NBA Off Topic

[SidVish]

Re: NBA Off Topic

at the Kobe controller!

[ehh]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Smh at you guys believing a article from the NY Daily Post.

What is this newspaper you speak of?

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Lakers fine Bynum an "undisclosed amount for numerous infractions":

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7771310/sources-los-angeles-lakers-andrew-bynum-fined-undisclosed-amount-numerous-infractions

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Good interview Shaq did with GQ Magazine:

Spoiler

GQ: How's the new gig at TNT been so far?
Shaquille O'Neal: I like it. I'm learning a lot. I think I do a good job of making people laugh and giving them a little bit of basketball. My job has always been to entertain people. I want people to laugh. I don't like bragging all the time on what I used to do, but if I have some insight on what needs to be done I'll say it. A lot of the times the players, they think I'm bashing them. I'm just sending out a blueprint. Especially when it comes to Dwight Howard, it's all in that blueprint. I may tell him something, like "Oh, you need to have 28-15." I love doing it.
GQ: You've been pursuing other business ventures for a while now, right?
Shaq: Yeah, I've been a businessman since '98.
GQ: What was the first business?
Shaq: Well the first business I set up was the Shaq shoe line. I had a deal with Reebok, and then I did another deal, they were going to sell shoes "downstairs." By "downstairs," I mean at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, all that.
GQ: At the peak of your career, you looked past Nike, Reebok, and the other gigantic companies and made shoes that sold at Payless so that low-income families could afford sneakers endorsed by an NBA player. It was one of the most selfless things we've seen from an NBA player.
Shaq: That's why we sold 95 million pairs. A lot of people like to talk about Mike [Jordan] but put it this way: I'm right behind him and there ain't nobody close to us. One day, a lady came up to me cursing about the high price of athlete's sneakers and I was like "Lady, I don't make the purse up." I pulled out a wad of money and was like "Here, go buy him whatever you want." She slapped the money out of my hand. That caused me to think, "You know, no big-time person has ever done something downstairs."
GQ: And that's where the idea came from? That incident with the lady?
Shaq: Yes. Even though they were only $29, they didn't look like they cost $29. You know how kids are. You roll up in shoes that look they cost $29...
GQ: You're going to get laughed out of the gym.
Shaq: Right! [laughs]
GQ: You've been all over the place, promoting Dove's Men + Care products. Why Dove?
Shaq: Well, I only do deals with people I believe in. I've been using Dove since the '70s. My momma had Dove, everybody had Dove.
GQ: Does the Diesel have sensitive skin?
Shaq: No [laughs], I don't have sensitive skin. But Dove always smelled good. You can tell someone used Dove soap.
GQ: You're 7'1".
Shaq: Yeah.
GQ: You have a lot more body than most people. Is it hard to reach some places?
Shaq: Yeah. I go through one of the body washes in like two days! I don't want to stink. One coat. Rinse. One coat. Rinse. I do three coats, and then I'm out.

GQ: Is that what Shaq endorses? The three-coat shower.
Shaq: No, I'm just saying it smells good. Look good, smell good. You don't want some big stanky mother****er walking by you. [laughs]
GQ: Wise words. You rapped for a second. You got into films for a second. Everyone remembers Kazaam. When was the last time you watched it?
Shaq: The other day.
GQ: Did it hold up to you?
Shaq: I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie. Someone said, "Hey, here's $7 million, come in and do this genie movie." What am I going to say, no? So I did it.
GQ: How'd you get into rap?
Shaq: I was like, "On my way to the court I was LL Cool J, when I got to the court I was Dr. J." So, you know, for me, it was never a money thing. It was just about opportunities and just to say that I did it. The first album went platinum, second went platinum, third gold. The fourth and fifth went "double wood," but I did it. And I got to do it with some of the greatest, Jay-Z, Nas, Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, Method Man, Redman. My dream was to be a rapper, go onstage, and to do a show. And I did that.
GQ: If you had a genie, what would your three wishes be?
Shaq: What would my three wishes be?
GQ: And you can't ask for more wishes.
Shaq: First wish is to take care of all my family. Everyone gets $10,000 a month for the rest of his or her life. Second wish, me and you own GQ and all the magazines in this building.
GQ: I like that one.
Shaq: And the third wish is that I'd have nine championships.
GQ: Why nine?
Shaq: Because I don't want to pass Bill Russell, because Bill Russell's the greatest. I don't mind being under Bill Russell.

GQ: Speaking of the greatest, according to Kobe's "list" Wilt is the best, then him and then MJ. Who do you think are the greatest?
Shaq: Well, there's different categories.
GQ: Greatest guard?
Shaq: I probably have to give that to Magic Johnson.
GQ: Shooting guard?
Shaq: Jordan.
GQ: Greatest small forward?
Shaq: Probably Bird.
GQ: Greatest power forward?
Shaq: Either Barkley or Karl Malone. Or even Tim Duncan. It's a mix-up, I'm not sure.
GQ: Greatest center of all time.
Shaq: Greatest center is Kareem, Wilt, or me. Depends on how you look at it.
GQ: Do you think Kobe's going to win another championship and catch Michael?
Shaq: He may. You know it never depended on him. It depends on players he has around him. When you're in championships it's never about what you do. It's always about what other people do.
GQ: Let's talk about Dwight. You were Superman well before Dwight Howard. Were you flattered or upset about the imitation?
Shaq: I don't really think about it.

GQ: No?
Shaq: Not at all. You want to wear my shoes, they're big shoes to fill. Doesn't bother me. I remember when I was little I used to call myself Dr. J and my dad punched me one day and said, "You're not Dr. J. Dr. J was a hell of a player. You may become that. You may do more. But if you call yourself Dr. J you got big shoes to fill." Anyone who calls themselves me has big shoes to fill. He's only putting more pressure on himself.
GQ: You are a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., which is one of the hardest fraternities to pledge in. Do you think Dwight would be tough enough to make it through the pledging process?
Shaq: No. Dwight is a Kappa. Dwight is a pretty boy, smooth. No way.
GQ: What about Chris Bosh?
Shaq: **** no! He's an Alpha, all the way.
GQ: Derrick Rose?
Shaq: Yeah.
GQ: Kobe Bryant.
Shaq: Yeah, **** yeah.
GQ: You're tough on Chris Bosh. Why?
Shaq: I'm just not calling him part of the Big 3. He put up good numbers, but he wasn't leading Toronto to any number one spots, you know what I'm saying? One day I gave him 46 points and he was like "Oh, ****, Shaq cheated." That's when I called him the RuPaul of the NBA. A lot of times I'm just messing around but if he thinks I'm serious, so what?
GQ: You're getting your doctorate in May. Why? What else do you have to gain or prove?
Shaq: I always promised my parents I would go back and get my degree. When I'm having conversations with people I want them to know that I understand. When I was in the league I would do a lot of business deals I didn't really understand. I would have people break it down for me. I wanted to break it down myself. So it was like, "You know what? Let me get my Masters in business." After four or five years, I got it and applied that to what I was doing. Then I was like, "You know what? Let me get my Ph.D." Because I want to be known, from now on, as Dr. O'Neal.
GQ: What are you're getting a doctorate in?
Shaq: HRD. Human Resources Development and Organizational Leadership.
GQ: Why leadership?
Shaq: I've always been a leader. Every team I've played on, I've lead my way. My first few years playing, I tried to do it the system way but if you do it the system way and it doesn't work, you get blamed. Then I was like, "You know what, if I'm going to get blamed, I'm going to do it my way." That's why in L.A. we had problems. I said, "Nah we're not doing it that way. Mother****ers are doing it my way." That's why in Miami we got one and they went back and did it their way and it all fell. But, I'm a scapegoat. So, "See you later, Shaq, we're sending you to Phoenix." That's why I played for so many teams. But I did it my way and I'm very proud about it. When I graduate, I'm going to take my way to corporations and get things done.
GQ: Rumor has it, you and Nicole Alexander AKA Hoopz broke up. Is that true?
Shaq: Crazy thing about rumors: unless they come from me, could never be true.
GQ: Are you guys still together? What's the status?
Shaq: Yeah, of course.
GQ: So how did everyone get it wrong?
Shaq: I was in the ****ing DJ booth, nothing happened. They took a picture and said "Shaq dumps Hoopz for Asian chick." Nah. We're good. We're good.
GQ: Your ex-wife is on a reality TV show, Basketball Wives. Does that bother you?
Shaq: My ex-wife is very intelligent. She doesn't really get involved with the buffoonery, but I can't stop them from what they're doing. I just know that she does a beautiful job taking care of the children. She's always been a professional. We're very cordial. Take it from me. It's all about being happy.
GQ: What's your dating advice for the guys currently in the NBA?
Shaq: I don't have any advice, because experience is the best teacher.
GQ: But you don't want them to make the same mistakes you made.
Shaq: The game, now, is different.
GQ: How so?
Shaq: It's very different. Facebook and Twitter have made the game very different. You know what I'm talking about. [Shaq pulls out and motions to his camera phone]
GQ: So, what's the next thing you're going to do after you have Dr. status?
Shaq: I'm going to go into Fortune 500 companies and teach them the better way. My dissertation was about the duality of humor and seriousness in leadership styles. I was anxious to see which leader is more effective. Right now my research shows that the humorous guy's a little more effective than the stern guy. I'm going to be the next Tony Robbins.

Read More http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/20...#ixzz1r1xqLx7X

[King_B_Mack]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Lakers fine Bynum an "undisclosed amount for numerous infractions":

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...us-infractions

Add another item to the list of why you wouldn't want to trade Dwight Howard and get this clown back. Dude thinks he's the ****.

[23]

Re: NBA Off Topic

GQ: How's the new gig at TNT been so far?
Shaquille O'Neal: I like it. I'm learning a lot. I think I do a good job of making people laugh and giving them a little bit of basketball. My job has always been to entertain people. I want people to laugh. I don't like bragging all the time on what I used to do, but if I have some insight on what needs to be done I'll say it. A lot of the times the players, they think I'm bashing them. I'm just sending out a blueprint. Especially when it comes to Dwight Howard, it's all in that blueprint. I may tell him something, like "Oh, you need to have 28-15." I love doing it.


Pack just like I was saying.. he was challenging Dwight to do better

[The 24th Letter]

Re: NBA Off Topic

I don't like bragging all the time on what I used to do

Sure you don't Shaq, LOL

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Off Topic

GQ: How's the new gig at TNT been so far?
Shaquille O'Neal: I like it. I'm learning a lot. I think I do a good job of making people laugh and giving them a little bit of basketball. My job has always been to entertain people. I want people to laugh. I don't like bragging all the time on what I used to do, but if I have some insight on what needs to be done I'll say it. A lot of the times the players, they think I'm bashing them. I'm just sending out a blueprint. Especially when it comes to Dwight Howard, it's all in that blueprint. I may tell him something, like "Oh, you need to have 28-15." I love doing it.


Pack just like I was saying.. he was challenging Dwight to do better

Uhhhh I was saying the samething last week too bro lol.

[23]

Re: NBA Off Topic

I know... I remember that, thats why I referenced you

Its just that he said it himself.. I think we saw what he was up to

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Off Topic

GQ: Do you think Kobe's going to win another championship and catch Michael?
Shaq: He may. You know it never depended on him. It depends on players he has around him. When you're in championships it's never about what you do. It's always about what other people do.

GQ: You're tough on Chris Bosh. Why?
Shaq: I'm just not calling him part of the Big 3. He put up good numbers, but he wasn't leading Toronto to any number one spots, you know what I'm saying? One day I gave him 46 points and he was like "Oh, ****, Shaq cheated." That's when I called him the RuPaul of the NBA. A lot of times I'm just messing around but if he thinks I'm serious, so what?

Message...

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Steve Nash wants his last contract to be a 3 year deal. Could be good news for the Suns:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7771867/phoenix-suns-steve-nash-says-back-feels-great-intends-sign-three-year-deal-summer

[23]

Re: NBA Off Topic

If he signs that contract, I dont want to hear anything about him deserving a championship

Looks like the man will have chosen his path

[Nathan_OS]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Then it'll be loyalty over true desire.

[23]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Loyalty to get paid yeah...he's at the end of his career

[Nathan_OS]

Re: NBA Off Topic

Which is why I though he would have went to Miami.