duncan228
07-20-2009, 12:36 PM
Shaq to test skills in other sports (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4341098)
Maybe Shaquille O'Neal's new nickname should be the Big Experimenter.
In a new ABC reality television series that begins filming this week, Shaq will take on other top athletes in their own sports.
"Shaq Vs.", which is set to premiere Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET, begins filming Wednesday in Pittsburgh, where Shaq will take on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football.
Future episodes of the hour-long show will feature Shaq against Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, tennis star Serena Williams and beach volleyball Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.
Shaq told USA Today that he came up with the idea as a way to train for the NBA season. Shaq figured Americans "would really want to see an athlete play another sport," according to the newspaper. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq's new team, have cleared the 37-year-old O'Neal to take part in the show.
He is scheduled to report for the Cavs' opening of training camp on Sept. 15.
According to USA Today, the episodes will feature preliminary challenges, news conferences, quality time with needy kids and negotiations of a handicap between Shaq and his competitors. Each episode will climax with a main event.
There's no cash prize for the winner. "Bragging rights are always better than any monetary prize," O'Neal told USA Today.
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Shaq to star in TV sports reality series (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-shaq-tvseries&prov=ap&type=lgns)
By Tom Withers
Shaquille O’Neal would deluge Michael Phelps in a cannonball competition. What about a race across the pool?
We’ll see.
The NBA superstar will star in “Shaq Vs.,” a TV series where the 15-time All-Star center will challenge top athletes in their respective sports. During one episode, which debuts on Aug. 18 on ABC, Shaq will swim against Olympic superstar Phelps.
O’Neal, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, also will try his football skills against Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, box retired world champion Oscar De La Hoya, bat against St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, trade tennis volleys with Wimbledon champ Serena Williams and play volleyball against Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.
O’Neal will negotiate a handicap with his opponents and train with a coach for one week leading up to each challenge.
“These athletes may be on top of their game, but I am up for the challenge,” O’Neal said. “I plan to train hard and win, so look out.”
O’Neal came up with the idea for the competition as a way of training for the upcoming season.
His first opponent will be Roethlisberger, the Steelers’ Super Bowl-winning QB. They’ll compete in a 7-on-7 passing drill to be filmed later this week in the Pittsburgh area. Also, there will be a news conference leading up to the event as well as before future challenges.
A four-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, O’Neal was traded from Phoenix to Cleveland last month. The 37-year-old has just one season left on his contract but said he wants to play three more years and is hoping he can help Cleveland superstar LeBron James win his first league title.
Maybe Shaquille O'Neal's new nickname should be the Big Experimenter.
In a new ABC reality television series that begins filming this week, Shaq will take on other top athletes in their own sports.
"Shaq Vs.", which is set to premiere Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET, begins filming Wednesday in Pittsburgh, where Shaq will take on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football.
Future episodes of the hour-long show will feature Shaq against Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, tennis star Serena Williams and beach volleyball Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.
Shaq told USA Today that he came up with the idea as a way to train for the NBA season. Shaq figured Americans "would really want to see an athlete play another sport," according to the newspaper. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq's new team, have cleared the 37-year-old O'Neal to take part in the show.
He is scheduled to report for the Cavs' opening of training camp on Sept. 15.
According to USA Today, the episodes will feature preliminary challenges, news conferences, quality time with needy kids and negotiations of a handicap between Shaq and his competitors. Each episode will climax with a main event.
There's no cash prize for the winner. "Bragging rights are always better than any monetary prize," O'Neal told USA Today.
*********************
Shaq to star in TV sports reality series (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-shaq-tvseries&prov=ap&type=lgns)
By Tom Withers
Shaquille O’Neal would deluge Michael Phelps in a cannonball competition. What about a race across the pool?
We’ll see.
The NBA superstar will star in “Shaq Vs.,” a TV series where the 15-time All-Star center will challenge top athletes in their respective sports. During one episode, which debuts on Aug. 18 on ABC, Shaq will swim against Olympic superstar Phelps.
O’Neal, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, also will try his football skills against Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, box retired world champion Oscar De La Hoya, bat against St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, trade tennis volleys with Wimbledon champ Serena Williams and play volleyball against Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.
O’Neal will negotiate a handicap with his opponents and train with a coach for one week leading up to each challenge.
“These athletes may be on top of their game, but I am up for the challenge,” O’Neal said. “I plan to train hard and win, so look out.”
O’Neal came up with the idea for the competition as a way of training for the upcoming season.
His first opponent will be Roethlisberger, the Steelers’ Super Bowl-winning QB. They’ll compete in a 7-on-7 passing drill to be filmed later this week in the Pittsburgh area. Also, there will be a news conference leading up to the event as well as before future challenges.
A four-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, O’Neal was traded from Phoenix to Cleveland last month. The 37-year-old has just one season left on his contract but said he wants to play three more years and is hoping he can help Cleveland superstar LeBron James win his first league title.