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Shaq Continues to Give Dream Props


One thing that I always liked about Shaquille O'neal is that he was always willing to give Hakeem Olajuwon the respect and admiration he deserved.  Even upon his entry into the league, when asked who the greatest center in the game was, he would always reply, "Hakeem."  Even when leading up to their collision course during the 1995 repeat Championship run (I love saying that), Shaq remained respectful, and dare I say "humble" regarding all things Hakeem.  For all of the macho head games, crazy interview comments (i.e."Ericka Dampier"; "The Rupaul of Big Men"; and his utter dislike of one David Robinson), and on-court tactics, Shaq seemed to know where to draw the line regarding our beloved Dream.  As a matter of fact, I can only think of one time that I saw Shaq do something intentional and out of anger towards Dream:  The very last play of the 1995 NBA Finals.  I believe that his action in that one moment was a culmination of the embarassment of getting to the pinnacle of his basketball dream, and having it viciously snatched away --not because he laid an egg, but because the other guy/team was just simply better.  I had the pleasure of meeting pre-Laker Shaq one day...

 


...at Sharpstown Mall, and he was just like he is on TV:  Big, funny, and cool.  Because I have never been "that guy", I usually don't bother celebrities when I see them out (unless it's my one chance with a long list of fine women who just don't realize they are my soulmate), so when I walked into a store in the mall and saw Shaq standing in the back (head near the ceiling), I didn't even speak.  After a few seconds, I heard a familiar voice calling my friend and I over to him saying, "Hey man, you see me over here.  Come on over and holla at your boy!!"  Now how many celebs who are not at a meet-and-greet would actually break the ice and call a stranger over?  Not many.  I remember feeling like a total b!tch as I gave him a pound, with my able-to-palm-a-basketball-sized hands being dwarfed by his I-Know-What-You-Did-Last-Summer meathooks.  Anyway, we chatted and joked for a few, and I realized that he was really a cool guy.   I think it speaks volumes about Dream when you have so many other players, some of whom were his greatest nemeses, still giving him love, respect, admiration, and looking to be taught by him.  I am just proud to say that I grew up watching Dream play, and that he played in a city that I love. 

The 'Big Retirement' still has love for the Big 'Unbeatable'!!  Here is the link to the Shaq interview from Yahoo! radio. 

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