For 19 years in the NBA he was a dominate force who put the fear in every opposing player who visited the The Shaqtus under the basket. He changed the game with his size & ability, his tenacity, his relentless effort & by breaking down backboards. Somebody got paid very well to create a new backboard that could sustain the punishment of a massive Shaq slam. People that should thank Shaq: Kobe Bryant & Lakers organization, Dwyane Wade & Miami Heat organization, Brad Miller in 2002 for Shaq’s haymaker not connecting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B10qzaH5eQk
Drafted into the NBA in 1992 by the Orlando Magic from Louisiana State University 1st overall & then was selected as the Rookie of the Year. He was a monster, a beast & was noticed as one of the best centers in the league shortly into his career. His first NBA finals appearance was in 1995 with the Magic but he didn’t win until he teamed up with Kobe Bryant & the Los Angeles Lakers. They won 3 Championships in a row 2000 through 2002 & then it got a little ugly between him & Kobe in my opinion was over who was receiving the most star power. Today they would deny that collectively. After the Lakers he moved around the league while maintaing his dominance stopping in Miami 1st to help another young apprentice in Dwyane Wade win his 1st Championship & his 4th in 2006. From there he moved to the Phoenix Suns to play with Steve Nash & later moved on to play with LeBron James in Cleveland. He finishes a Hall of Fame career with 4 titles & 15 All-star appearances & retires after 1 season with the Big 3 of the Celtics. More notable achievements too many to list all of them but he was also 3 x NBA Finals MVP, 2 x NBA scoring Champ & 8 x All-NBA First Team.
For me his personality speaks higher volumes than his statistics through his wonderous career. More than anything Shaq has shown that he is a people person even today by retiring via Twitter to his fans before announcing it to the media, a CLASS-ACT, definitely can’t say that about every athlete. He’s made millions laugh with his comedical antics & has always been a source of entertainment from making rap albums, to that ShaZamm movie, not sure if I spelled that right but no offense, it’s not worth looking it up. He’s showed that you can be an athlete & not be cocky, not be rude & overall be a human.
Alot of athletes should take a page out his book & come down off their high horse & relate with their fans like Shaq has. He’s played for more than half of my life & I’ve always been a fan, not sure where he’s headed next in life but I’m sure he’ll be just as dominant.
Shaq’s farewell from his twitter page. http://www.tout.com/m/9944wo
Holla’ Big Shaq you’ll always be an Icon.
It is what it is…
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