I just happened to hear this on the radio yesterday, so maybe somebody has already brought it up. But, apparently Shaq made it sound like the reason he waited to have surgery was because he didn't think he should have to go throught that during his "vacation time." I guess Shaq feels he "clocks in" in October, and he considered having surgery on his toe a part of work. He then went on to make some lame comparison to the working man by saying, "when <i>he</i>'s on vacation he doesn't have to work, so why should I have to?" My question is , how does this guy get away with these comments? Apparently, much like his mock-chinese comments, this happened a long time ago and is just now being brought out. Between this, making fun of chinese, and disrespecting USA Basketball in the Olympics, I'm just sick and tired of this idiot...and I used to be a Shaq fan.
I'll give you three diamond studded, 24K gold reasons he can get away with those comments. Actually, this was a genius move by Shaq. Last year, people were saying that his skills were starting to deteriorate and that the Lakers were on the cusp of overtaking the Kings. He waited to have the surgery because he knew Kobe couldn't carry this team, but he just needed proof. Now, he's proven to the league that he's the "real" MVP of the team, the Lakers are back in the playoff hunt, and if they do win another title, it will be from a 6-8 seed and they'll go down as one of those "cinderella" teams like the '95 Rockets, which will add even more mystique to their current dynasty and Shaq ends up unscathed...Plus, he has three less weeks of wear and tear on his body than the rest of the playoff pack. ...and if the Lakers don't win it all, then does Shaq really care? Maybe, but he won't care as much as he would have three years ago...He'll always have his three rings to console him... The snub to USA basketball is a whole different subject, though...
Yeah, but why would the media care about that? If Kobe or Iverson made these comments he would instantly be reamed. With Shaq, the comments are just swept under the carpet until someone happens to run across them while dusting off the archives. Maybe he just says so many stupid things, the media has no choice but to believe he's just joking around.
Why does Shaq get away with these comments? I guess the same reason why Charles Barkley get away from stupid comments. People just brush it aside and say, "Oh, he's being funny." Or "Oh, he's just joking." Or "Oh, that's just Shaq/Charles. He's entertaining." These guys say so many outrageous things people don't really take them seriously, and hence don't hold them accountable.
I don't know. Barkley was a huge competitor, I don't see him ever doing something like this. I mean this guy makes 20 million a year, and he causes team to get off to a horrible start and ruins a month of the season for paying Lakers fans just so he can take a four-month vacation. Also Barkley is smarter and more down-to-earth than Shaq. He wouldn't be stupid enough to compare himself or his job to that of a normal, working person. But, I think you're right that the media just takes everything he says as a joke. However, I guess I missed the punchline in this one.
Depends on the person and their situation, on and off the court. I'm just glad Iverson didn't say it. Really though, just chalk up another idiotic comment by Shaq. I guess everyone is just so used to him saying something dumb, we just let him get away with it and laugh?
I'm fine with it. Now, if he were a Rocket...? He does like to paint himself as a blue collar worker, as if he worked in a steel mill or something. He doesn't like to admit he has more in common with opera singers than he does with wage laborers.
Barkley spat on a little boy during a game (oops, he missed his target ) and remarked that women like that b**** (his words) Hannah Storm didn't deserve to cover a man's game. But people just "love it" when he goes crazy on screen or off... Shaq and Barkley sells papers. The media makes sure that you either love or hate them, but never in the middle.
Sorry, I just read the quote again today and was amazed anew at the stupidity of it. Except for what might be paid for by insurance, injured workers are not paid while they aren't working. Shaq is paid even if he is out with an injury. The quote makes him look like such a pampered little baby.
Dude, people forget a lot of stuff about Barkley, like the fact that it was a little girl that he spit on, and throwing a dwarf through a window.
