Is Shaq the number two?

CoolD · Post #1 » by **CoolD** » Sat Aug 9, 2008 11:51 pm

Is Shaq the number two most recognized player in the world that has played basketball. Jordan definitely in number one legend.
But outisde of Jordan, I think Shaq is the second most recognized basketball athlete in the world. I know of people that from South America, Europe, now who Shaq is, even if they haven't watch one basketball game in their life, also Shaq is known in China because he was the rival in the Chinesse fans eyes to Yao. That know who Shaq. The easy pick would be putting Yao, but people from South America and Europe might not even now who he is, but Shaq is recognized in many more places besides USA and China.

Also because Shaq was an unique physical specimen, that people that could care less about basketball, knew he was a super big basketball player, size wise. I know people that had no idea of anything to do with basketball player, but they recognized Shaq do to his size.

Am not even saying popular, because Shaq has a lot of haters. Am Heat fan, wasn't Shaq's biggest fan either, but the fact is, I can't think of a more well known basketball player than Shaq, besides Jordan.

I think Yao and Kobe are probably the next two.

halfHAVOC · Post #2 » by **halfHAVOC** » Sat Aug 9, 2008 11:56 pm

probably

around the world people have heard "Shaq"

GuyverX · Post #3 » by **GuyverX** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:15 am

Yeah, I would say Shaq is the 2nd after MJ. Watch the Kobe lovers make an argument that Kobe is the most recognized name in the galaxy.

dreamcloud · Post #4 » by **dreamcloud** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:25 am

I would have to say, yes.

Roscoe Sheed · Post #5 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:31 am

It's LeBron

Silk Wilkes · Post #6 » by **Silk Wilkes** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:37 am

LeBron isn't even close to the world recognition of Shaq yet, although he'll probably pass him. Shaq is one of the biggest Sports names in the world.

OmniDEN · Post #7 » by **OmniDEN** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:38 am

No, it's not LeBron. Kids might know who he is, but he's not gonna be all that well known to non-basketball fans. People know who Shaq is, he's the 2nd I'd say.

NetsForce · Post #8 » by **NetsForce** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:12 am

It's either Shaq or Kobe, I'll give Shaq the slight nudge though... Although it's important to remember that while Shaq might be the second most recognized NBA player he's definitely not one of the more popular players worldwide.

Whether it's fair or not I've talked to numerous people from other countries who always end up saying things like "Shaq is no fun to watch all he does is dunk, if I was that big I could do that" (this was back when Shaq was on the Lakers mind you).

Now the majority of us being diehard NBA fans we know that's laughable, but that's the perception a lot of non-hardcore basketball fans (outside of the United States) think about Shaq.

Blame Rasho · Post #9 » by **Blame Rasho** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:18 am

It is all due to Shazaam.

Bosanac · Post #10 » by **Bosanac** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:50 am

Who knows, Shaq might even be as recognized as MJ, because of his physique, you can't miss him, and no one looks like that. With MJ, you could mistake him with Mookie Blaylock if he didn't have his Jordan gear on.

imonfire99 · Post #11 » by **imonfire99** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:56 am

Bosanac wrote:Who knows, Shaq might even be as recognized as MJ, because of his physique, you can't miss him, and no one looks like that. With MJ, you could mistake him with Mookie Blaylock if he didn't have his Jordan gear on.

ya i saw shaq today coaching his son's ymca team at the ymca i go to. he is IMPOSSIBLE to miss, one of the largest people i've ever met. especially when he wear phoenix suns bright orange polo shirt and matching orange shorts. lol.

Farm Raid · Post #12 » by **Farm Raid** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:42 am

It's Shaq. The people who knew Magic just in passing have now forgotten about him and that was Shaq's only competition.

Rodya · Post #13 » by **Rodya** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:03 am

Chamberlain needs to be in the top five, back in the 60 and 70 nearly every sport fan world wide knew his name.

Farm Raid · Post #14 » by **Farm Raid** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:10 am

But now he's not in the top 100 and even fewer people would know his face if they saw it.

Rasho Brezec · Post #15 » by **Rasho Brezec** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:58 am

People are really overlooking Iverson. Either AI, Shaq or Kobe.

Captain_Morgan · Post #16 » by **Captain_Morgan** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:53 am

Lebron is catching up fast though.

Serpo · Post #17 » by **Serpo** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:59 am

It's Shaq by a larger number alot of people who have no idea about the NBA and Basketball in general at least once saw him and know who he is. He's easy to recognize.

Tom Baker · Post #18 » by **Tom Baker** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:01 pm

Yes, it's Shaq.

A few months ago, I was talking idly to a work colleague who's a woman of about 50. I asked her if she knew who Kobe was (don't remember why) and it drew a blank. Then I tried LeBron. Still nothing and she was getting annoyed.

"Wow", I thought. She doesn't watch basketball, but how do you not even know LeBron, he's so over-marketed. Then, searching, I tried Shaq. Finally a light of recognition: "Yeah, he's a basketball player, right?".

Just for kicks I then asked her if she knew who Jordan was and she said, "Of course," and proceeded to look at me like I was stupid.

Whoever said Iverson, there's no way. Nobody outside of basketball would know who he is. Why would they? He gets even less mainstream pub then Kobe and LeBron and hardcore non-fans don't know who they are.

Rasho Brezec · Post #19 » by **Rasho Brezec** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:08 pm

Tom Baker wrote:Yes, it's Shaq.

A few months ago, I was talking idly to a work colleague who's a woman of about 50. I asked her if she knew who Kobe was (don't remember why) and it drew a blank. Then I tried LeBron. Still nothing and she was getting annoyed.

"Wow", I thought. She doesn't watch basketball, but how do you not even know LeBron, he's so over-marketed. Then, searching, I tried Shaq. Finally a light of recognition: "Yeah, he's a basketball player, right?".

Just for kicks I then asked her if she knew who Jordan was and she said, "Of course," and proceeded to look at me like I was stupid.

Whoever said Iverson, there's no way. Nobody outside of basketball would know who he is. Why would they? He gets even less mainstream pub then Kobe and LeBron and hardcore non-fans don't know who they are.

You would be surprised how recognizable Iverson is in Europe.

sule · Post #20 » by **sule** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:04 pm

Near the Northwest mountainous regions of Pakistan, where the population is largely rural and agrarian, if you show a picture of NBA players, though they've never seen a game before in their lives, they will recognize Shaq and Jordan. Anyone else will cause them to have a perplexed look on their faces. These are people for whom, internet is a luxury. For some of whom, television is still a fantasy. And for whom, American sports like the NBA are as foreign and exotic as martians. I've had people there ask me about Shaq and Jordan. Never have they even thought about another NBA player, if they even knew one.

So I"m going to say Shaq and Jordan.