YAO MING DISSED BY SHAQ!!!! BAKERSFIELD -- Shaquille O'Neal traveled here with the Lakers, more than two hours by bus Tuesday, for their exhibition opener. He said once again that he has no idea when he will play after undergoing toe surgery on Sept. 11. He said he hopes to begin light jogging next week. Then (surprise!) he grew playful before the Lakers' 101-99 loss to the Clippers before a sellout crowd of 10,097 at Centennial Garden. "I'm going to kick your ... Yao Ming," O'Neal whispered into a reporter's tape recorder, referring to the Houston Rockets' top draft pick. "Shaq-zilla is coming." Asked about the Sacramento Kings, he said, "I'm not worried about the Sacramento Queens. Write it down. Take a picture. I'm not going to talk about this all year. When I get back, there's going to be trouble." Asked about reinforcement of the "Shaq rule," which prohibits free-throw shooters from stepping over the line before the ball hits the rim, he said, "I cross the line to mess with you. The officials came to me before every game in the playoffs and warned me. I said, 'Call it.' It's not going to bother me. They've already made up one 'Shaq rule' with that ... defense [the zone]. "Complaining won't stop me. It will only make me angry. You don't want me angry." Asked about Michael Olowokandi, his Clipper counterpart who suggested O'Neal grow up after the two nearly came to blows in a game last season, "Donald Sterling showed me he's not in my league." The Clippers and Olowokandi failed to agree during the off-season on a long-term "max-out" deal worth about $100 million over the next seven seasons. Instead, Olowokandi took a one-season qualifying offer worth $6.1 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent next July 1. "No," O'Neal said when asked if he was still upset with Olowokandi after their confrontation last season, "I'm not mad."
If you dominate like Shaq, I think you have earned the right to say whatever the hell you want. Hell, a rivalry between him and Ming could be good for the league overall and people here are still over reacting and thinking Shaq is out of line and should be punished for what he says. Let's just sit back and enjoy the smack, newsflash, everybody else in the USA is probably on Shaq's side.
i think that if the kings had beaten the lakers last year... which, they did.....really... i would be more content with being a sports fan. but they didnt, so im not.... i have never wanted any team to lose more than these la lakers. its used to be the bulls... but these guys are so freaking arrogant, kobe, shaq and phil... i mean they act like they didnt even have a problem with the kings last year. and a third straight championship, was just a matter of time. they barely won. and everyone keeps forgetting that.. everyone just thinks "shaq, kobe, lakers"-unbeatable.. ...and charles barkley doesnt help matters. hes the king of "the lakers are unbeatable" bandwagon. AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! why robert horry? ...why? anyway, these comments just fuel the fire... but on one hand, the fact that he even took the time to mention yao ming, means he's noticed our team. ..and thats something we probably couldnt say the last few years...
ill be willing to bet you that horry will be a member of the rockets next year, since hes a FA. he considered going back 2 years ago b/c his wife and kids live there. i have a feeling he'll be shootin those shots for us against the lakers in the western conference finals sometime in the near future. . .
I wouldn't be surprised if Stern has encouraged Shaq to talk smak... Controversy brings in TV viewers.
Shaq is the most charasmatic guy in the league. Even if it is at the expense of OUR beloved Ming, I'm still a Shaq fan. Without Shaq what would basketball be? BASEBALL! A bunch of boring dudes with game but no sauce. Hell, contrary to most I like Tom Tolbert for the same reasons, dude's got flava!!!!!!!! All I gotta say is BRING IT!
Man, he's getting defensive all over the place w/ that article.... Someone needs to take a basketball and shove it up his BIG A$$
Couldn't agree mo, ano bro. I dont understand why many people are negative towards Tommy T. He is a flashy speaker. He gets my attention because you do not know what could come out of his hole. As for Shaq, he is the funniest player in the league. The Sacramento Queens smack was great if you saw it on TV. Lets get something straight, The Rockets will be double teaming Shaq. Yao is too skinny to guard him one-on-one. The best way for Yao to combat Shaq is to attack him on the offensive end.
I have a question. Did the NBA make the zone to stop the boring ISO's, which mainly the Rockets did, or did they do it to try and stop Shaq. I know that it was supposed to hurt Shaq's game as well, but I thought it was more centered on the ISO's. BTW, this article does get me a little more angry with Shaq.
Chalk up another Shaq-proponent. Dude cracks me up; gives Barkley a run for his money. Besides, a little fear might do Ming some good. If I knew Shaq was coming after me, I'd be hitting the weights big time. (actually, I'd be curled up in a fetal position behind my desk, but you get the idea)
Shaq is just talking smack. Shaq knows enough about the game to see that we will be the team to be reckoned with if the Laker's dominance is to continue, in the future. Look, Shaq may be a loud mouth and get alot of calls but he is hardly the cheap shot artists that the Jazz are especially Stockton and Malone. Shaq vs. Yao Ming That is good for the NBA...period
The best thing that could happen to our Franchise is for a rivalry to develop with Shaq and Ming. Rivaries get interest, which gets coverage, something we do not get enough of. Be great to see the Sunday afternnon game of the week being Yao and the Rockets take on Shaq and the Lakers. I'm all for Shaq getting some interest in our team.
Maybe our 6th/7th seed in the WC Playoffs is assured now. Shaqzilla v. UltraMing for the Conference Championship. Sweet.
Let Shaq talk his smack... Judging by Yao's attitude we have heard about, he will take it as a challenge and try to step up to it to the best of his abilities.. It will be good for him, and good for the league...Contraversy brings viewers..and if people want to see what player Shaq is talking about, they will watch Rox games...Higher ratings for the national games we have now will bring us more national games shown..It's all good. I will celebrate for days when the Fakers get knocked off their throne..It will shock the **** outta them when it happens..The looks on their faces will be priceless.. Chill guys, it's just Shaq doin what he does best...Talkin smack.
I disagree. Do you call the uptempo style of the NJ Nets and the Kings boring? Forget whether you like him or not - is Rasheed Wallace boring? Payton still talks trash and isn't boring. I still greatly enjoy rooting against Stockton and Malone. IMHO, Vince Carter, TMac & Steve Francis have "flava". Barkley hasn't been out of the league that long and that Jordan fellow still sells out arenas everywhere. The list goes on... I guess what is "flava-ful" is a matter of personal opinion. If I were faced with a league of Shaq's or league full of Tim Duncans, I'd take the latter. I quit watching pro football along about the time it got too "flava-ful" - if I never have to see another Icky shuffle it would be too soon. I am sure I am a minority on this one, but Shaquille O'Neall is full of himself. The Big Aristotle...Pythagorean Theorum...give me a break. If the NBA officiating ever starts to consistently call Shaq's rocking into a defender to clear space the offensive foul that it is, his ratings will drop like cement in water. If the NBA were music, Shaq would be "punk rock" and players like Jordan, Bibby, Webber, TMac, Ray Allen, Garnett, Paul Pierce, Antonio Davis and others would be "smooth jazz".
