duncan228
03-08-2009, 02:28 AM
The survivor of Shaq’s hate tour — not an actor (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/The_survivor_of_Shaqs_hate_tour__not_an_actor.html )
Buck Harvey
Sitting in the second row, among average-sized humans, David Robinson always stands out. But he will look even bigger this afternoon, assuming he uses his tickets and doesn’t give them to friends or family.
He’s heading to the Hall of Fame, a post-career portrait of maturity and peace.
And there, on the court, will be his opposite.
His former nemesis.
Shaquille O’Neal might read this and feel the need to say something today. Years ago, before Shaq spread jeer around the country, he took on Robinson.
Born of some contrived high school scene, where he thought Robinson had “dogged” him, Shaq held up Robinson as his personal adversary. His name-calling even found its way into a Shaq book.
Then, he called him “Punk-ass David.”
Robinson should be honored to be the first. From there Shaq branched out to a crowd that included Penny Hardaway, the Sacramento Kings, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, the Heat medical staff, Pat Riley and anyone who has ever tried to take a charge.
As his game picked up the past month, so did his mouth. He’s gone after Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy.
Give Shaq credit for some humor (he called Bosh “the RuPaul of centers”). And give Shaq credit for the name he gave for a schedule that lined up his old teams, from the Lakers to the Magic to the Heat. He playfully called it “The Hate Shaq Tour.”
That’s the salesman in Shaq. He used to say the NBA stood for “Nothing But Actors,” and he sold with a pro-wrestling edge. When he donned a mask to dance in Phoenix before the All-Star Game, then mugged with Bryant afterward as the co-MVPs, his sense of marketing and entertainment was never better.
Shaq can be fun to be around, and his serious face often hides the joke. That was never clearer than on opening night this season. Then Gregg Popovich called out Shaq’s tough talk about the use of Hack-a-Shaq by intentionally fouling him on the tip.
This should be said, too: He’s certainly not a bad guy, and his vices are innocent ones.
Still, what Shaq says and how he reacts is more than an inside joke. He can be petty, and he can be insecure, and all of this has been on display this month. Call it, instead, the “Shaq Hates Tour.”
His back and forth with Van Gundy is deeper than some flop charge. Shaq wanted Riley to coach in Miami instead of Van Gundy, and Shaq made sure it happened.
Shaq’s critique of Howard (“I can’t be impressed by something I invented”) is less serious. But Shaq also views Howard as he did Robinson, albeit with one change.
Whereas Shaq sees Howard as a threat because he has replaced his legend in Orlando, he saw Robinson as someone he couldn’t replace in San Antonio. Shaq felt he was the next big thing, yet there was Robinson, bigger than a teenager could ever be.
This bothered Shaq, and it went further than a few quotes. Then, during games, Shaq said things to Robinson that aren’t repeatable.
Spurs teammates then wished Robinson had said something, anything. Robinson didn’t. That can be an admirable trait, but not among a group of men playing a boy’s game. There were times Robinson suffered in his own locker room for playing the way he lived.
Reacting with a snarl might have impressed someone. But ask Bosh or Van Gundy or Howard. Did reacting to Shaq’s taunts help?
Instead, Robinson responded by retaining his dignity. He also responded by beating Shaq on his way to a title in his final season.
Shaq took that loss well. Then, after Game 6 in their 2003 series, Shaq reached out to Robinson, pulling him close for a congratulatory hug.
Maybe Shaq figures he can eventually do that to everyone he has offended. But not all relationships can be repaired, and Riley, for one, thinks Shaq soured what was a special time for both of them in Miami.
No matter. Shaq roars on with the Suns, at least before he turns on Alvin Gentry and Steve Nash. “I demand respect,” Shaq says.
Sitting in the second row today, looking like an adult, is someone who never had to demand respect to get it.
Buck Harvey
Sitting in the second row, among average-sized humans, David Robinson always stands out. But he will look even bigger this afternoon, assuming he uses his tickets and doesn’t give them to friends or family.
He’s heading to the Hall of Fame, a post-career portrait of maturity and peace.
And there, on the court, will be his opposite.
His former nemesis.
Shaquille O’Neal might read this and feel the need to say something today. Years ago, before Shaq spread jeer around the country, he took on Robinson.
Born of some contrived high school scene, where he thought Robinson had “dogged” him, Shaq held up Robinson as his personal adversary. His name-calling even found its way into a Shaq book.
Then, he called him “Punk-ass David.”
Robinson should be honored to be the first. From there Shaq branched out to a crowd that included Penny Hardaway, the Sacramento Kings, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, the Heat medical staff, Pat Riley and anyone who has ever tried to take a charge.
As his game picked up the past month, so did his mouth. He’s gone after Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy.
Give Shaq credit for some humor (he called Bosh “the RuPaul of centers”). And give Shaq credit for the name he gave for a schedule that lined up his old teams, from the Lakers to the Magic to the Heat. He playfully called it “The Hate Shaq Tour.”
That’s the salesman in Shaq. He used to say the NBA stood for “Nothing But Actors,” and he sold with a pro-wrestling edge. When he donned a mask to dance in Phoenix before the All-Star Game, then mugged with Bryant afterward as the co-MVPs, his sense of marketing and entertainment was never better.
Shaq can be fun to be around, and his serious face often hides the joke. That was never clearer than on opening night this season. Then Gregg Popovich called out Shaq’s tough talk about the use of Hack-a-Shaq by intentionally fouling him on the tip.
This should be said, too: He’s certainly not a bad guy, and his vices are innocent ones.
Still, what Shaq says and how he reacts is more than an inside joke. He can be petty, and he can be insecure, and all of this has been on display this month. Call it, instead, the “Shaq Hates Tour.”
His back and forth with Van Gundy is deeper than some flop charge. Shaq wanted Riley to coach in Miami instead of Van Gundy, and Shaq made sure it happened.
Shaq’s critique of Howard (“I can’t be impressed by something I invented”) is less serious. But Shaq also views Howard as he did Robinson, albeit with one change.
Whereas Shaq sees Howard as a threat because he has replaced his legend in Orlando, he saw Robinson as someone he couldn’t replace in San Antonio. Shaq felt he was the next big thing, yet there was Robinson, bigger than a teenager could ever be.
This bothered Shaq, and it went further than a few quotes. Then, during games, Shaq said things to Robinson that aren’t repeatable.
Spurs teammates then wished Robinson had said something, anything. Robinson didn’t. That can be an admirable trait, but not among a group of men playing a boy’s game. There were times Robinson suffered in his own locker room for playing the way he lived.
Reacting with a snarl might have impressed someone. But ask Bosh or Van Gundy or Howard. Did reacting to Shaq’s taunts help?
Instead, Robinson responded by retaining his dignity. He also responded by beating Shaq on his way to a title in his final season.
Shaq took that loss well. Then, after Game 6 in their 2003 series, Shaq reached out to Robinson, pulling him close for a congratulatory hug.
Maybe Shaq figures he can eventually do that to everyone he has offended. But not all relationships can be repaired, and Riley, for one, thinks Shaq soured what was a special time for both of them in Miami.
No matter. Shaq roars on with the Suns, at least before he turns on Alvin Gentry and Steve Nash. “I demand respect,” Shaq says.
Sitting in the second row today, looking like an adult, is someone who never had to demand respect to get it.