Shaq offers to pay for Mikans funeral...

[ducks]

why does he have to make it public knowledge?

[2centsworth]

Magic didn't step up. Kobe didn't. Kareem didn't. Jerry West didn't. Shaq did, and he's the bad guy

How do you know Magic, Kobe, Kareem, or Jerry West didn't?

[adidas11]

Quote: ""It just speaks to what Shaquille is all about," Mikan's son said. "He had a bond with my dad. They were close friends.""

Ow3ned.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Manumania, you do know that Shaq and Mikan were friends, right? And I seriously doubt that Mikan would have wanted a handout from a friend, as most proud men would deny such a request.

Most proud men would put their family through bankruptsy before accepting money from a FRIEND??? I'm sorry, thats not PRIDE, thats FOOLISHNESS.

[Kori Ellis]

I don't get why you all are outraged that it was in public. It being public is good -- it brings attention to the problem.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Quote: ""It just speaks to what Shaquille is all about," Mikan's son said. "He had a bond with my dad. They were close friends.""

Ow3ned.

OWNED?? WHATS THE SON GONNA SAY?? "SHAQ IS JUST DOING THIS BECAUSE HE WANTS THE PUBLICITY!"?? GIVE ME A BREAK! You haven't owned anybody in a long while son, give it a rest.

[2centsworth]

I don't get why you all are outraged that it was in public. It being public is good -- it brings attention to the problem.

what problem, he's dead?

[samikeyp]

Im not outraged. I liked the gesture. I hope it wasn't just for attention but even if it was, so what? It still helps out a special man and his family. I don't believe that you should do things like that for the sole purpose of making yourself look good. (and again, I am not accusing Shaq of doing that) Bottom line is...Mikan's family is getting some help that it needs, and that at least to me, is all that matters.

[Mark in Austin]

Manumania, you do know that Shaq and Mikan were friends, right? And I seriously doubt that Mikan would have wanted a handout from a friend, as most proud men would deny such a request.

Well then Shaq could have used his position as one of the most famous sports figures in the world as a bully pulpit to publicize the need for some sort of pension fund for all players in Mikan's situation. If the most popular player and most popular team (labor+management) got together and said this was a priority, it would have been taken care of. He didn't. And nobody else did either.

Shame on the NBA. Shame on the players union. Shame on the Lakers.

[Flea]

You guys will look for any reason to hate on Shaq. So it was done with the knowledge of the press. So what? He's still taking on the financial burden of the family, who is struggling from what I understand. Whether or not it's in the news, he's still helping out a family in need. The press can, and will, get a hold of any news. There's absolutely no way that would've been kept under wraps.

Dennis Rodman offered to (and did pay, I believe) for the funeral of James Byrd, the handicapped guy who was dragged to his death somewhere in Texas. That was all over the news, but it was still a damn nice thing to do.

Even if it is relative to you give 50 cents to a homeless person, or an occassional dollar to charity, how many of you do that? I'm sure you'll all step up and say "well, I give this, and I do that" but I'd also venture a guess that so many of you are full of .

If Tim Duncan funded Iceman's funeral, it would be all over the news here, and you guys would be calling Tim Duncan a saint, and you know that.

It's different because you hate Shaq, and it just blows my mind that you'll dissect this nice gesture so far that you turn him into a self-serving prick.

Please explain to me the difference in the Spurs donating that huge check to the Carver Academy, and this. News was all over the story about that check, and everyone talked about it. Or how is it different than David taking his own money to open up that school? That's been locally and nationally covered ad nauseum.

If the Spurs were really a bunch of good guys, they would've sent that check anonymously, right?

If David were really such a good guy, he would've opened that school anonymously, right?

It's really not such a bad thing to acknowledge that Shaq did a damn nice thing, that he really didn't have to do. Magic didn't step up. Kobe didn't. Kareem didn't. Jerry West didn't. Shaq did, and he's the bad guy.

I'm not saying he should have been anonymous about it but he didn't have to announce it to everyone in response to a basketball question from Gray. It would have been more sincere and not self serving had he kept his mouth shut and just written the check. The media would have found out and reported it to everyone. No one said it had to be anonymous, just don't go tooting your own horn.

[Kori Ellis]

what problem, he's dead?

You don't understand the problems behind why he didn't have money???

[2centsworth]

Im not outraged. I liked the gesture. I hope it wasn't just for attention but even if it was, so what? It still helps out a special man and his family. I don't believe that you should do things like that for the sole purpose of making yourself look good. (and again, I am not accusing Shaq of doing that) Bottom line is...Mikan's family is getting some help that it needs, and that at least to me, is all that matters.

I agree. What's more important is that people donate money and time to worthy causes, if their primary motivation is to be appreciated for what a wonderful person they are then so beit.

[Flea]

I don't get why you all are outraged that it was in public. It being public is good -- it brings attention to the problem.

I'm not outraged I just think it shows that Shaq lacks class. Saying that, I am happy that he made a donation and I hope others follow suit in order to take care of those few basketball players that need help.

[ducks]

how much money does he need to buring the dude
a funeral should only cost $10,000.00

with shaq gettign 2 max contracts he should give some up
kg is the only person that gets close to what shaq is making for playing nba games

[Kori Ellis]

Bottomline is if Tim Duncan mentioned in an interview that he was going to pay for it and brought attention to the problem of these older players not being taken care of, then no Spurs fan would be saying that he did it for attention and the such.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Some of y'all just hopelessly hate.

Charles Barkley basically called out himself and every other current and former player on the broadcast, saying they needed to take care of the "over 65ers" who weren't pulling the same pension from the league that the younger guys get.

Shaq stepped up. Who cares if he dit it publically or privately, perhaps he wants to make light of the Mikan situation in hopes that the league will take care of its founding fathers.

Some of you are entirely too cynical about this. Appreciate it as a great gesture by a great player.

[MadDog73]

You don't understand the problems behind why he didn't have money???

I think that's the problem some people have with this, Kori.

If Shaq cared so much about Mikan's plight, that he wanted to bring attention to the problems, why not do this earlier, when it would have made a difference?

I'm not saying Shaq didn't help Mikan in the past, I'm just saying, if publicity is good, why not say something before he died?

Unless the family didn't want him to. That's why we need more facts. This is all speculation. But i can see why it rubs some people the wrong way.

[2centsworth]

You don't understand the problems behind why he didn't have money???

Shaq surely didn't help bring attention to the problems of which you speak. You're probably trying to give him the benefit of the doubt which is cool.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

It's like me donating 500 bucks to a charity, and then coming to this forum to brag. The deed was a good one, but it turns out I did it for selfish reasons. Same concept here. Ofcourse, everything that has been posted here is assumptions. Nobody knows why Shaq did what he did, everyone is just speculating. I'm just stating my opinion.

[MadDog73]

Bottomline is if Tim Duncan mentioned in an interview that he was going to pay for it and brought attention to the problem of these older players not being taken care of, then no Spurs fan would be saying that he did it for attention and the such.

True. But if Shaq said this, I wouldn't be saying it was for the attention, either.

[ducks]

how much did he make playing ball?
how much were his bills?
did he spend his money foolishly and now people are bailing his family out?

[MadDog73]

how much did he make playing ball?
how much were his bills?
did he spend his money foolishly and now people are bailing his family out?

well, I think the point is these players were making A LOT less than players do now.

And the players now owe their predecessors something, IMO.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I just think it shows that Shaq lacks class.

Un ingreal. How can you say that? The Spurs are considered the classiest team in the league, I didn't see Tim, Manu, DRob, or anyone else lining up to help Mikan.

Just because you've never heard about it before doesn't mean that Shaq hadn't helped Mikan in the past.

, if any Spur did this, everyone here would be creaming themselves over what "class" was being shown. if Malik did it some of you would be ready to rename San Antonio after him for doing something like this.

Quit being hypocrits. The funeral situation facing the Mikan family was a dire one, Shaq stepped up. Hate Shaq in compe ion all you want, but appreciate him for doing something great off the court and get on with your lives.

[samikeyp]

Bottomline is if Tim Duncan mentioned in an interview that he was going to pay for it and brought attention to the problem of these older players not being taken care of, then no Spurs fan would be saying that he did it for attention and the such.

Very true. That is why I feel that Shaq should be given the benefit of the doubt.

[2centsworth]

Bottomline is if Tim Duncan mentioned in an interview that he was going to pay for it and brought attention to the problem of these older players not being taken care of, then no Spurs fan would be saying that he did it for attention and the such.

Maybe Tim has cotributed, who knows? If Shaq alterior motive was to bring attention to the fact that older players aren't being taken care of then great, I was wrong about him.

I didn't see Tim, Manu, DRob, or anyone else lining up to help Mikan.

How do you know that?

Just because you've never heard about it before doesn't mean that Shaq hadn't helped Mikan in the past.

Doesn't this contradict your statement above?