Hooped Up

“To the Laker family. First I’d like to thank the great Jerry West for bringing me here in 1996. Jerry took a gamble on me. I was a flamboyant kid. I had a movie named Kazaam that was out at the time, I had a couple of rap albums that were out at the time. I remember Jerry West bringing me to the Forum and he had me look up at all the greats. He said, son, if you do things the right way, maybe one day you’ll be up there with the greats. Thank you Jerry West.” – Shaquille O’Neal, during his jersey retirement speech at the Staples Center

Watch the complete jersey retirement ceremony below.

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When you wanted the first generation iPhone, you waited in line for hours only to be told it was sold out. If you’re Shaq and you wanted the new iPhone you just called Steve Jobs and skipped the mall all together. Must be nice.

I’m not sure if Shaquille O’Neal received my card yet, but it’s his 41st birthday today and that reminds me of the time he challenged Hakeem Olajuwon to a game of one-on-one. After the Orlando Magic went down in flames to the Houston Rockets in the 1995 NBA Finals. Little did I know that Shaq actually used a typewriter to issue his challenge. HaHa.

“Hakeem- The series may be a done deal, but it ain’t over between you and me. Sure, you’re pretty good with your team behind you, but I want you one on one.”

Apparently this challenge began to take shape after Taco Bell expressed interest in being a a pay-per-view sponsor, but the idea quickly died. It’s a good thing it did, Hakeem would have owned Shaq — again. Happy B-day Big Diesel!

H/N SI Extra Mustard

Retired Shaquille O’Neal is releasing a mobile video game called “Shaq Down”. Seriously. Check it out below. It’s everything you would expect better than Kazaam. Maybe.

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Wearing the same puffy shirt Jerry Seinfeld and Prince wore back in the day. Shaquille O’Neal popped by the Live with Kelly and Michael show do Karaoke battle for the coveted “Golden Mic”. Even though Shaq lost the sing-off to Strahan who sang some classic Michael Jackson. You’ll be glad to know that the factory making those puffy shirts in New Jersey got a few more orders.

With the help a Bonzi Wells stunt double, Shaquille O’Neal sells us some chinese beer that seems like a fine alternative to water during a game. Smooth yet less filling move China.

Fifteen years ago today, Christopher Wallace aka the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered in Los Angeles after the Soul Train Music Awards. Shaquille O’Neal was a close friend of Biggie’s and on the night of Wallace’s death.

Shaq was supposed to meet him at an after party which could have changed the outcome of the night. O’Neal has struggled with guilt about Wallace’s death since that night and in this ESPN “Outside the Lines” segment Shaq discusses the events leading up to that fateful night.

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I guess Shaquille O’Neal is gonna need a Shaq sized parking space to park his ‘Shaq-tastic’ monster truck at TNT headquarters. Either that, or Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley will need to by new rides frequently.