So Long Shaq

Shaq-Diesel Retires

Shaquille O'Neal announced his retirement today after 19 years in the NBA. I for one will miss the big guy. Shaq retires with 4 NBA titles, 3 Finals MVP's, and was a 15 time All-Star. In the time after Michael Jordan retired, Shaq was the face of the NBA. He is a gentle giant who's place in NBA history is secure. Now O'Neal has his detractors. People talked about how he didn't have a shot, a go to move, and all he could do was dunk. A lot of that was true early on but none of that bothered me. What I marvelled at was Shaq pure athleticism at his size, 7'1 and 320 (in his early years. I had never seen a guy with that size and pure brute strength, be so agile on the court. Shaq could block a shot or grab a rebound and start the fastbreak like a guard. He loved to run the floor as if he was a small forward or shooting guard. And yes the finish at the rim was a dunk and it always would leave the whole backboard shaking. I remember taping his first national game on NBC and he caught a lob from Penny Hardaway and dunked so hard that the entire backboard and rim came down. The game was delayed because Shaq broke it on the first play of the game. Shaq was the closest thing to Samson in sports to me and my friends.


When Shaq put his mind to it and worked hard he improved his game and became one of the most dominant to play the game. But that was thing with Shaq that bothered most people, he didn't always show that desire and hustle. There was the issues with him being a horrible free throw shooter and his coaches not having him on the floor. The constant weight gains in the offseason, the distractions off the floor with movies and rap albums, and the bickering with Kobe. I think one of his defining moments in his career will be his time in Miami, where he set out to help elevate Dwyane Wade status as a champion and started his descent as a role player. Shaq knew his time was ending when he left Miami and tried in Phoenix and in Cleveland to duplicate the Laker and Miami magic, but in the end father time is undefeated. Samson finally met his Delilah.

Shaq, thank you for the memorable dunks, nicknames and classic press conferences. Most of all thank you for being a gentle giant who cared about from coast to coast You have touched the lives of many young people and provided joy to those watching you on the court. History will remember you as an all-time great, who kept the NBA relevant post Jordan. You are definitely on the Mt. Rushmore of centers because I don;t believe we will ever see a guy with the size, speed and strength of the NBA's Superman.