I don't know if any of you saw this, but when Stuart Scott was interviewing Shaq on ESPN, Scott asked Shaq about Hakeem leading the Rockets to sweep O'Neal's Magic in 1995. O'Neal replied by saying that Hakeem comforted him and told him that a day would come when O'Neal would be the one doing the sweeping. Shaq followed that statement by saying that Hakeem is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Hearing the best player in the game today pay respect to Hakeem made my day.
How can anyone not respect Dream. He was 6'10 and dominated 4 of the 50 greatest (Robinson, Barkley, Shaq, Ewing) during the championship years.
First Tyson now Shaq - just when your ready to hate them they start showing respect and acting like nice guys. (actually I've never heard Shaq diss Hakeem - only Robinson, etc.) I have a feeling this topic has been discussed before but how old is Hakeem? Any truth to the rumor he is actually 4 or 5 years older? (lowered his age for college purposes)
Shaq has class. As for Hakeem being older, I don't think so, I think he is as old as advertised. DaDakota
Shaq has always shown admiration and respect for Hakeem. I've heard him mention things like the above in interviews for a long time now. He's probably the only player Shaq has faced in his entire NBA career who managed to get the best of him.
TheGreatest: What did Tyson say about Hakeem? I never heard about this. That's because t didn't happen. Tyson showed respect for Lennox Lewis after the fight. He was probably afraid Lewis would hit him again. Ironically, though, Hakeem writes in Living the Dream that he visited Tyson in prison and tried to turn him around. It obviously didn't work. Ghettostar85: what did robinson say about olajuwon? Nothing! It was Shaq who dissed Robinson. Reread the post more carefully. Azadre: I thought 6' 11"? 6'10", 6'11", 7' ... all part of the Legend ... I like Shaq, too. I can't help it. I want to hate him, but I can't. It's not his fault that he gets so many gifts from the officials...
i remember during a Rockets game back in 1993 that they stated the actual heights of famous centers around the league and that Olajuwon stood at 6'10 3/4"
I remember in an interview earlier on in his career someone asked Shaq that if he was Superman, what was Hakeem? "Aquaman, 'cause he's so fluid." ...
i think you misunderstood me, they were just talking about various popular centers around the league... if i remember correctly: rik smits was listed at 7'4" but actually was 7'2 1/2" shaq is listed at 7'1" but actually is 7'0 1/4" alonzo is listed at 7'0" but is actually 6'11" that's all i can remember...
I like Shaq too although his game is really ugly. I like the fact he doesn't get after the official even though he gets hammered all the time. He's only lost his temper once and that was when Oakley and Miller tried to take him out.
as well as his age "HAKEEM WAS 163 years old when he went to Toronto!!" - the guy from the barber shop in Coming to America rocket River
