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http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/08/19/20090819spt-boivinshaq.html

Shaq's behind-the-back move
O'Neal takes Suns star Nash's idea for a reality TV show and runs away with it

The most entertaining part of the new reality show, "Shaq Vs."? The credits.

Tuesday's debut, which featured Shaquille O'Neal taking on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football, was a tad long and a bit contrived. It became decidedly more interesting, though, when the credits rolled and this name popped up as one of the executive producers:

Steve Nash.

There's an interesting back story here, one that explains in part some of the fractured relationships that defined the Suns' struggles last season.

O'Neal stole Nash's idea.

Shortly after O'Neal was traded to the Suns in February 2008, Nash mentioned to his new teammate a reality show he was pursuing. It would feature the Suns point guard taking on professional athletes in their own sport.

The topic didn't come up again until early in the 2008-09 season, when O'Neal boarded the Suns bus and told the team he would be starring in a new reality show in which he would be taking on, you got it, professional athletes in their own sport.

"You mean the idea you stole from me?" one Suns representative said he heard Nash say.

Nash eventually sought out an entertainment lawyer, according to sources, which is why he now has an executive-producer credit and the compensation that comes with it.

When reached Wednesday, Nash would not confirm the story.

"We collaborated on parts of the show," he said. "I support him 100 percent. I thought the first episode was a fantastic episode, and I can't wait for the next one."

That's something you would expect Nash to say. He often has played the role of locker-room peacemaker. He is known as a teammate who diffuses tough situations before they escalate.

In reality, a source close to Nash said, "Steve was pissed. He couldn't believe Shaq's lack of integrity."

The experience set the tone for some shaky chemistry on the court. Off it, Nash found himself in a difficult situation, trying to co-exist with a teammate who had blindsided him.

"He's moved on," the source said. "He really does want the show to succeed."

Calls made to O'Neal's representatives were not returned.

Being a teammate of O'Neal's is a bit like falling into the rabbit hole.

Several years ago, when O'Neal played for Miami, he referred to Nash's back-to-back MVP awards as "tainted." He later back-pedaled.

The 2008-09 season was trying from the start. The team struggled under new coach Terry Porter's deliberate system. In December, the Suns traded one of Nash's best friends, Raja Bell, with Boris Diaw, to Charlotte for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley.

During the All-Star break, they fired Porter and replaced him with assistant Alvin Gentry, who steered the Suns back to their up-tempo ways. Several days after Gentry took over, All-Star power forward Amaré Stoudemire underwent season-ending surgery to repair a detached retina.

The Suns were out of the playoffs for the first time in five years.

Here's a hunch that when the Suns decided to trade O'Neal to Cleveland in late June, it helped Nash arrive at his decision to sign an extension with the Suns a month later.

Here's a hunch that chemistry on this team will be better in the 2009-10 season, too.

Nash enjoys playing for Gentry and is happy his friend Grant Hill is back. He'll have his pick-and-roll mate, Stoudemire, and an offense that should be more fluid.

Nash might be 35, but let's not forget he recently became the first NBA player to shoot more than 50 percent from the floor, 90 percent from the line and 40 percent from 3-point range for three consecutive seasons.

How long "Shaq Vs." lasts remains to be seen. It landed a 2.7 rating locally, which means approximately 48,670 Phoenix homes tuned in to the ABC show. NBC's "America's Got Talent" received a 7.6 rating locally, and CBS's "Big Brother" took a 3.9 rating.

In future shows, O'Neal is scheduled to compete against swimmer Michael Phelps, boxer Oscar De La Hoya and tennis star Serena Williams.

O'Neal might have other battles in his future as well. Author Todd Gallagher says the show is a rip-off of his book, "Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan," according to TMZ, and is pursuing legal action.

"Shaq Vs." is a reality show, but O'Neal's life more resembles a drama.

The Suns are better off without it.

MaryvalesFinest wrote:This is hilarious

The Suns were still a championship team back than and Nash was focused on a reality TV show over trying to work on his game and get better defensively?

Nando88 wrote:

MaryvalesFinest wrote:This is hilarious

The Suns were still a championship team back than and Nash was focused on a reality TV show over trying to work on his game and get better defensively?

you know damn well that wasn't the case... kill the whole nash hating, we get it that you don't like him

MaryvalesFinest wrote:

Nando88 wrote:

MaryvalesFinest wrote:This is hilarious

The Suns were still a championship team back than and Nash was focused on a reality TV show over trying to work on his game and get better defensively?

you know damn well that wasn't the case... kill the whole nash hating, we get it that you don't like him

The Suns were a top 5 team in the league at the time and Nash was thinking about reality TV? Come on man that's a valid point.

MaryvalesFinest wrote:The Suns were still a championship team back than and Nash was focused on a reality TV show over trying to work on his game and get better defensively?

cmw17 wrote:I really hate Shaq. He is like a virus. I used to be a die-hard Lakers fan before he became one and turned that franchise into a circus, and i can't stand them ever since. I was crushed when I first heard he was traded to my current favorite team, the Suns. I knew before long he would be up to his old shananigans and make everyone hate him wherever he goes. He is a piece of sh it as a person, and this is just one example why. He's a backstabber and he's unapologetic about it. Steve Nash is the opposite, he is the smartest and wittiest and nicest guy in the league and he is 100% class unlike this a-hole. On a side note look at the size he was given and the career he has made of it by perfecting the fundamentals of the game and compare it with shaq who would have no business being in basketball if not for his gargantuan size. Shaq is just a piece of sh it and I could not be any happier that that virus is gone from the suns. The A-hole tour is now in Cleveland and by this time next year you will hear everyone in Cleveland hating him or you'll hear Shaq bad-mouthing yet another team that he was on. The guy is class-less and this act does not surprise me whatsoever. I'm just glad Steve is getting paid good money for this theft, while the big gorilla has to do the work. Good for Steve. F U, Shaq, hope your fat ass drowns in the pool against Phelps.

MaryvalesFinest wrote:This is hilarious

The Suns were still a championship team back than and Nash was focused on a reality TV show over trying to work on his game and get better defensively?

jaypo wrote:Yeah, I'll bet you were all broken up inside when Shaq was hoisting 3 Obrien trophies for your Lakers. And wasn't it Kobe that turned the Lakers into a media circus with his court battles?

jaypo wrote:As far as Nash goes, HE said himself that he collaberated with Shaq on parts of the show, meaning he worked WITH him. And if Nash was working on it for himself, evidently he didn't do anything with the idea because Shaq was able to get it done and produced before Stevie got anything done. I'll bet that Steve mentioned the idea to Shaq as something he would consider doing, but never pursued it. Shaq did, and the show is done. I've had a million ideas myself that someone else has profited off of because I never pursued it thru my own fault. I don't blame them for it. Maybe Stevie should have shat or got off the pot!!! And as far as the guy that wrote a book is concerned, give it up. Because you wrote something similar in nature, that doesn't mean anyone stole your idea. And if it does, then Stevie stole it because isn't this whole article about Shaq taking Stevie's idea? Stevie, work on developing some defense and quit crying because your friends were traded. That's why the chemistry was bad. Stevie was pouting (along with Amare) that they couldn't play SSOL ball and they were expected to play defense!!

MaryvalesFinest wrote:In all seriousness I'm no Nash fan as most of you know but I admit Nash vs would have been more entertaining considering he's closer to the size of most athletes.

cmw17 wrote:

MaryvalesFinest wrote:In all seriousness I'm no Nash fan as most of you know but I admit Nash vs would have been more entertaining considering he's closer to the size of most athletes.

I must be seeing things...

MaryvalesFinest wrote:

Nando88 wrote:

MaryvalesFinest wrote:This is hilarious

The Suns were still a championship team back than and Nash was focused on a reality TV show over trying to work on his game and get better defensively?

you know damn well that wasn't the case... kill the whole nash hating, we get it that you don't like him

The Suns were a top 5 team in the league at the time and Nash was thinking about reality TV? Come on man that's a valid point.