AFC North Pre-Season Week 2
August 25, 2009QB Questions Just Status Quo For Browns
August 25, 2009Saw a video of Shaq fighting Oscar De La Hoya over at ’64 and Counting. Tonight you can catch a double dose of the show on ABC starting at 8 with a replay of Shaq vs Ben Roethlisberger, and then a new episode at 9 with Shaq taking on Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in beach volleyball. Perhaps you may even catch a glimpse of the executive producer of the show. No, probably not.
I admittedly didn’t get to watch the first episode, (Scott did) so I don’t know how intense these ‘competitions’ are. The clip of the fight with De La Hoya certainly didn’t throw up any red flags, as the two were about as civil with each other as sparring partners usually are. But I still have to wonder if these little tests of Shaq’s athletic prowess are really what you want to see from your 37 year old center.
I also realize that I’m more old school than most of the people that read this site. I would much rather read about Shaq in the gym with LeBron and Mo Williams getting ready for the upcoming season than see Shaq swimming laps against Michael Phelps or LeBron taking off on a world-wide tour right before camp begins. I have no idea what life is like for a multi-millionaire world class athlete, but I can speak to what life is like for a 37 year old. Your body doesn’t recover quite like it did at 30. In his coming to Cleveland press conference, Shaq tried to sell us on the idea that he missed around 3 seasons worth of games and so those are still in the tank. Um, no. Thanks Shaq. As Jack Nicholson said “Sell crazy someplace else, we’re all stocked up here.” Age doesn’t care whether you played 82 games last season or 22. Another year on those knees is still another year.
So no matter how entertaining it is to watch Shaq going up against the world’s best athletes, I for one would much rather he be preparing himself for the season. Physically and mentally. Hopfully he’s doing that.
3 Comments
I personally think this sort of thing will encourage him being mentally in the game. I’m surprised a lot of the players from the Olympic team weren’t more burned out than they were. I know I would be sick of doing anything at that level for a solid year.
I also appreciate Shaq’s “cross-training” approach to this off-season. He is able to continue being athletic without continually pounding on the same muscle groups and joints that he has been since he entered the league.
Just my take on it, anyway.
I’m very worried that in our efforts to appease Lebron, we bit off more then we can chew? What do we need all this garbage for? We want a championship and he should be concentrating on basketball.
Shaq vs.” Shows Shaq Doing What He Does Best – Be Shaq”
I hope this message can land into Shaq O’Neal hands. (lap) My grandchildren and I watch the show Tues. night 08/25/09 we laugh with joy. My grandson, Jamiary stated to me “will you get me on that show with Shaq I like it and I know I can help him,” I looked at him and he was more serious I was about college, more serious as I am about Jamiary getting the best education US has to offer. He looked at me and said “”grandmother I am serious get in touch with Shaq and tell him what I want to do. No jokes, No laughs, No second thoughts, just get him to know I am serious”” Me with weird look on my face, Jamiary looked and said PLEASE….! I responded *now I will attempt to try. Ooh…. Jamiary is only 8 years old.