After hearing his comments that the only way he'll play for his country in international competition is if Phil Jackson is the coach, I am no longer a Shaq supporter. In fact, I wouldn't shed a tear if his career is over and he never fully recovers from the foot injury. I've always liked him, but to me this is just about the most disgraceful thing a pro athlete can say; especially in these times. I'll never be rooting for his selfish, unpatriotic ass again. Larry Brown is a great coach who has earned the right to be the head coach in the next Olympics. But when Shaq was asked about playing in 2004, he said something like, "if Larry Brown's the coach my leg might just be hurting too bad to play." And as far as I know, Phil Jackson doesn't even give two ****s about being the coach, which just make Shaq's comments all the more stupid. I don't see how anyone can respect him after that comment.
This is more that Shaq has respect for Phil than disrespect for Brown. Shaq said over and over again months ago, if he might play IF Phil is the coach. Phil isn't the coach, so why is this a surprise? Side note: STOP.....I repeat STOP using 9/11 and patriotism as excuses as to why players should play for their country. It's getting to the point where we'll have to stop talking about the seperation of chuch and state, but sports and state/politics. It's SPORTS........I think people have forgotten that these are just SPORTS!!!
Give me a break! I could care less if Shaq doesn't want to play in the Olympics. With his health, I wouldn't even blame him for not wanting to play. If that was the case, he could have just said: "No! I'm not really interested in playing. Thank you." But for him to make his own personal demands about something that is a lot bigger than him and then threaten to not play if he doesn't get his way is just plain wrong. There's a huge difference between not wanting to play and not wanting to play unless you get your way. Surely you can see that. I can't believe you are actually defending his comments.
Maybe some people just don't view international sports contests as being all that important in the grand scheme of things...
I don't mind if Shaq doesn't play for what ever reason, but the way he conducted himself really pissed me off. Instead of telling the truth and saying he'd only play for Phil, or showing some tact and not saying anything at all, he busts out with that asinine comment of his knee being hurt in 2004. I've always liked Shaq, but this is just inexcusable.
If you're going to hate Shaq for this reason, perhaps you should hate the other NBA stars who turned down palying for USA?
As far as I know other NBA players aren't disrespecting another coach, giving ultimatums, or making a mockery out of something that many people take seriously. I wouldn't hate him for not wanting to play.
I would agree with the whole "its just sports" arguement. The thing is, the Olympics is a sporting event so to speak. I think the reason why NBA players are being critized, and the reason that DCKid is critizing Shaq, is because those players dont look at it the same way as other athletes do with regards to representing their country. I mean, take almost any other sport, whether it be soccer or gymnastics or whatever. Do you ever hear of those athletes turning down opportunities to play in the Olympics? The majority of athletes in this country consider it an honor and a privelege. A good majority of the best in the NBA don't. Why is this?
Especially after the US just got their asses handed to them in Indianapolis. You'd think some of them might have a little more pride. However, I just wanted to clarify something. I don't hate Shaq for simply not wanting to play in the Olympics, although I disagree with his decision. What I HATE is his comments and the way he's gone about it. And I'm sure he'll probably do something to change my opinion of him, because I've always liked Shaq and his quirky comments and his interest in law enforcement, etc. I realize that most of what he says is just in good fun, but to me his latest comments are downright insulting. That's just the way I feel.
I don't think Shaq meant any disrespect. Look Shaq pulled out of the Olympics because he was injured. I didn't realize how bad until now because it's obvious he wants to play but he can't because of his toe. People pull out of all other Olympic events because of injury all of the time. There's nothing unpatriotic about that, or not playing in the Olympics because of his coach. I would be upset if that is the reason he didn't play, but unpatriotic is somebody who spits in the face of the country, not playing in a sporting event isn't really unpatriotic.
Please, this is just another one of his "quirky", idiotic-sounding comments towards an issue in which we already knew the outcome weeks before. It's one thing if he never mentioned Phil into the equation a few weeks ago, but he did. This is no worse than the "Sacramento Queens" comment, or any more dumb sounding than the "pythagorean theorem" comment. I guess we just have different view points. That's the question that should be asked. I guess some of it may have to do with the fact that this is the only time a lot of these events/sports get their due by the media. Oh, and the Olympics are already a mockery thanks to events like Curling and scandals. J/K
Shaq is a good guy, but with a HUGE ego. Everything has become about Shaq....everything. I suspect that he and Babe Ruth of the 20's are/were a lot alike. Good guys.....HUGE egos. It probably comes with the total dominance of a pro sport.
Personally, I dont feel athletes from lesser sports accept invitation to the olympics just for the media coverage. NBA players do though. Would Shaq and co. travel to South America to represent their country for a tournament that wasnt hyped by the media? Of course not. However, I would venture to guess that gymnasts and whatnot always go for the chance at competing, winning and representing their country.
He wasnt disrespecting Larry Brown. He just wants to play for his coach. If he doesnt want to play, then fine. Let him be that way. Its really not that big of a deal. Being a "Shaq-hater for life" is a little overboard.
codell, I agree with ya. I guess I should of re-worded it. It's just that for a lot of these events, this is the only time they receive as much attention as the Super Bowl or the NBA Finals, while the "BIG Game(s)" for the 3 or 4 major sports of America are held every year. I guess it's just nothing worth spending a month or two in the off season for?
Well I think anyone playing after May should get to decide for themselves whether or not to play. Fortunately there is plenty of talent to tap into for the Olympics.
I dont know what NBA players are thinking. A couple of things come to mind 1) The Dream Team has always waxed the competition year after year ...NBA players probably dont think their country needs them to win so ....... 2) I think NBA players dont realize what an honor it is to compete is something like the Olympics. Funny enough, I heard on the radio today that Tracy McGrady has pledged his time to the Olympic team. Maybe now that we have lost against the rest of the world, the better players will realize that they are needed. Hopefully others will follow suit.
What can I say? I was going for the "gripping headline" angle. I <b>won't</b> be a "Shaq-hater for life," but I must admit that I've now lost a lot of respect for him.
Pierce was dissing Karl and shifting ALL the blame to him for our Worlds disaster. Some players are "expressing interest" now, but how many of them are going to forgo two summers because of the Tournament of the Americas qualifier that we have to win in order to play in the Olympics?
