Shaq did an interview with the Sporting News and talks about the Suns a little bit in the interview. Here it is:
Q: Your life has changed the last six months. New team, new reality TV show -- it's certainly been a whirlwind for you.
A: Yeah, I was traded. My hat goes off to the Phoenix Suns organization. (General manager) Steve Kerr was very honest about the situation. I appreciate it. A lot of times teams don't tell you at all. You either hear it in the media or you read it.
But the Phoenix Suns organization has been a great organization, and in these tough times in our economy, business has to be handled. They wanted to take care of business and start all over. I understand that, appreciate that. But me being the business man that I am, I requested that they give me another shot at winning. So they sent me to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Q: You talk about the business side of things ... at what point in your career or in your life did you realize you wanted to be the guy in the limelight?
A: I don't really look at it as like I want to be in the limelight. I always tell people I'm a regular guy that has won the athletic lottery. So I don't really consider myself a superstar; I consider myself one of those lucky guys. Because let's face it, I've had three tremendous, excellent contracts in one lifetime.
But I don't sit there and say I want to do this, I want to do that. This (reality show) idea came across with me being like most male couch bravados -- as a guy, I can do anything, period. But as a superb athlete, I know I can really do it. …
I knew some friends in the TV production world, and we brought it to ABC, and they loved it. So basically it's me getting in the best shape of my career, cross-training and having a good time.
Q: Do you think this will give you a fond appreciation of what they go through once you compete in their event head-to-head?
A: A good thing about me is I'm a gracious host. What I mean by that is if I win, I ain't going to be rubbing it in their face. If I lose, I'm going to say, "You know what, you whupped me."
Yesterday, I had to give it up to the beach volleyball guys. I was doing some training with the Beijing Beast (Phil Dalhausser), and his vertical is like 50 in the sand. Mine looked like it was about 20. So I told him, "You know what, before we even turn the camera on, I got to apologize to you guys." Because on TV, you look at it, and OK, he's (6-9), he's throwing it down. I'm 7-1 … it's easy. But it ain't easy in that sand, brother.
Man, yesterday I was out there at 8, and was out there all day to 6. By the time I got in the car and got to the highway, which is two blocks, I was snoring. Done.
Q: A lot of people have said you already look in better shape than you have in the past couple of years. Do you feel that this is a little bit of a resurrection for your career?
A: You know a good thing about being with the great organization of the Phoenix Suns, (head athletic trainer) Aaron Nelson and (physical therapist) Mike Clark, who's also part of the show, they taught me a new way of how to train. You know, after I had the hip thing in Miami, they were telling me I was done. So I thought I was done. But these guys actually had me feeling younger. So now that I know that I can at least go about three more years, I'm going to really be serious.
You know for me to have the full complete circle career -- what I mean by that, when you draw a circle, if you don't go out the same way you come in, then the circle ain't complete. I want to go out like I came in.
Q: Do you have a nickname in Cleveland yet? The Big … fill in the blank for us.
A: The Big Witness Protection.
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2009-08-13/shaq-im-regular-guy-has-won-athletic-lottery
I'm shocked that he hasn't criticized anybody yet.
Thoughts on the interview?
