Jason Richardson tells story about Shaq's locker room "pranks"

[WolfAddict]

That's somewhat similar (minus the family and pets part ) to how I handled it myself when I was on teams 20 some years ago. I made it known that I didn't pull any pranks and therefore expected none do be done to me. I said I don't play those games and I'll just start swinging no questions asked on anyone who messed with me or my equipment and it worked.

Gee you guys seem like really fun people to be around...

FWIW I'd have pulled the prank and been more than happy to throw hands if you felt the need.

(Obviously I'm not advocating for arse sweat or **** pranks - That's just waaaaay too far - But would 100% hide a bike or something like that)

I'm all for normal pranks. Hiding the bike, fine. Peanuts in the car, cool. But when you're locking someone in a locker and peeing on them? Or putting someone's mouth piece in your ***?

Nah, that's crossing a line to a level of disrespect I can't abide as a man. It requires a similar response.

Oh I get you and agree, which is why I put the bit in brackets - But normal pranks (as you said "any pranks") and you'd start swinging? That was my point - If I hide some **** of yours as a joke (not do anything else to it other than hide it) and you start swinging or threatening my family...

EDIT: I just noticed you weren't the one said 'any pranks' so I apologise to you. That was SerialChiller

[xBulletproof]

Gee you guys seem like really fun people to be around...

FWIW I'd have pulled the prank and been more than happy to throw hands if you felt the need.

(Obviously I'm not advocating for arse sweat or **** pranks - That's just waaaaay too far - But would 100% hide a bike or something like that)

I'm all for normal pranks. Hiding the bike, fine. Peanuts in the car, cool. But when you're locking someone in a locker and peeing on them? Or putting someone's mouth piece in your ***?

Nah, that's crossing a line to a level of disrespect I can't abide as a man. It requires a similar response.

Oh I get you and agree, which is why I put the bit in brackets - But normal pranks (as you said "any pranks") and you'd start swinging? That was my point - If I hide some **** of yours as a joke (not do anything else to it other than hide it) and you start swinging or threatening my family...

EDIT: I just noticed you weren't the one said 'any pranks' so I apologise to you. That was SerialChiller

Before I got to the edit, I was like damn, did I exaggerate that much? I was prepping to go back and look, like why did I do that?

You're good. No issues

[tsherkin]

Gary Vitti talked about a bunch of Shaq's "pranks" on the most recent B-Scott podcast.

A lot of it is just straight-up gross and unpleasant. There are good pranks, and then there are dumb things, and he did a lot more of the latter.

There is value in the context of team bonding to a certain level of hazing. And depending on exactly what you're doing, then that degree can change. But there is a point where it is just too much, and that's what a lot of his stuff ends up sounding like. When you start messing about with feces, and urinating on people and stuff, that's biohazard. That's not welcome, that's not helpful at all. That's just awful.

[Calvin Klein]

Are these "pranks" on teams an american thing? Holy ****, wtf is wrong with you?

Conflating Shaq's psycho behavior onto an entire nation of people even in a thread where many are condemning it seems pretty trollish. You can do better.

Plenty of people are talking about pranks in general, I'm not talking about Shaq's insane behaviour.

[LakersLegacy]

Gary Vitti talked about a bunch of Shaq's "pranks" on the most recent B-Scott podcast.

A lot of it is just straight-up gross and unpleasant. There are good pranks, and then there are dumb things, and he did a lot more of the latter.

There is value in the context of team bonding to a certain level of hazing. And depending on exactly what you're doing, then that degree can change. But there is a point where it is just too much, and that's what a lot of his stuff ends up sounding like. When you start messing about with feces, and urinating on people and stuff, that's biohazard. That's not welcome, that's not helpful at all. That's just awful.

Does it make anyone want to purchase a printer

[slick_watts]

i think this sort of stuff is more prevalent in professional sports locker rooms than fans would expect.

[tsherkin]

i think this sort of stuff is more prevalent in professional sports locker rooms than fans would expect.

I'm sure it is, but that doesn't really make certain things any less problematic. In years past, that was guys dumping hot yogurt on people's backs, you know what I mean? At the time, it was permitted, but things evolve over time, and with exposure.

[slick_watts]

i think this sort of stuff is more prevalent in professional sports locker rooms than fans would expect.

I'm sure it is, but that doesn't really make certain things any less problematic. In years past, that was guys dumping hot yogurt on people's backs, you know what I mean? At the time, it was permitted, but things evolve over time, and with exposure.

not excusing the behavior, it's just (unfortunately) not surprising to me.

[tsherkin]

not excusing the behavior, it's just (unfortunately) not surprising to me.

Oh yeah, entirely unsurprising.

[sp6r=underrated]

Only people who are the strongest man in every room they enter have Shaq's sense of humor.

[Anti Chalmers]

Jesus some of you act like toddlers. This happened over 20 years ago. Why are we projecting our current values onto things people did in the past? We do this with historical figures all the time too. He was just a young guy having fun. If this was done today that's a totally different situation but we haven't heard of anything like it aside from these old examples.

Exactly 100% this was all in good fun. I also remember when I was pissing in your moms anus and mouth 20 years ago and it was totally understood that I was just a young dude having fun, glad you were so cool with it also broski, good looking out. Anyway yeah today's generation definitely soft bro..

Lmaoo this will be up there as one of the best post ever

[Laimbeer]

Shaq is not a likable person at all and Inside the NBA has now become a terrible show because of him.

Agree. Shaq is a self-absorbed jerk. You have got some real issues if you stick someone's mouthpiece up your ass. Don't know if the teammates laughed because they have second grade mentalities or were intimidated by Shaq.

[PlatinumState]

At this point I wouldnt be suprised if Shaq made someone munch down on a turd. Disgusting that his bullying was tolerated just because he was a star. Makes you wonder what other stars did to their teammates through the decades. Probably not sick stuff like Shaq did but a lot of dehumanizing stuff definitely

[slicedbread2]

Shaq is not a likable person at all and Inside the NBA has now become a terrible show because of him.

Agree. Shaq is a self-absorbed jerk. You have got some real issues if you stick someone's mouthpiece up your ass. Don't know if the teammates laughed because they have second grade mentalities or were intimidated by Shaq.

I'd go with both.

Sadly it speaks volumes when a role player can't stand up for himself for fear of getting blackballed from the league, especially when it comes at the hands of someone who has the stature of Shaq and honestly I feel for Lou Amundson. Nobody deserves that and at the end of the day he was trying to make a living holding on in the league as much as possible (he lasted 10-11 years which is impressive in and of itself).

Kobe may have been a prick, but I can see why he was annoyed with Shaq. Because if it's one thing he never did, it was slacking off and being lazy towards the game and he wouldn't have stood for Shaq's antics. Shaq's the type of bully that will go after people who have everything to lose. He won't go after a veteran who won't stand for his crap or a rising star teammate knowing full well the problems it'd bring.

Unfortunately, we see it in all sports. Look at Penn State and how far Joe Paterno was willing to go to cover that pedophile who was on his coaching staff. Along with the huge culture problem in hockey and a lot of other sports. I shudder to imagine of all the other stuff we don't hear about that goes on behind close doors.

[MrBigShot]

Honestly in several of the stories told by former players/staff he did things that could end up getting you hurt. He got away with it because he's 7'2 and 350 lbs+

[basketballto]

Jesus some of you act like toddlers. This happened over 20 years ago. Why are we projecting our current values onto things people did in the past? We do this with historical figures all the time too. He was just a young guy having fun. If this was done today that's a totally different situation but we haven't heard of anything like it aside from these old examples.

Exactly 100% this was all in good fun. I also remember when I was pissing in your moms anus and mouth 20 years ago and it was totally understood that I was just a young dude having fun, glad you were so cool with it also broski, good looking out. Anyway yeah today's generation definitely soft bro..

Lmaoo this will be up there as one of the best post ever

You used to beat your friend up for having relations with your mom these days you start calling him Dad.

[Lalouie]

shaq was/is an ogre

[og15]

Shaq is not a likable person at all and Inside the NBA has now become a terrible show because of him.

Agree. Shaq is a self-absorbed jerk. You have got some real issues if you stick someone's mouthpiece up your ass. Don't know if the teammates laughed because they have second grade mentalities or were intimidated by Shaq.

They didn't want to be next

[sashaturiaf]

I think it's completely apparent now that the Shaq / Kobe "feud" was just Kobe refusing to put up with Shaq's nonsense and laugh it off like the rest of these chumps which was met by a massive tantrum by Shaq.

Lakers shipped the right guy out. 5>4 forever homie