I’m Worried About The Diesel

That's not the place to get good ideas, Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most engaging and charismatic athletes of his generation.  Maybe not since Ali has there been an athlete who has been such an icon away from his sport.  It’s gotten to the point where I think Shaq would be famous even if he had stopped playing basketball in high-school.  I don’t mean famous like, ‘that giant guy who killed those people’ either.  I mean, he’d be a legitimate celebrity for one reason or another.  He’s still playing basketball right now and he’s still managed to work more in entertainment than Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton combined.  That’s not saying a whole lot, but still it’s his second or third or fourth career. 

Shaq’s latest project is a reality show for ABC that will pit him against other famous athletes in their chosen sport.  He’ll swim against Phelps, hit with Pujols, and box against De La Hoya.  If the series lasts too long (stifle your laughter please), they may have to start reaching for athletes and sports.  Maybe he could drink against Wells, party with Strawberry and Gooden, panhandle with Canseco, dominate media with Favre and fight hurricanes with Ditka. 

What worries me is Shaq’s reasons for being so visible.  Robbie and I recently discussed whether Shaq made viral videos and held Twitter contests and made numerous TV appearances because it was fun for him and a way to kill his free time, or if he just has an addiction to the spotlight.  I argued that he is just that guy who enjoys being around people and being goofy.  It’s getting harder to truly believe that, however. 

Shaq will finish his basketball career in the top 10 of most people’s favorite athlete list because he was a great player, was nearly unhateable and was genuinely funny in interviews and in his real life.  But what if he develops a Favre-ian habit of hogging headlines?  For him, it wouldn’t even have to be a constant threat of returning to hoops.  Just think of all the time he would have to do zany things if he didn’t have to be concerned with basketball season.  Right now, I can’t see myself being fed up with his antics, but who knows how I’ll feel when he releases his own spin on Auto-Tune the News, has a cameo in every Apatow movie and makes a candid camera style TV show. 

I think it would be best for all of us if Shaq simply faded away after basketball.  He doesn’t have to completely disappear.  I think he could be a very good analyst and could have a side project pop up every so often, but there’s no need for him to have enough material for his own channel.  Shaq can be nearly invisible, then reappear every couple of months to remind us of all the good times we had… just like herpes.

Tags: ABC, basketball, NBA, Shaquille O'Neal

1 Comment to I’m Worried About The Diesel

Shaq’s Attention Tank Was On E | Bootlegger Sports- Sports Humor Blog
March 25, 2010

[...] written about Shaquille O’Neal’s attention whoring many many many many times.  By now, you should be able to guess where I’m going when I tell you that [...]

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