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I thought this was going to be about Shaq...
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...plate=printart
June 15, 2006
O'Neal vows 'career year'
All-Star forward says if he can't get job done next season, he and Pacers should cut ties
By Mike Wells
[email protected]
June 15, 2006
Jermaine O'Neal is confident he'll be in an Indiana Pacers uniform next season, but he can't speak beyond that.
The All-Star forward said Wednesday during his first interview since the Pacers' season ended May 4 that next season could determine his future in Indianapolis. O'Neal's seven-year, $127 million deal expires in 2009-10.
"I told (Pacers CEO) Donnie (Walsh) after this year, if things don't work out, then I don't feel the need to have this organization, this city, the owners pay my salary," O'Neal said. ". . . If I can't get the job done and I don't have the year (I expect), I shouldn't be here. If I'm training and focusing at the highest level I've ever done and I still can't get the job done, then we have to cut ties."
He doesn't expect that to happen, however. O'Neal repeatedly said the Pacers are closer to contending than being in the NBA draft lottery, vowed to come into camp in the best shape of his life and guaranteed he'll have "a career year."
O'Neal plans to lower his playing weight from 265 to 250 pounds. He'll also start boxing to help his footwork and conditioning.
Walsh praised O'Neal's maturity and predicted that next year they'll talk "about what a great year he had and the team had."
O'Neal, limited to 95 games the past two seasons, also said he and president Larry Bird have mended their relationship.
"Me and Larry haven't had a relationship up until the end of the year when I met with him," O'Neal said. "We were on two totally different pages. I was thinking one thing; he was thinking another thing. We're fine now."
I thought this was going to be about Shaq...
He also wants to face the Pistons in the playoffs...because the Pacers are the better team every year.
bull he is boxing cause he wants to move up from taking down underage Piston fans to taking down adult Piston fans
Why can't he just vow to play 75+ games next season and stay healthy?
The nagging injuries that he and Tinsley always seem to have are the main reasons the Pacers are stuck in neutral.
he did get a couple of licks in on a couple of drunk piston fans..
His career high is 37 games missed (his rookie season).
Stay tuned!!
well maybe a better offseason regimen will help him stay healthy. good luck to him.
Speak for yourself.
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