Top 10 Random Acts of Shaqness I'll Never Forget

Shaq scoring 61 points on his birthday in 2000 - Watching this game live, I knew Shaq was mad that the Clippers wouldn't honor his requests for more tickets on his 28th birthday. This game symbolized just how dominant he was that year. He added 23 rebounds and it's still one of the best scoring efforts I've witnessed.



The alley-oop - The 4th quarter rally happened while I was at Evening Service at my church. I got home thinking the game was over only to watch this play over and over and over again. I can still hear Bob Costas make the call and I can see Staples Center and the Lakers bench erupting as one as Kobe shook Scottie Pippen and threw up for the big man to get it. It ranks up there with beating Boston in Game 7 as my favorite Lakers playoff moment.

The near quad-double in Game 2 of 01 Finals - Game 1 was all about Allen Iverson's one man show with 48 points. Game 2 was about reasserting dominance and Shaq, who had 44 and 20 in Game 1, let everyone know who was the true unguardable force was. 28 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists, 8 blocks. For people who said Shaq was all brute force, this was a reminder of how underrated his passing was.

Coast 2 Coast versus Miami - One of my favorite plays. Rookie Shaq grabbing the rebound, dribbling the length of the floor and slamming it home like a runaway train. Miami's players scattering like children makes it even better. Young Shaq was a beast. An absolutely terrifying combo of speed, agility and power.



Destroying David Robinson in the 96 ASG - Let's set the scene. Game's nearly over. All-Star Game is in San Antonio, hometown team of David Robinson and the city where Shaq became a HS sensation. Shaq's long felt that the Admiral snubbed him and never had any love for him. Worlds collided in 1996 and at the end, Robinson got humiliated by the Shaq Attack. And that might be putting it lightly.



Destroying Chris Dudley - My personal standard for embarrassing somebody: Dunk on them and leave them on the floor in a crumpled heap. Scottie Pippen did it to Ewing. Shaq did it to Chris Dudley with a two-hand flush and then shoving him into the photographers. I remember going nuts at the dinner table and then laughing at Dudley, one of the worst FT shooters in history, somehow aiming a perfect pass into Shaq's back in retaliation.



Tearing down the backboards twice - I don't know what's better. Shaq saying this was payback for Derrick Coleman or big stuff Dwayne Schnitzus catching the worst of this. Either way, this is Chocolate Thunder x 10!!!! As for the Phoenix dunk, even the backboard knew to cower in front of Shaq's power

His Game-winner against Utah in 1997 - I couldn't find video of this but I picked this because I can't recall any game-winners in Shaq's career. True he hit the and-1 to sent Game 7 vs Sacramento to overtime but an actual game winner? I'll set this up, Shaq got a pass down low against Greg Ostertag. Then he did a simple turn-around junper to send the Forum into a frenzy. Probably one of the first times Mom realized I was a super passionate basketball fan cause I went crazy at dinner.


The 2001 parade: I watched the Lakers clinch the 2001 title at Universal Studios with hundreds of fans. Soon after, he had a hit single on Power 106, "Connected", that was the unofficial theme song of the summer. But nothing was better than hearing those four words at the parade. Caaaaaaaan Youuuuuuuuuu Dig It!!!!!! Every Laker was on the stage celebrating during his rap and of course, it gave us the epic Mark Madsen dance. Just a reminder of the fun and energy Shaq brought to the city.

Deading the beef on MLK/Sharing the ASG MVP in 2009: Let's face it, the Shaq-Kobe beef may have been part of the story and entertaining but all power struggles leave mostly regret despite the high times. I was tired of folks bringing it up after Shaq left and unlike a rivalry, it was turning into a Cold War you wanted to see end so we could enjoy what they had.

My senior year on Martin Luther King Day, Shaq and Kobe fittingly ended the feud. Bill Russell advised Shaq to do it and it was a beautiul moment. Fresh off Jay-Z and Nas ending their beef that winter, it was good for people to see grown men do the right thing. It was maturity. And then 3 years later, in Shaq's last All-Star Game, it was fitting they both shared the MVP. A partnership taking their victory lap one last time for the fans.

Honorable Mention: Fighting Charles Barkley, getting his degree from LSU and calling it Love Shaq University, his dance-off with LeBron and Dwight Howard.

End of an Era - Shaq Retires

1994 - the first year I got fully into loving sports. Shaquille O'Neal was one of the first athletes I knew and like most folks, I was in awe of this giant who dominated the court and was all over TV in commercials, movies and video games. Even though I started my jersey collection with Larry Johnson and Chris Mullin, Shaq's was the one I really wanted.

With the Diesel finally retiring, I thought about the 10 year old me who remembered when Shaq was the biggest dude in the world and he and Penny Hardaway were supposed to be the next dynasty. The kid who bought Shaq Fu even though he'd find out the game was terrible, watched Blue Chips and still thinks it's a great movie and both felt sadness and happiness the day Shaq came to Los Angeles the same year I graduated elementary school.

I'll never forget a camp counselor at my day camp coming up to me a week after he signed. He knew I was a big Orlando fan and he walked right up to me and said, "I only have one thing to say. SHAQ's A LAKER!"

I followed Shaq every step of his career. I got that Orlando jersey after he left  but I wore my Lakers one out to death. He was my favorite player growing up and in the 90's, he and Allen Iverson had the star power that would help transition the game from Michael Jordan to a new era.



And yes, I played the mess out of his hits "Shoot Pass Slam" (Do you want me to shoot it? NOOOOOO) and "I Know I Got Skillz" (a Top 40 hit). I remember those NBA videos where his highlights would come with his own music videos and remember folks, he has a gold and platinum album to his credit. Plus, he did this song with Biggie - one of the most underrated in Big's discography

Since I didn't see Wilt or Kareem, Shaq was the most dominant force I've ever seen play basketball. Allen Iverson dominated as a 6-0 combo guard who scored with blinding speed and a killer crossover but Shaq made his peers look stupid. In the last great era for centers, he destroyed Patrick Ewing, made Alonzo Mourning regret being around the same time he was and, as you'll see later, abused David Robinson every chance he could.

The only center he didn't dominate was Hakeem Olajuwon and that's why I have Shaq as my 5th greatest center ever. That said, Hakeem with his IQ, brilliant post moves and footwork had his trouble keeping Shaq in check all the time.

Of course, I'll remember Shaq from my high school days restoring the Lakers legacy as champs. For those who don't remember, the Lakers in the 90's were a collection of great to decent talent with poor coaching. Shaq and Kobe helped restore the Lakers tradition and got me used to expecting parades in June when I had to settle for watching them in Chicago growing up.

It's a shame because I honestly think they could've won 4 titles together. 2004 was a doomed season from the jump based on that summer and Kobe already on edge. Could they have won against the Pistons? It's possible but a lot of factors went against us.

Many folks think Shaq's decline came in 2006 but I saw a glimpse of it in 2004. In the Finals, Ben and Rasheed Wallace played the best defense I had seen on Shaq since Hakeem in 1995 and Shaq couldn't rise against it. His Game 4 that year told me that we were seeing the beginning of the end. True he rebounded in 2005 where he should've won the MVP against Steve Nash but once 2006 hit and he was a 2nd/3rd option in the Finals, I realized that the dominant Shaq of my youth was gone. Hard moment to see your favorites get old and have to work harder to score.

Shaq and his father "Sarge" - I always loved the bond Shaq had with his parents and I'm glad he respects his father for molding him into a man.

More than anything I'll remember Shaq as one of the first big men who was comfortable in his skin. He was a giant that embraced his celebrity then used it to touch it other lives with charity. I'll be glad to say I've watched a Top 5 NBA scorer most of his career the same way I'll say about Kobe when he retires. He loved the media and the spotlight but he used it to brighten others. Yet in his final moment, he retired with simple class and peace that a man should have in that decision.

I was happy to watch him in his prime during my teen/young adult years. Now I'll be happy to see him go and be one of the coolest retired athletes around. Thanks for the memories and see you real soon Diesel.

Next blog: My 10 Favorite Shaq Moments.

Why the NBA can't retire No. 23 (or any number)

Since last year when he was elected to the Hall of Fame there's been a debate on if the NBA should retire Michael Jordan's No. 23. I'm gonna keep this simple. NO!

LeBron James announced that he will switch his jersey to No. 6 next year because he thinks the jersey should be retired. Hey, why not? The best player to ever lace them up should get that honor right? NO!!!!

So let's get this straight. Players want to equate Michael Jordan with Jackie Robinson? They forgot why Jackie got his number retired in the first place. Let's school these guys who are no older than me.

Jackie Robinson integrated not just baseball in 1947. He was the first Black player to play in an organized professional sports league in the modern era (word to Moses Walker). He inspired Martin Luther King in the Civil Rights Movement. Two years after World War II would inspire a generation of Black leaders and Black voices to speak up, Jackie took the first post-war step in proving that we were equals.

Jackie wasn't the greatest second baseman ever. He did introduce some of that Negro Leagues flair when he stole bases but he was far from the greatest base stealer ever. What he did was play the game, play it hard and make a giant statement that yes, a Black man was not inferior to his White counterparts. He was an American pioneer.

He also stayed active after his career. He got involved in the Civil Rights Movement while also speaking out against racism in baseball. He supported Curt Flood as he attacked baseball's reserve clause and actually took the stand during the trial - something no current player did. His last public appearance at the 1972 World Series advocated for a Black manager.

So NO! Not in my sports world is Michael Jordan on par with Jackie Robinson or deserves his treatment. But like Detective Columbo, there's one more thing. Call this the Wayne Gretzky Corollary.

"But Mr. Virgo, Wayne Gretzky has his number retired. He's the greatest player in his sport like Michael Jordan is. He had the same impact that Jordan had around the same time. He changed the game with his skill and IQ" Blah Blah Blah

The difference between Gretzky and Jordan is simple. Gretzky is a national icon in Canada, a hockey prodigy who elevated a nation. He helped make hockey popular in the United States and did far more for the game off the court in being an ambassador.

Michael Jordan did a lot on the court and was perhaps the most influential pitchman in modern sports, especially for Black athletes in the last 25 years. On the court, he was the best. Off the court, he sold a lot of products but was invisible on social issues and did not use his platform to elevate anything except the dreams to make money and follow his lead.

Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell. All of them deserve their numbers to be retired for the same reasons as Michael Jordan. Great stats, impacted the game like no other and were champions.

But when you start retiring numbers league-wide based on achievements, you cheapen why it was done in the first place. Robinson's number was retired in 1997 because his impact was bigger than the game in terms of American history. Michael Jordan's impact was also bigger than the game but it was about making money, not social change.

There's a lot more I can say but this should wrap it up.

Jackie made history by fighting for the right to play as an equal. Michael made history by convincing America to not be scared of a Black man selling them products. Both important but one clearly more than the other. Let's not confuse on-court achievements with something bigger in the grander scheme of things.