Grumpy Old Men

In light of this new Stan Van Gundy and Shaq verbal combat, I find myself wondering what happened to the Shaq who was a big smiling giant, who even donned some genie pants. Or the guy who made several rap albums just for fun, because we all know his rapping abilities are as good as his free show shooting. The last couple of years, Shaq has shot his mouth off several times, oftentimes calling out people and indirectly insulting people who didn't mutter a negative word about the most dominant big man in league history. Yes I said it. I never was impressed with Wilt Chamberlain, since the game was different and he was the biggest guy on the court. Do you think Wilt would've gotten his gaudy statistics if he had to guard a Dwight Howard, a Shaq or even an Emeka Okafor. Definitely not, but I digress. I think Shaq realizes that he isn't the most dominant big man in the league anymore, and that his best days (team and individual) are way, way behind him. The league has moved on, expanded, and gotten younger, and now Shaq is just along for the ride. And he knows it.



It all started last week when Shaq calls Dwight Howard an impostor superman. For starters that whole superman thing came from his dunk in last years dunk contest which amazed us all as basketball fans. No one ever questions Shaqs legacy, so for him to say something like that just shows a little jealousy and a lot of immaturity. Jealous of the fact that Dwight is the monster in the paint that he used to be. Besides, who cares. The Superman name stuck. Did Michael Jordan go throwing shots at Kobe when people say his games is like Mikes. No, for what. I think Kobe will surpass Jordan as the best player ever, since hes so young, so talented, and such an assassin with the game on the line. But he has to win a lot more for me to give him Jordan's crown. To think a few weeks ago Shaq and Dwight were dancing at the all star game. Now hes an impostor. Since when, and who the hell cares. I really hate to see when people trash talk and use the media against people who aren't really into all the sideline drama like Howard.



OK, moving on, when they play, i watch Howard take a drop step spin move, where Shaq totally was lost, and for the first time in his career, he flopped. Seriously, it wasnt even close. Flopping against a so-called Superman impostor. Superman does not flop. Or shouldn't. Afterwards, Coach Van Gundy called him out for it, since Dwight is supposed to be an impostor. Rightly so. Only defending his player who was called out for no reason, and if there was one, it was extremely petty. Afterwards, a defensive Shaq goes on the offensive calling out Van Gundy, his brother, and "that legend on the bench", Patrick Ewing. As a New Yorker and a lifelong Knick fan, I get offended by that since Ewing has never muttered a negative word about him, and certainly wasn't lucky enough to have a high caliber, A-class teammate such as Dwayne Wade or Kobe.

No one has ever questioned Shaqs accomplishments or even tried to belittle him. Shaq has been a consumate professional his whole career for the most part, and these last couple of years he goes on the offensive against people who never had an issue or problem with O'Neal. Last summer he did that ridiculous freestyle where he dissed Kobe out of the blue, Ewing, Kareem. He uttered classic lines like "its like a white boy trying to be more nigger than me". You're not 25 anymore. Its not cute. hes ruining his legacy, not too much, but Ive lost a certain degree of respect for that man. It was like when Stephon Marbury and Larry Brown were feuding, and Larry says, look at my record and then look at his." There is no need to say that. To begin with, you're older, smarter, and been around longer. Plus with all the issues Steph has had with coaches, nobody really thought Larry was the one who had the problem. The fact that he had to bring it up, a hall of fame coach comparing himself to Marbury who basically was ran out of his home town, shows insecurity and immaturity on Brown's part. I feel the same way about this situation. Shaq has nothing to prove. Dwight Howard is a young personable player who is growing by the minute. he has taken over as the leagues most dominant big man. No one thought that he was better or an impostor. Shaq has nothing to prove. The fact that he would have to throw his accomplishments up and compare them to Ewing or the Van Gundy brothers shows that he isn't the professional I thought he was. Shaq is proven, and has nothing to prove and nobody to impress. Maybe he does, because now I'm really unimpressed.