neal to Phoenix before the trade deadline, allowing the 36-year-old center the chance to compete for another title instead of sticking around Miami for a last-place finish. O'Neal made it clear how much he prefers his new teammates. "I love playing for this coach and I love playing with these guys," O'Neal told the Globe. "We have professionals who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I'm actually on a team again." Riley said he doesn't have "anything but good feelings for Shaq" and wasn't bothered by any criticism leveled at him. But he said O'Neal has no reason to blame anyone else in the organization for his unhappiness. "When you're 9-40, we're all frustrated. I mean everybody's at fault, we all were. Everybody was feeling bad and nobody wants that," Riley said. "He didn't want to be there, he didn't want to play for that kind of situation, 35 years old. He wanted to go to a contender and we sent him there. We sent him to Utopia and we're left here with the carnage and I don't know why he's not happy." Riley also defended the work of veteran trainer Ron Culp and the team's medical staff, saying O'Neal was out of line to speak poorly of them. "It's really a shame that he would insult those people like that because they gave him care. They cared," Riley said. "They didn't kiss his butt. They cared about him. "He can do whatever he wants to do to me. That's OK, I don't care. But those men, they tried. ... That upsets me more than anything." http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2008/03/26/Heat-Riley-Shaq-0/
Shaq will get a great opportunity to pontificate further, after the first round of the playoffs. I think the suns win maybe 2 games, but that's it.
Shaq is really making it hard to like him. He continues to burn bridges. If I were Kobe I woulda sold his ass out to the cops too.
Shaq was the reason why I hated the Lakers after growing up as a fan of Magic/Worthy/Kareem in the 80s. He got away with being lazy in his prime because of his freakish physical talents. Everybody seems to think he is funny, but he's just really being ignorant. It's like a r****ded adult with Tourette's - when he spouts off something offensive people treat him with kid gloves and fawn over what "a funny guy." Remember when he mocked Yao? "Ching Chong Wah So Ah" (I despise Barkley for similar reasons). Shaq always burns bridges. It's a wonder he still has friends. *bragging that he slept with Venus Williams, Aaliyah, and Cindy Crawford http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=1449 *Kobe, Phil Jackson (calling Shaq "the only person I've ever had that hasn't been a worker") and the Lakers *his wife *now Riley and the Heat
Shaq has friends because... $ If I was Quinn or Ricky Davis I would want to cheap shot his ass next time I saw him, maybe a nut tap would do.
Shaq's comments definitely reflects his play style, he gets away with waaaaay too much in my opinion, throwing elbows around and shoving and such. Plays like a thug and acts like one too, I won't be regretting his retirement..
wow, making fun of former teammates not being good? what a douchebag thing to do. awww, poor shaq, for the first time in his career he wasn't on a loaded team. almost had to play a whole year w/o some big time talent. but even then, fate and the Heat intervene and he's right back on a contender, traded to the team with the best record in the west. nevermind that you being a ****** who didn't work hard helped bring the Heat down b/c you didn't wanna actually work hard for a subpar team (God forbid you try to earn the $20 million), but make sure to talk bad about them after they got you another title. any time that petulant little ego (actually massive ego) gets bruised shaq never lacks for immaturity in the things he says. what a jerk.
I can't believe Shaq said that. He needs to get embarrassed in the playoffs and be taken off his high horse.
It's all good...once the Suns get bounced from the playoffs, I expect Amare or someone else on the team to make some comments about how Shaq screwd them over. He really needs to shut up and just play.
his real nicknames should be "The Big Insecure" or "The Big Ego". those comments are just disgusting. i've always known that about shaq. everybody thinks he's such a great, nice guy, but he isnt. and he never had any respect for yao's game because he's not black. same reason he didnt think nash deserved his mvps.
That was a pretty classless move on Shaqs part...> Even if you feel that way, keep it to yourself. Whats the point of making disparaging comments about your ex teammates when you are supposed to be the team leader? All it shows is your lack of leadership and class. Although, Ricky Davis is a complete meathead but if i were Chris Quinn, i would be pretty choked.
I am so sick of Shaq.. he looks like a 300lb kid without his ADD meds when he has the ball. He get's away with smashing the opposing defenders and bowling over them most of the time. He also has a way of getting away with his shuffling feet. He also is building a legacy of "burning bridges" with every team that he left. He is clueless.. Amare president and Nash VP? I am sorry but if the Suns lose Nash.. they are a lottery team. What's with Shaq and his stupid analogies.
here's shaq being stupid when discussing the MVP race. REALLY STUPID Shaq says Kobe MVP, puts Stoudemire ahead of Garnett When asked for his thoughts on the MVP race, Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal didn't hesitate. "The Kobester," he said, referencing his old teammate and occasional foil, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. "He's an assassin, with LeBron [James] coming in right behind. After that, I really haven't been paying attention." So some brave soul raised the possibility that the guy across the hall in TD Banknorth Garden - Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett -- might be in the discussion as well. O'Neal shook his head. No way. "I'm going to have to go with my guy before him," he said, motioning to teammate Amare Stoudemire's locker. "All day, every day. Garnett doesn't play defense". http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/...VP-puts-Stoudemire-ahead-of-Gar?urn=nba,73715
Holy crap, that doesn't even begin to make sense. One, Garnett plays wonderful defense, both man to man and team. Two, Stoudemire is one of the worst defensive players in the league. Hilarious. If I were a Suns fan I'd want him to keep his mouth shut. Amare needs people telling him that the D he's playing isn't cutting it, not that he's doing it at an MVP level...
