Shaq Crying “Foul” is Sad
Thomas Baldrick interviewing LSU sophomore sensation, Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O’Neal made for good radio yesterday on KTAR. But his calling Gregg Popovich a “coward” is sad, and is itself a pretty cowardly act. Shaq ought to take the charge himself instead of broadcasting blame elsewhere. The diesel’s comments should backfire with anyone who knows he can’t justify bIaming a smart coach for exposing and exploiting his weakness.
I first met Shaquille O’Neal when he was a sophomore at LSU. He couldn’t shoot free throws then, and it’s unacceptable that he still can’t shoot free throws after 15 seasons as a professional. It’s amazed me how he has hidden behind the free pass he’s gotten all along that goes like this, ”Shaq’s never been a good free throw shooter.” Well, what kind of argument or logic is that?
Shaq’s missed free throws aren’t free. In fact, they were costly to the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs last year as they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. In addition, Shaquille O’Neal is paid handsome salary to play all aspects of the game of basketball, including shooting free throws. Public records show his salary for 2008 is $1.8 million a month. Isn’t that enough to show some pride and hire a personal free throw shooting coach? If not, isn’t $1.8 million a month enough to at least practice free throws every day? Okay, if not, let’s give him off weekends. Couldn’t he practice shooting free throws 5 days a week for $1.8 million a month? He’s a 52% free throw shooter. Are you kidding me? I share March 6 as a birthday with Shaq. I could shoot 52% from the line. He knows his performance level makes him a liability to his team. He also knows he is laughed at for it by everyone connected to the NBA, and all those who follow the game.
The truth is, Shaq has never shown the courage or the work ethic to take on free throw shooting as an important part of his job, or to see it as his responsibility to be at his best for his teammates, coaches, and those who pay his mighty salary.
Gregg Popovich wasn’t born with the same kind of assets to dominate the NBA that Shaquille O’Neal was given. In a league filled with the world’s best coaches, Popovich has paid his dues and worked hard at his craft to win championships, and has done so with a team in a city that’s at a distinct disadvantage to places like Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix where Shaq has played.
If Popovich were a coward, he wouldn’t had the courage to look Shaq right in the eye game after game during the 2008 NBA playoffs and say, “Shaq, you suck at shooting free throws. Prove me wrong.” This one’s a slam dunk. Shaq crying foul is as pathetic as his performances when the game is on the line.
