Shaq - "Feud, Designed by Phil"

[Erik Eleven]

How am I trolling? you guys were the ones who brought up the Suns and I was just replying back.

Congrats, you managed to break the following three in just two short posts:

1) Trolling. Warnings will be handed out immediately for posts with ill intent. That goes for both locals and visitors. Attack the post, not the poster. Try to be respectful even when in disagreement or after a controversial loss.

2) Baiting. Trying to rile another poster up on purpose in order to get them in trouble. Warnings will be handed out immediately.

...

4) Derailing. Try to stick to the topic as best you can and contribute to the topic as constructively as you can. To steer a thread off topic with nonsense is against the rules. The moderators will do their best in distinguishing between constructive contribution and destructive nonsense. Violation will warrant a warning.

Warning will not be issued this time around, because Phil said so.

See thread called "Lakers Board Rules" up top of this board before you visit again, please.

[TonyMontana]

Besides the fact Shaq has been playing like beast, any team that makes the playoffs in the west has a chance, you can say the same thing about the east when the Hawks almost beat the Celtics.

I just find it funny when some people say the Suns have no chance and than the same ones say the Lakers will win it all and lose to the Celtics by 40 points in the finals

You know what Brah,
After Shaq left and we basically sat and watched our coaching staff changing and we were rebuilding this franchise.
I sat on this board (realgm) year after year and I heard how great your team was, I heard how this is your year.
You guys are going to win it all, then came our early exit from the playoffs a few by your team.
But I realized one thing that I stuck around with and kept my hope alive as a true Laker fan and as any fan should and will.
We are a winning franchise and we have alwyas struggled through out all these years, in the 80s with our losses to Deroit/Celtics/Bulls to our titles against the same very teams except the bulls.
Then came the 90s........ and we all know the Bulls ran the show in that era.
Then came the late 90s and that hope was alive yet again, we dominated any team any givin night.
We were the best there ever was and we won our threepeats.
Then everything changes after we traded Shaq, a new era in Laker history.
We heard everything from everyone including a lot of garbage from your fans, THE SUNs how we will never win and how Shaq was the only reason we won.
Yet we had one leader and one purpose, to win more titles as this franchise has been known for.
Yes we lost to the Suns in 05/06 but the tide has changed and we are back on the right track.
I do realize that this team lost last year to the Cs ready made team, but as a fan Im very proud of my team and my franchise.
Remember when everyone was talking all the B.S about how Kobe is leaving LA and for a minute as a fan I was sad and hurt thinking Kobe might wear another jersey and play against the same team that went out of their way to draft him and basically gave this team and franchise over to him and NOW he wants to leave.
I remember this board went nuts every little news or thread became a guessing game of this player decision and became our concern.
I was one of the outspoken poster on here that could careless if Kobe left and I still do.
Like I have said many many times its not the name in the BACK its the name in the front.
And now we are back in contention and we have a team that can only beat themselves, and Im not counting my chickens before they hatch since its the begining of the season, but one thing I know is that I have faith in this team and its players and its Org.
We are a team and a franchise that is known for winning and championships, not a franchise that has been established well over 40 years with no titles.
Every year I sit on this board and read posts like your day in day out, about how great your team is, or how you guys are going to take it again this year.
Every year when your team fails and comes short YOU GUYS (Sun Fans) sit on here and cry and compalin about everything and everyone.
About the scandles and Sterns reasons behind the officiating, about how the reffs didnt see this play or that play, about how you guys got screwed and we got lucky.
Every year its the same old song to the same old dance.
How about you take your pride and your Dream Team and focus on them and what you hope they can accomplish and until that happens go away and stop trying to make us except your dreams and hopes.
You know why its a dream, casue it hasnt happend yet, not last year or the year before or for the past 40 years and as history seem to prove that over and over again.
Oh and as far the Cs, okay we can take the losses, the better team won.
It wasnt the Lakers, but you know what..................... WE WERENT EVEN SUPPOSE TO BE IN THE PLAYOFFS.
So realistically Im still proud of my team.

[Chubby Chaser]

This statement was just more nonsense coming out of Shaq's mouth. He has no place back on the Lakers, and he should have his jersey retired somewhere in Orlando or Miami. He has no place at all in our organization.

[Luxury]

Wow Chubby Chaser, that's pretty harsh, but it's your opinion and you are entitled to it. I'd welcome Shaq with no more than the Vet's min. knowingly how impossible that may sound. Shaq was one of the greatest centers of all time, and has definately paid his dues and earned his respect. Time to layoff the haterade, and acknowledge all the good he did for us.

When Shaq first left (including Phil), everyone was blaming it on Kobe. Now, all the Laker fans forgave Kobe after all the struggle he went through for this team. Yeah, Shaq may have bashed our team afterwards but its actually completely normal. He was frustrated that the Lakers picked Kobe over him because it was the right choice for the future and financially. He was jealous and exemplifying his bad feelings just like an ex-girlfriend would.

This has always been my theory: Shaq wanted to retire as a Laker.

This article once again proves my theory. It's water under the bridge so get over the break up, and acknowledge just like he has of all the good that was once there. Even though its over, atleast we got the chance to write history just like we have the chance to write a new now.

[Anklebreaker702]

I TOLD YOU GUYS............ Shaq will retire in LA......... Mark it.

I concur, Kobe will win a Ring before he comes back as well so no more issues. Book that!

Especially if he wins 2 before then. He would feel like no matter what he has 1 up on Shaq so it wouldn't be a problem

[Anklebreaker702]

Do you guys think he'd be a good mentor for Bynum? We could use that drop-step every once and again. Before they changed the defensive rules, Shaq was nearly unstoppable.

Without a doubt. Shaq would teach him how to throw that big frame around

[Joe Kleazy]

Kobe should be able to lead his team to the rings FIRST, before any possible attempt to allow shaq back into the laker kingdom. This man was one of the first to bash our team after last years finals loss and now that we are clicking he wants back in.

Outside of nostalgia there isn't anything shaq can provide us that we don't already have. He sees us as his best opportunity to win another ring, but honestly the lakers ring oppourtunities exist WITHOUT SHAQ.

For those that say he could mentor Bynum, imagine the EGO influencing our young center to become selfish and lazy while taking the focus off of our team play.

I have no problem retiring his jersey and all but it is clear that he is looking to strike gold now that we are hot. He was quick to jump off the train for greener pastures during out time of rebuilding so let his azz reap the rewards THERE.

[Sedale Threatt]

Kobe said it best: "You've got to be kidding me. I've been talking about it for so long, I don't want to talk about it anymore."

This mess was old two years ago. I have to say, as a die-hard Shaq fan, I'm really disappointed in the way he's conducted himself since leaving our organization. I knew he was never the classiest or most mature guy on earth, but I would have expected that five seasons later he'd have gotten over it. Guess not.

[ReaListik]

Some of what Shaq says you just have to write off as marketing or creating drama just because he finds it fun. Unlike Shaq, I have a lot of respect for the players who will come out and say what they really think without sending mixed signals and I wish more players would do that.

I'm starting to wonder if that story about Shaq stalking the female rapper applies to Kobe somewhat as well, in the sense that Shaq can't let what happened go, and because he sees Kobe on the rise to a serious possibility of winning multiple titles, Shaq knows the Suns don't have the same opportunity and he's jealous, and he stalks Kobe as a result, lol I have no idea..

Who knows with the Big Isaac Newton, but this whole thing gets weirder each time it's brought up.

[lakersfanatic]

I guess the guy is saying he never said such a thing now...

The now famous Shaquille O'Neal interview with the Sacramento Bee that ran last week and included comments about Phil Jackson and possibly going back to the Lakers was done in the preseason in Phoenix by the Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper, a former Los Angeles Times writer whom O'Neal knows.

With public perception already settled, O'Neal was questioned Wednesday even though the original interview never asked him specifically about free agency in 2010.

"I have a great relationship with Steve Kerr," said O'Neal. "When I'm done here, we'll see what happens. Going back that way, no, it never came out of my mouth."

O'Neal said his comments about Jackson were intended as a compliment.

"Phil has always done right by me," O'Neal said Wednesday. "We had a great relationship.

"It would be idiotic for me to say something bad about him."

Does that mean he really really wants to go to the Lakers after Phoenix? hehe
Damn the media.. lol