Fire away!

Pat Riley finally fired back at The Big Prick-ly Cactus on Thursday, which has probably been a long time coming given how the relationship has soured since last season.
I don't know if I've used this quote from one of my favorite cartoon characters, Philip J. Frye, before, but now seems as good a time as any to drop an "I'm literally angry with rage!"
I'm guessing that's how Riles felt after he had heard jab after jab from Shaq. Steve Kerr's probably not thrilled that Riles passed along the conversation they had to the media, but what's Kerr going to do, really? He's not that tough. Besides, it's just a matter of time before Shaq hates everyone in the Suns organization. So Kerr just happens to be first in line now that he told Riley he was embarassed by Shaq's mouth.
To me, though, this doesn't taint anything about the championship the team won with Shaq. I mean, are the L.A. folks complaining about their Shaq-driven titles after he trashed the organization? No. And Heat fans should be less inclined to think in those terms because Shaq didn't even do most of the heavy lifting in the Heat's championship run.
On top of that, I still want to see the Suns do well with Shaq because I still think Shaq has something left in the tank and it would be a shame for it to go to waste. It's just sad that his attitude is what it is. Because it'll leave a visible stain on what has been one of the top 10 careers of all time.

BTW, here is my best guess as to what Zo does next year. He won't be ready to start practicing again until the season starts, so I figure he'll work his way back into prime shape, see how the Heat is doing without him, then pull a P.J. Brown and decide to come back around January or early February. If the Heat is anything close to a playoff contender, he'll be back in a Heat uniform. You gotta love the Brett Favre of the NBA.

Comments

[Shawn]

Shaq helped bring us a title. Thank you. Who cares what he says...

9/11 was an inside job

check out wtc7.net watch the collapse videos

learn the truth

[softening]

yeah i was upset at shaq initially, bashed him in these comments, but I'm trying to forgive and forget like riley. I realize shaq just has a bruised ego, and hurt feelings after his wife banged her trainer, and she's gonna get half his fortune. Think about it since her affair happened in Miami he just wanted to get the hell out of here, so he wouldn't be reminded. So he's just trying to make it look like he left on his terms b/c the team sucks. We all know the team sucks now, but he used it as an excuse to leave town.

[Who knew?!]

Shaq's wife banged her trainer??

[phil]

I am so dissapointed with Shaq. I was really chearing for him to suceed with phoenix. how do you bad mouth a team that 1) Put a team together just to help you get a champion ship. A team that your Flash is still a part of. A team that still has a lot of the guys that helped you win a champion ship. Every body always looks for a scape goat, but nobody understands that the Heat Did not have cap space or money to pull playes to help. He pushed for Mo William wich would have been a great help but Mo backed out. Zo whent down, and the rest was history. Your star player had double surgery, and all you can do after getting traded to a contender is bad mouth your supporting cast that stood by you when you were fouling out of games. I am ashame to have cheared for him in the past. Now I see why the Lakers let him go and chose Kobe. he is showing absolutely No Class. I hope the Heat gets better next year and every time we play Phoenix we tear him a New ass.

[heatboy]

to hell with the crap everyone writing about shaq. it's true. riley made the team worst. second, riley was always bashing shaq and other players in the media, so why the double standard. riley expected shaq to play with a confused jason will who can't play riley type of ball though would be talented as a off-the-bench point (jwill can't take crunch time, plays well during garbage time) on a running team, he has ricky davis who makes shots, but at the same time never saw a shot he didn't like and is quick to shoot instead of passing to set up a better shot, quinn isn't developed totally yet...that the replacement for kapono, walker (who grew into a passer), jones, etc. riley replaced team ball with players who took a shot before they the offense was set up. And finally look at the medical team in phoenix who really find problems and don't just go through the usual step and just say "it must be shaq"; a team that didn't think outside the box like phoenix's team...when they didn't find a solution that is common and documented, they just passed it off as being shaq. stop hating florida. Shaq has a point and I'm the biggest heat fan in the world.

[HeaterForLife]

Riley took the bashing and blaming to the media first for not just Shaq, but a lot of his players, yet all the hate for Shaq getting some things off his chest...and most of all, what shaq is saying making sense and people are treating him like Florida Enemy # 1. Get a grip people and that's why Riley continues to decimate the Heat teams, because he has you all brain-washed. The truth is the truth. Riley started this. Instead of the Miami Heat, this organization including some of the fans hating on shaq should be call the "The Miami Hypocrites."

[HeatSkeet]

Shaq's just pissed his kids are learning spanish from their Cuban step-dad.

[Mark]

What does wade say about shaq's bad mouthing the heat??

[huss]

look shap is a prick he does this everywhere he goes. he didnt have to call out riley like he did he is a star in this league you cant just be so stupid. he didnt help the heat win the title remember they play throught him the first to games. which we lost. then d wade said ima take it and he did we won 4 in a row so plz dont say shaq is the reason for our ship. the man is good for nothing he should retire he is pretty much worthless