http://www.nypost.com/seven/04012008/sp ... htm?page=2
he most absorbing revelation that oozed from the clash of the titans was provided by Riley, who says he ordered Shaq's silence when Stan Van Gundy left the Heat's sideline "to spend more time with his family."
Eleven NBA observers out of 10 surveyed believed Riley coordinated Van Gundy's exodus 21 games (11-10) into the '05-'06 championship season to coincide with Shaq's return to active duty. An identical percentage was convinced Riley's renovation of the roster and the ensuing tension caused Van Gundy to vanish.
An hour or so after Dwight Howard's transfixing jamboree victory, I had an impromptu conversation with an on-line reporter who regularly covers the Magic as we walked out of the arena en route to our hotel bus. He maintained Van Gundy's exit had nothing to do with Riley and everything to do with Shaq, who didn't appreciate being jerked in and out, especially in the pivotal minutes of tight games.
"Shaq often disrespected Stan," the reporter disclosed. "Sometimes it was done playfully. More likely it was meant contemptuously."
And it was loud enough so everyone could hear - teammates, the media, courtside fans, anybody within earshot. That season, while on the inactive list, Shaq was making snide and insensitive comments on the bench and during timeouts.
The senselessness of trying to coach Shaq was not lost on Van Gundy. What rubbed him the rawest? It may very well have been the nickname. Nobody's more adept (mocking) at branding people, including himself.
According to the reporter, Shaq would refer to Van Gundy as (porn star) Ron Jeremy, whom he strongly resembles, at least from the neck up.
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