Kenny Smith interviewing Shaq on TNT before the game tonight asked him how important it was to maintain his dominance over Sabonis. Shaq responded by saying that even when Sabonis scored on him, it wasn't like he was backing him down to do it. He then added, it wasn't like what Hakeem did to him in their championship matchup. He and Kenny started laughing after that. ------------------ ?
You gotta like this guy. I don't know why some Rockets fans hate Shaq so much. Unlike Malone, Pimping or Oakley, he never said anything bad about Houston or any Rockets players, he never tried to harm any players intentionally (except the fight with Barkley, but even that it was hilarious and they both shrugged it off and he wasn't really trying to hurt Barkley -- in fact he got beat pretty badly). And he always has respect for Hakeem. Sailor ------------------ If Dream was a horse ... he would not be pulling your bandwagon anymore.
Nice pick up DoD (indirect compliment for DoD from Smeg) ------------------ CUT Tino Isn't it amazing how quickly everyone did a Cat Backflip!!!!!
I don't hate Shaq- I just think he's funny because he is SO stupid. Don't confuse that for hate. I respect him and I know he has always complemented Hakeem and the Rockets, but sometimes it is so fun to pick on him because he is probably the stupidest player I have ever seen. ------------------
If someone says something good about me there are two ways that I can react. I can be appreciative and flattered because I have respect for the opinions of that person or I could care less because I think that person is an idiot. If someone says something bad about me I can react two ways. I can try to change because I value that person's criticism or I can be offended because some moron is talking s*** about me. Shaq is an idiot. I don't care if he compliments Hakeem or not, it doesn't matter to me because he has shown that his opinions mean nothing. Ask David Robinson. ------------------
Way to tell them how Hakeem schooled you, Big Aristotle.......Hakeem isn't even nearly as big as Sabonis. Yeah, Shaq does in fact admire Hakeem, and looks up to him. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
Hey Cat I don't think Shaq's really that stupid. You just don't understand him well enough. He's like the pythagorean theorem, remember? ------------------
a squared + b squared = c squared not 2 hard ------------------ "We need to fockass".....Dream back in the day
I have to say that I didn't really like Shaq until I read Dream's Autobio. In "Living the Dream", Olajuwon includes a small bit about Shaq (a few pages). Dream talks about Shaq's talents and praises him in ways that we usually don't see people talk about - like grace and agility. Both seem to have the utmost respect for eachother. Pick up this book and give it a look if you get a chance - the bit about Shaq was very interesting and unexpected. ------------------
Just because he likes Dream and I like Dream doesn't mean that I have to like him. I don't like him because I don't think he respects the game, gets away with murder (ala Malone), and he is the most arrogant player in the NBA outside of his teammate. I could give a rat's ass whether he respected Dream or not. Everyone should. ------------------ Get your proper swirve on...visit www.swirve.com (coming in mid-June, for now visit www.eesite.com)
I second that, Rocketman95. ------------------ HOOP-T Hey Shaq, Acme called, and they want their bricks back!
D0D: I liked your Kevin Garnett post better This post rates as a 2 ------------------ You just want to be on the side thats winning.
Really, I don't understand why everyone has to hate Shaq so much. He is not nearly one of the most arrogant players in the NBA. I could give you a whole list of more arrogant players. Ok, I will: KOBE Iverson Miller Malone Cassell Carter(probably a tie here-he always does mean, look how cool I am look) The Glove Stephon Marbury Sprewell-maybe not arrogant, but I hate him anyway Anyway, the list could go on. Sure, Shaq does have his looks, etc that makes him seem kinda of arrogant. But with the exception of Gary Payton, who IMHO is the best, most complete point guard out there, Shaq has every reason to be arrogant. I mean, he put together one of the greatest seasons in the history of the NBA (I said one of, there have been better). Beyond that, he will dominate the center position for the next decade. I understand teh complaints. Well, hes only good cause he is so large, or he never shoots out of the paint. HEck, MJ was only good cause he was sooo athletic. This is a sport, and your body and body size does count so you cant use that against you. I mean even Olajuwon. You're gonna say he has/had real talent. I agree, but even he only had that talent because of a wonderfully graceful,agile,athletic body, that was also about 6'10. Shaq simply dominates. We all know the dunk is easier than the 3 pointer. IF Shaq can dunk or get an easy layup all the time, why should he move outside of the paint to shoot. THat would be dumb (and while he is not too bright, he isnt that dumb). THe free throw thing kinda bugs me too. Why cant he just work on his darn free throws. OTher than that, he is simple awesome and is not nearly as arrogant as he could be for his level of play. ------------------ Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things!
I really don't have anything against Shaq. Hell, I'd love to have the guy on my team(especially if he could hit 70% of his FT)! He may no be the best speaker, but he is honest. He doesn't take cheap shots at people(ie. Pippen/Malone). He's just a really good basketball player having fun. Shaq gives respect where it's due and he knows that Hakeem deserves the utmost respect for being such a classy all around guy and arguably the best center to play the game. You just knew someone was going to bring MJ into this! MJ was not good because he was athletic. Joe Smith is athletic, but you don't see him taking over and controlling games. MJ was skilled and talented like few other players have been. He worked hard and his athleticism just made him an even better player. Getting back to Shaq, he could be a dominant player like MJ, but he needs to become more serious about his game. MJ was a competitor in the true sense of the word. He wanted to win and would do whatever it took to win. If Shaq had 1/2 the focus of MJ, he might win 6 rings himself. ------------------ We need some meat in the post!
You guys bring up some good points, but c'mon. Shaq's not good just because hes big. Heck, Oliver Miller is big, and you dont see him dominating either. And most of the things you listed about MJ can easily be transferred to Shaq. Shaq is not great because he is extremely large. He is great because he has knowledge of the game(you cant say he doesnt if you've been watching the progression of his game the past few years), hustles, plays with passion, makes the players around him better, passes the ball, dominates defensively, gets into his opponents heads, is a true competitor, can shoot (at the range that he has to shoot at), etc, etc, the list for Shaq can go on and on. I only brought up the athleticism thing to make a point. Shaq is an extremely big, large man. Sure, maybe he cant bring the ball up the court or drive to the basket from the 3 point line, but would you want HAkeem doing that?? Or Kareem?? Besides, the few times I have seen the ball in his hands when orchestrating a fast break, he has done a pretty good job (the whole alley oop passing to Kobe comes to mind). Anyway, what I am trying to say is, Shaq has all those characteristics MJ has, dominates the game and his position like no other, yet there are still people hating him. PEople dont hate MJ, and that man is EXTREMELY arrogant. I hate the Lakers. I do. But I cant hate Shaq. Even as dumb as he is, he still plays the game intelligently (he realizes his strengths and takes advantage of them). I mean even during the whole Hack-A-Shaq during game 1 the guy didnt get mad, throw a fit, etc, he just took his place on the line and shot his free throws. This is a guy with respect fo the game. GIve him a break. ------------------ Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things!
One more thing MJ was not GREAT solely because he was athletic. But you have to admit, there are other players with his characteristics that arent nearly as atheltic. I mean if MJ was not very athletic, he would still be in the league and have had a good career, but basically he would have been a SHandon Anderson and not a MJ---think about it, SHandon has most of those traits too, just not nearly the athleticism ------------------ Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things!
mj was gr8 because of: 1) ability to dominate physically @ his position 2) ability to dominate other players mentally 3) ability to understand the game (dean smith) 4) ability to work the refs 5) the nba hype machine of all these things, #4 impresses me the most. i mean, you couldn't think about mj without fouling him. ------------------ miles ahead of the rest
I like to root against Shaq for a few reasons, one is that he's making Phil Jackass look good just like Jordan did, another is that NBC and the NBA are trying to shove him down my throat. Another is I don't think he's clutch, yet will surely be thought of as an all-time great, odds are most will say he was better than Hakeem. The guy can't make a shot outside the paint, and can't hit a free throw. People now think he's this great defensive player, which is a another joke. What it comes down to, is the guy's such a good player because of size and strength. The league and the networks know he's an idiot, yet continue to shove a mike in the poor guy's face every chance they get. A lot of this really isn't his fault, but it's sports, what do you want. We root against who we want to. ------------------ "It's always funny until someone gets hurt...and then it's just hilarious." -Faith No More
I thought he said he was like the pythagorean triangle, not the theorem. The theorem is easy enough, but the pythagorean triangle is simply mind-boggling. ------------------ http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/
HEY!!! watch that carter comment! vince isn't what i would consider arrogant. he has confidence (as well he should) and passion. as for shaq. well, he isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer (the pythagorean triangle comes to mind!!!), but there's really no reason to hate him. the reasons i hear are usually signs of envy (cause he's just too big), or simply people who criticize that while shaq may not have his Masters Degree, you sure do have your P.H.D. ------------------ miles ahead of the rest
