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Laker fans, beware: Don't buy Shaq's "tweets"
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AP Photo/Chris Carlson
How is it possible that Shaquille O'Neal is leaving his mark on the NBA Finals without his Phoenix Suns even making the playoffs?
You gotta admit, Shaq commands an amazing presence. His staying power is unparalleled.
Three crucial factors are allowing The Diesel to make some waves during the 2009 Finals: 1) Primed for their 15th title, the Lakers are led by Shaq's former teammate and "frenemy," Kobe Bryant, who Shaq frequently took jabs at, but recently formed a pseudo-Bromance with. 2) Shaq had some harsh words earlier in the season for his former Miami Heat coach, now Orlando Magic coach, Stan Van Gundy. 3) Rounding out the trifecta, Shaq belittled Magic big man Dwight Howard, stating, "Everything he's done, I've invented."
Oh, let's not forget: Shaq was drafted by the Magic in 1992, made his first Finals appearance in his third season, but was promptly swept and overmatched by the Houston Rockets and their star, Hakeem Olajuwon.
Shaq bolted for LA where he won three titles and posted some of the best numbers of his career. Of course, controversy and conflict followed when Kobe's ego met Shaq's. A nasty break-up soon followed.
So, yeah, we'd be crazy not to admit that Shaq lingers over the 2009 Finals like a stale fart. But when he flaunts his Twitter obsession by openly rooting for Kobe to win his fourth championship, it's best we don't buy a word of it.
Say what you will about ESPN's shouting match show Around the Horn, but the entire panel was very quick to squash Shaq's questionable rooting interest. When sports columnists find a common ground, you know they've been fed a line of BS.
Here's the thing, though: Shaq's BS vote for Kobe was disguised as a vote against Van Gundy and Howard. He's simply picking the lesser of two evils. If he really wanted Kobe to taste another title he wouldn't have started a "You can't do it without me" campaign.
I've said it before, but don't be fooled by their flirty reunion in Phoenix at this year's All-Star Game. Shaq and Kobe's egos haven't changed and neither has their alpha dog image. That means if Kobe and the Lakers choke away another championship this year (not likely so far), a reunion with Shaq isn't the answer.
The other facet of this story is that Shaq is desperately trying to distance himself from the "anti-Kobe" bandwagon. The media is on to the besmirching of his former teammate and they're eating it up.
Shaq's answer? Post "tweets" about how badly you want Kobe to win, to the point of cramming it down the throats of his Twitter followers:
"thats right i am saying it today and today only, i want kobe bryant to get number 4, spread da word"
"They said on around the horn that I'm playing around about kobe winning, I'm saying it again, I want kobe to win his 4th ring,I'm serious"
See what I mean? Shaq then quickly shifts the focus with this poke at Van Gundy and Howard:
http://twitpic.com/6naml "This is what van gundy and dwight howards baby would look like"
Why don't you stop talking for awhile, Shaq. Maybe sit the next couple plays out.
I guess I just can't figure out Shaq's intentions sometimes. He reminds me of Charles Barkley in some ways but, in reality, is entirely different.
Barkley occasionally -- OK, frequently -- does and says dumb stuff. But next thing you know he turns around and delivers an "Aw-shucks" apology. Barkley, I think, has a better sense of self-awareness. He doesn't mind being thrown in the dirt because he knows he can recover. He always was a good rebounder, don't forget.
Shaq, on the other hand, feels very threatened by any controversy or finger-pointing. If he becomes a negative media target, he doesn't understand why. There's nothing wrong with speaking your mind, but when you're clearly letting your gigantic ego do the talking, it looks bad. Real bad. There are very few apologies with Shaq. In fact, none to my knowledge. There's an awful lot of avoiding and shrugging off, though.
Why does Shaq always need someone to trash with his words? It has gone beyond just poking fun or talking smack. The guy genuinely doesn't like anyone who hogs what he believes to be his headlines.
I mean, the guy is Twitter crazy. Why do you think that is? It cuts out the middle man (the media) and makes target practice much easier.
So when Shaq boxes out the Lakers and Magic for partial control of the spotlight during the Finals, it's best we "consider the source," as Van Gundy suggested before. And when he toasts health, good fortune and a fourth title to Kobe via Twitter, we should scoff at the blatant insincerity.
Shaq has worn a lot of hats, including one of the best big men ever. But I doubt he's capable of being the bigger man.
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