RealGM

Has Shaquille O'Neal been too protected by the media, the L and fans of the game?..

it seems as if he has been running his mouth non-stop for the last few months and blaming everybody else for the decline in his game..his recent comments about Chris Quinn and Ricky Davis is what sparked this thread..why make the excuses anyways? is Shaq that self-conscious about his legacy? it seems like he is looking to blame everybody in the Heat organization for his decline..I don't see the point in throwing their organization under the bus and throwing his former teammates under the bus..is Shaq that immature?..

this is coming from someone that is known for hating Kobe Bryant and blamed him for most of the Shaq incident..but after seeing how Shaq has acted the last few years with everything, did Kobe shoulder too much blame? Shaq just keeps coming off as an immature, self-conscious guy with concerns about how everyone will view his legacy..

is Shaq too protected? he is viewed as a "goofy", funny, likable guy that is loved by the media and most fans..he's the best interview in the game and a top 10 player of all-time..I agree with all this, and I've been a fan of his this whole time..but do we ignore the negative aspects of Shaq too much? the immaturity? the lazyness? the need for someone to blame other than himself?..

I'm starting to think that Kobe got too much blame..

Shaq is a sly fox who can get over on fans's good side because he's funny and has a pretty easy going personality on TV.

Shaq is the black Brett Favre. They could say they were helping Osama and nobody would care.

^No.
Brett Favre was enjoyable because he never lost his enthusiasm for the game or took a game/practice/week/season off. He played longer than conventional wisdom would say he should have, and battled injury and personal crises for the sake of his team.
Football was Brett Favre's passion.

Shaq wants to be a cop and hasn't retired yet due to $$$

Favre definitely had some questionable moments like the hypocrisy with the Javon Walker incident, but he was loved more because of his ironman streak and the fact that he was always humble and acted like a regular person..

Shaq also gets a pass for quitting on the Heat, which is ridiculous..I realize that he led the Lakers to multiple titles, but how can an all-time great just quit on his team like that?..I can't imagine Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant quitting on their teams..Kobe even came out and played his hardest during the period where he wanted to be traded..

Shaq owns the world

Favre was a drug addict, and hijacked his franchise's off-season for the past 3 years. Don't ever disrespect Shaq by comparing him to a drug addict, and a player who cracked as a player and hasn't been great since he threw 6 INTs against STL in the playoffs. Favre is a hack, wanted to retire for the past 3 years, but waited till he finally miraculously had a good season so when he left the game people wouldn't call him washed up.

Shaq gets a free pass because he is a championship winner, and will lead the Suns to the conference finals this year. What he has said is true, the Heat were a joke, and an aging superstar does not deserve that situation. Shaq has earned the ability to speak out like that. I mean if he spoke some lies, like I'm glad to be on a real franchise now where I don't have Wade, and a horrible coach in Riley. Then we could all flip out. Quinn and Davis are bums.

It would basically be the equivalent of Shaq getting traded from the Knicks and him saying he is happy to be in a real franchise and not be asked to play with Mardy Collins and Jamal Crawford. Shaq brings home championships, he can say whatever he wants.


But yes, this does go to the bigger picture which is obvious. When you are good to the media, they will be good to you. Some examples, John McCain answers all reporters questions and is always willing to give interviews, which makes all the media outlets love him and they all came to his defense when the lobbyist thing came up. Barry Bonds is an **** to the media, and he was immediately hung out to dry when accusations came, while Roger Clemens who everyone loves had some people defend him when real proof came up.


Shaq is everything right with the league, and the league will miss him so much when he is gone. It will be like when Jordan left, but for different reasons, we won't realize what we have until it is gone.

uuhhhh wow ^^^

Brett Favre never blamed a teammate.

Both were coddled by the media, much like Steve Young was. (I'm a niner fan btw).

But the above reply is totally uncalled for.

It still amazes me as to why a player as good as Shaq is/was, as great a person/personality he is to the game and the sport, and as respected he is around the league, cannot just keep his mouth shut, but instead take unneeded shots at players/teams he has no bearing with anymore.

The Quinn & Davis comment was more so a backhanded indirect shot @ Riley, for getting him crap role players. He's to smart (I think) to directly take a shot @ Riley. I don't think I'll ever get him. -- This organization found a way to move him to a contender, so he wouldn't spend the last few years of his career on a rebuilding team, of sorts, and he still doesn't show any appreciation, that is what gets to me as a fan.

Riley responded, but respectfully.....

"It's sad that he says those things. We shared so much here, together, for three years, good and bad, 3