Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 9:00 am  |  65 responses

Shaq’s Not-So-Subtle Dig at Oden

by Marcel Mutoni

Shaquille O’Neal and Greg Oden had their much-anticipated matchup this weekend, and O’Neal dominated the youngster. The Shogun of the paint had his best game of the season, scoring 19 and ripping down 17 boards against the overmatched rookie.

Afterwards, O’Neal added insult to injury. Shaq didn’t exactly feel as though he had just played against a younger version of himself. From The Oregonian:

“The next Shaq lives with me. Seriously. My youngest son will probably be the next Shaq if he decides to play,” O’Neal said. “I was a special case. David Robinson… there is only a couple special cases that only come around once every while. Yao (Ming), he’s a special case.”

And then, ever so subtly, O’Neal landed the real insult. It was veiled as a compliment, but was deliberate in its pronunciation. “Guys like Odom and (Andrew) Bynum — they are 7-foot and great athletes, but it will probably take a couple years to get to that dominant level,” O’Neal said.

Burn. Welcome to the big leagues, kiddo.

Oden should have seen this coming, of course. Shaq has spent as much of his career insulting his foes in the paint as he has dunking on them.

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  • Peat Posted: Nov.24 at 9:09 am
    Premier

  • riggs Posted: Nov.24 at 9:09 am
    or maybe hes so slow that he cant pronounce it correctly….i will go with my theory.

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.24 at 9:09 am
    Uhm…..it’s hard to argue…..and Shaq’s been really good this season.

  • Steve Posted: Nov.24 at 9:20 am
    Shaq could be on to something here. I just got done watching Yao control Dwight Howard the other night, and Howard is the best young center in the game. Even Howard has a lot to learn.

  • andrewlovesbball Posted: Nov.24 at 9:20 am
    haha odom! yea shaq always talks sh*t but thats one of the things we love about shaq. and eboy is right, shaq has played well this year so he has the right to talk. he dunked on oden anyway

  • Andy Posted: Nov.24 at 9:20 am
    Yeah, I’m with Eboy. Looks like this ploy of not playing him in back-to-backs has worked wonders.

  • Mo Charlo Posted: Nov.24 at 9:23 am
    I hope that Shaq becomes an announcer some day, so we can hear brilliance like this throughout an entire game. Or they should just mic him up or something.

  • Diggy Posted: Nov.24 at 9:36 am
    He’s an idiot who is past his prime. No more rings for you…

  • Gumdrop Posted: Nov.24 at 9:37 am
    What a jerk.

  • bendreizehn Posted: Nov.24 at 9:53 am
    point blank!!!

  • Moose Posted: Nov.24 at 9:54 am
    A funny jerk, nonetheless, Gumdrop.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.24 at 10:06 am
    I completely agree with him about Oden and Bynum………

  • Roy Posted: Nov.24 at 10:27 am
    Shaq is gangsta…. :D

  • Crook Posted: Nov.24 at 10:28 am
    Here we go again……Shaq is not as relevent as in past years but he is still MUCH better than most centers in the L (if it weren’t for those free throws. lol)Howard, Oden have the best chance to be “special” but it is difficult as a center. If Shaq doesn’t have a chance to get a ring it’s not just b/c of his skills or lack of as some of you would put it. I too would love to see Shaq on TV. Imagine Ernie, Kenny, Charles and Shaq. Imagine the conversations between Chuck n Shaq while Kenny laughed at them and Ernie tried to translate. Too funny!!

  • real deal Posted: Nov.24 at 10:56 am
    dont get it twisted, if shaq didnt get double teamed every play his numbers would look like this a lot more often. he is still a beast. he gets double teamed more than amare!! if they had consistent shooters, his numbers would be way better

  • Erik Posted: Nov.24 at 10:57 am
    I think I’m going to go ahead and buy a widescreen TV in anticipation of TNT’s hiring of Shaq when he retires. You won’t be able to see Barkley and Shaq in the same shot without one.

  • Thebigticket05 Posted: Nov.24 at 11:26 am
    He may be right but Oden has looked pretty fantastic the few times i’ve seen him play. I have a feeling that this kids gunna be real good. Just my thought.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.24 at 11:31 am
    How the eff is Shaq getting a pass for putting up numbers this year?
    I know he’s been inconsistent, but clearly he can still play and clearly he screwed the Heat, just like he screwed the Magic and Lakers.
    This dude has a pretty bad track record.

  • nick Posted: Nov.24 at 11:36 am
    i respect his mention of yao among the elite, especially given that Yao absolutely worked dwight howard the other night

  • BigWalt206 Posted: Nov.24 at 11:39 am
    ahhh Shaqtus

  • Sparker Posted: Nov.24 at 11:43 am
    what i love about shaq is that he brings out the objectivity in people

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Nov.24 at 11:48 am
    @Erik; I hope you’re right. Him on “Inside” would be a welcome addition.

  • Yknot Posted: Nov.24 at 11:54 am
    When he said the next Shaq lives with him I thought he meant Amare. He has a point they did say Curry was the next Shaq but now we know he’s the next Oliver Miller.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.24 at 12:00 pm
    Shaq can say whatever he wants after posting a 19/17. That said, I agree with Allen he’s really gotten one hell of a pass on all the negative aspects of his career.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.24 at 12:16 pm
    I’ve been saying this for years, Shaq turns it on and off whenever he damn well feels like it. He tried to say earlier this season that people criticize him because of him missing so many games. He said he can’t help it that he’s had “freak” injuries. When you don’t do sh!t in the offseason and you come into camp 40 pds. overweight and you already weigh over 300 pds. and you get a lingering foot injury, that’s not a freak injury. That’s what started the beef between him and Kobe in the first place because Kobe was the only player on the Lakers who had to balls to call him out on it. He screwed over the Lakers and the Heat but he sure is good for a punchline!

  • Zee! Posted: Nov.24 at 12:28 pm
    Greg, tell me how my a@$ tastes.

  • RV Posted: Nov.24 at 12:29 pm
    i was one of those people who said he quit on the Heat, it was obvious, wouldn’t suprise me if shaq started “shaq back to the Lakers” talk after his contract ends in Phoenix………. Oh wait, he already did.

  • Dma Posted: Nov.24 at 12:34 pm
    shaq is the typical military kid who’s always seeking attention because daddy was never around.

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.24 at 12:48 pm
    Shaq= 2nd GOAT

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.24 at 12:56 pm
    ^Center? He was the GOAT when he wanted to be.

  • Kevin Wilson Posted: Nov.24 at 1:21 pm
    Shaq complimented David Robinson?

  • Crook Posted: Nov.24 at 1:36 pm
    How is it that when ppl don’t particularly like a player they claim said player screwed a team unless they get said player on their team and he helps them win. When James leaves the Cavs will he have screwed them or sought a better deal/opportunity for himself? When a team trades a player are they screwing them or are they making a business decision? I like the passion here but the logic is skewed at best.

  • Josh D Posted: Nov.24 at 1:43 pm
    I think that if Oden is Shaq at the defensive end, if not better, but if he has to improve his offense to make his game like O’Neals on both ends of the floor

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.24 at 1:57 pm
    Crook I think you’re leaving out the part where said player claims to be too injured to play for the team that eventually trades him then magically when he’s on a team with a winning record he’s all better.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.24 at 2:00 pm
    @Crook: When the only thing you lift in the Summer is the fork to your mouth and you come to camp looking like the Michelin Man and you get heart and miss 20 games your screwing over a team that has invested millions of dollars in you.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.24 at 2:01 pm
    hurt not heart, I need coffee!

  • Crook Posted: Nov.24 at 2:25 pm
    I never disputed the fact of Shaq-foods off season work out menu but was it totally his fault that he is not in LA? Look back at that season and tell me how he played overall. In Miami is was a whale but still outplayed other centers (when he played.lol) It IS a players responsibility to stay in shape and practice in the off season but it is also managements job to put in place rules and regulations to insure it. Jordan had things in his contract prohibiting him certain things so if someone has a problem with weight then their contract should be accordingly. (Only in Crook’s world of contracts I guess. lol)

  • John D Posted: Nov.24 at 2:26 pm
    Shaq is NOT the second GOAT. Get out of here with that. Unless you were being sarcastic.

  • Crook Posted: Nov.24 at 2:27 pm
    coffee? I need hot CoCo on a cold Boston day! LMAO (wait a minute, is CoCo M or F?)

  • Breeze Posted: Nov.24 at 2:34 pm
    i think shaqs think of his self as the franchise…and he can go to any team and they will win a title…so a trade is like a new beginning for this dude…he plays good for one season..then see how things work out get bored and trade to another team..diss some more players…i cant disagree hes still a factor..but that was a cheap shot at the rookie i mean we all know oden his not what his hype live up to be..and is he a gemini i thought he hated david rob maybe theres is hope fro shaq and kobe then

  • jdubbs29 Posted: Nov.24 at 2:43 pm
    Shaq is right in this case. He’s 36. Believe me, when you’re 36, everything hurts. I can’t play pickup ball anymore because its guaranteed knee and hip pain for the next 3 weeks. What he’s doing out there is heroic.

  • Coolwhip416 Posted: Nov.24 at 2:57 pm
    “Bynum and Odom, tell me how my a@@ tastes!”

  • Nasty The Villain Posted: Nov.24 at 3:04 pm
    I think this article is just getting blown out of proportion.

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Nov.24 at 3:08 pm
    I agree with Russ. He’s pillaged his fare share of superstar “sidekicks”… Wade, Kobe, Penny. Then when the juice is sucked dry, he throws himself into another team, leaving the team before with an injured superstar and a bad season record. But boy is he WITTY!

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.24 at 3:19 pm
    F Crook, and John D he’s not being sacrcastic. Khalid really does believe that nonsense. ;0

  • cj Posted: Nov.24 at 3:20 pm
    man what’s with the hate on Shaq? dude was nasty and still is occasionally…loved that he respected Robinson (my favorite C) and Yao (woo asians! lol)…and it’s true about Bynum and Oden, neither of them is going to be averaging 30 and 13 anytime soon…

  • what Posted: Nov.24 at 4:15 pm
    The real question is, how did he get so many Q’s?

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.24 at 5:16 pm
    ^I hear Quiznos sponsors him now.

  • pennydunk_1 Posted: Nov.24 at 5:28 pm
    Amar`e is a special one

  • Dark Posted: Nov.24 at 6:18 pm
    Yeah, I’m not getting the Big Aristotle’s comments as that much of an insult. It’s the truth. Oden and Bynum have a ways to go.

  • DALLAS STOKES Posted: Nov.24 at 6:59 pm
    BIG IS TELLING THE TRUTH. I’VE SEEN HIS SON!!! LOL!!! BUT SERIOUSLY BIG IS TELLING THE TRUTH.

  • davidR Posted: Nov.24 at 6:59 pm
    carter gets a lot of isht for leaving toronto, but we all love shaq?

  • 1hush D Posted: Nov.24 at 7:55 pm
    With all of Shaq’s autofellatio, hey Shaq, tell me how your coc* taste!

  • tdub Posted: Nov.24 at 9:23 pm
    There is no denying the Shaq has been one of the great players, but it is really sad that the guy really does have a great sense of humor, but he is also REALLY classless at many points in his career.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.24 at 10:18 pm
    As long as Shaq gives my man Yao his props, its all good. Haha.

  • Anton Posted: Nov.24 at 10:35 pm
    Hey Kobe, tell me how my insults taste

  • RV Posted: Nov.24 at 10:51 pm
    Shaq hates on Yao when he wants to and gives props just the same, he flip flops all over the place. That’s why there is hate.

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.24 at 11:47 pm
    Shaq always refers to Yao as being 7’9.
    THATS AWESOME. Oden is very raw…like JOHN Q, “Training Day” Raw…

  • jay Posted: Nov.25 at 9:02 am
    i like sushi

  • A Posted: Nov.25 at 9:56 am
    Hey it is what it is…. MAN UP!

  • chintao Posted: Nov.25 at 11:04 pm
    Shaquita should meditate on the phrase “… exit with grace….”

  • Chiliz Posted: Nov.27 at 9:14 am
    He not MJ..who gives a ***

  • Crook Posted: Nov.28 at 10:39 am
    Come on Co Co, be nice to me ok, I’m a rookie here. Maybe Marbury can give me some veteran experiencew and teach me about life….lol

  • jojochicago Posted: Nov.28 at 2:18 pm
    Yall makin sugar into sh*t. U know ShaQ can’t talk. Cut it out.

  • coldbee Posted: Dec.1 at 1:40 am
    Probably the biggest player to ever play the game and he should be putting up numbers like: 50 ppg 10-15 rpg, period. No excuses for this giant, his game is below average.

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