Shaq: Putting the ass in class (with The Daily Poll)

     Been trying my best to ignore this Shaquille O'Neal vs. Heat tempest, but can't any longer. Isn't it amazing how a man who is 7-1 and 325 pounds can be so small?

      This guy should be grateful the Heat traded him to a contender, and have more class than to lower himself to sniping. First he criticizes Miami's medical staff and now, in a Boston Globe story, hits Pat Riley and two ex-teammates by saying, "We have professionals [in Phoenix] who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I'm actually on a team again."

     Shaq evidently is incapable of leaving anyplace with any grace. In Orlando it was Penny Hardway, in L.A. Kobe Bryant, now this. O'Neal drove Stan Van Gundy out, needed constant coddling and was, behind the scenes, hardly the lovable big teddy bear that is his public persona. Shaq parts the curtain with comments such as these and reveals one of the most self-centered individuals in sports today.

     What's sad is that Shaq has damaged his legacy here in a way that I doubt can be repaired. There was a time when a standing ovation would have greeted his return to Miami; now I'd bet booing would mix strongly with the cheers. There was a time you could expect the Heat to retire Shaq's jersey; now I think the rafters will never see it.

     Sad.

     Poll time. Tell us why you voted the way you did.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

[Updated Friday morning: Congratulations, voters. You made this our 13th blog poll to top 1,000 votes in less than 24 hours. Thanks as always for participating].   

Comments

[Tom]

I think Shaq's either from Boston or Nashua which fully explains his alpha hotel tendencies.

[rey diaz]

I would boo his fat lazy butt the entire game. That was classLESS! He is pathetic!

[Ron Davenport]

Just Shaq being Shaq.

[Paul Hernandez Jr.]

SHAQ being gone is great because now maybe he wont be a bad influence on D Wade's personal life. We don't need D Wade hanging out with cheap Ho's at their mutual condo on Brickell. D has already fathered one kid out of wedlock with a baby moma and that has cost him some big Converse cash. D should look up to the likes of an Alonzo Mourning who always carried himself with class and dignity. Shaq is also too damn slow and his feet have gotten even slower to say nothing of his free throw prowess right. Good bye to good trash Shaq..

[Karl]

Shaq doesn't know how to leave a team on good terms. He's all about burning bridges.

[SHAQ SUCKS]

What would be a cool humiliation would be to foul him on purpose, and then have the whole arena laugh as he struggles to make free throws. They could play some funny (3 stooges) music every time he misses. Thank god his free throw shooting, did not cost us the championship. Makes them when I need to my a$$.

[iNk]

No grace...how true it rings. History will not absolve his class-less-ness.

[tommy velez]

Shaq is a legend but Pat R. is too! Is all about business...

[Cuban in Kissimmee]

Hes just mad his girl left him for a Miami Cuban who is now having the time of his life wasting Shaq Daddys money...HAHAHAHAAHA I like the idea of fouling him on purpose and have everyone laugh at him.....If I was there thats what I would do!!!

[Jack]

what a bitch punk, no wonder why his wife left his retard ass. hes burnt so many bridges, imagine if he had dissed d-wade instead of quinn and davis, we would be calling for his head.

[DRPR]

Does Riley wish he never would made this trade to bring Shaq here. Just imagine a team with D Wade, C Butler, and L Odom. I do not think we would have won a championship as fast as we did with Shaq here, but I can say we would have been a far better team than the one we have had the last 2 years and with a few other players to make us better I am sure we would be contending for that title EVERY YEAR FOR MORE THAN WHAT SHAQ BROUGHT US.

[J Walton]

It is disappointing that a man of his "stature" would result to such childish antics - especially towards a team that did nothing short of catering to his ungrateful self. I really doubt the Suns trainers did anything more or less than what the Heat trainers did. He just responded better to treatment since he's yet to establish himself with the groupies.

I am just glad he is gone and the Heat organization is taking the high road!

[JAY C]

GOOD RIDANCE SHAQ. Just remember you won your last ring because of Dwayne Wade, and if I recall correctly it was Alonzo Mourning playing his heart out in the championship game against Dallas while you were on the bench. By the way maybe you can call Alonzo and learn from him the True definition of what being a CLASS ACT HUMAN BEING is all about!! You are exactly what is wrong with the NBA. A selfish brat that has no clue!!

[the shadow knows]

JAY C,

you are so correct concerning alonzo mourning- a terrific player and human being, not full of himself and thankful even through his tough times medically. dwyane wade is great, but alonzo is to the heat what tony gwyn is to the padres- their best ever!!

[the shadow knows]

should, of course, read: "tony gwynn"

[Dan]

Shaq is a classless asshole. Where ever Shaq goes, he burns bridges. He is a crybaby and I am tired of his shit. I am glad that slow slug is gone and now the Heat can rebuild without this jerkoff.

[Detroit Dan]

First, thanks, Cote, for a hearty laugh! I loved the "ass in class." I have never heard that before and cracked up.

Second, I have no time for Shaq's self-centered jabs. But I doubt I would boo him. I have mixed emotions. The guy, whether his fault or not, is having a rough year: marriage, decline in skill, etc. Never excuses his ass in class . . . but we all can be asses. I don't want to add to it by booing. Not clear cut enough for that.

[the shadow knows]

RE: the heat and the first pick in the draft

after watching kevin love against western kentucky, and seeing the basketball skillls and intelligence that this guy possesses, i would take him over the more athletic michael beasley, who ain't no slouch. kevin love can play both center, and based on his adequate shooting skills, EITHER forward spot. he may have a little trouble guarding smaller forwards on the perimeter, but that is his only downside as far as i see. without him,ucla is good; with him, they go to the championship game, it says here.

[Flipper72]

Shaq,

I appreciate your contribution in helping us bring that NBA Title to South Florida.
Dwayne Wade did have a lot to do with that as well though, so credit should be given where credit is due. With that said, basketball is a team sport and it takes at least 5 good starters and 3 to 4 good bench players that can produce. The Heat had that talent during their title run and they kicked ass!

The problem with Shaq is, that as soon as he starts losing- he starts crying like a bitch. He did this is Orlando when he and Penny started arguing- so they traded him.
They made it to the Finals but won no title.

In LA, he started arguing with Kobe after winning 3 NBA Titles in a row- so they traded him.

In Miami, he wins one NBA Title and then starts arguing with Pat Riley and points the finger at two other players for a losing season- so they trade him to Phoenix.

Everywhere this jackass has been, it always ends up the same. He'll either get you there and lose or win you a title but then he starts talking smack.

He might get Phoenix to the Finals but I doubt it.

This guy needs to retire and just walk away from the game. His best years were with the Lakers. He was ok in Miami but he totally sucks now. He can't even make a damn free throw and his form is horrid at best.

Later Days smack-talking Shaq with no attack left- you worthless sapp..!!!

heh...heh...heh...!!!

[David Tucker]

Its hard for me to feel many strong emotions one way or the other about the whole thing. I think its very unfortunate. Obviously Shaq isn't a nice guy 100% of the time but I do think he does do a lot of nice things for a lot of people. I've heard the stories over the years.

His comments about his teammates were classless and unneccessary. Ricky Davis isn't worth his time. The medical staff...well, all I can say is, between him & Wade, I haven't seen anything that makes me think the Heat medical staff is that great.

[David Tucker]

Oh, hey, I'm still alive btw 8)

[nh]

Flipper,
Sht the fk up!

[Tony Martin]

When shaq was forced out of LA I felt like Kobe was the villian but looking back I think Kobe was right Shaq wanted to be the leader of the team but he always showed up for training camp fat and out of shape so the year they trade him what does he do lose weight and come within 20 seconds of going to the NBA Finals. Although you were a big part of the Heat reaching the 2006 Finals It was the D-wade show once we got there Mr. five points gm 2 the clinching gm 6 was all about Alonzo Morning. You are a joke these days my friend you are not 20 yrs anymoreand the only reason you are averaging 15 to 17 points now is because your getting the ball 2 feet from the basket with your slow ass maybe thats why ya wife left

[OC Dolphin]

Shaq being Shaq, never crossed a bridge he couldn't burn. An attitude best described as: "You will always be wrong, because I'm always right," will serve him well in law enforcement.

[ginrai]

Shaq unfortunately is showing his ingreatful egoistal betraying self like when he was with the Magic, then the Lalas, and now the Heat. Shaq you should be greatful to Riley. He respected you. You got a ring with the Heat. Which you probably won't get anywhere else. Especially that your production has decline due to your injury issues ,and age. Riley traded you to a real good team in the west. Like you wanted. And this how you pay Riley and the Heat back?

[ginrai]

I used to call Shaq, Omega Shaqpreme while he was here. Now I call him for what he is now. An over the hill and not so smart TryptaShaqasaurer being schooled by Metroplex.

[ginrai]

Kobe is as bad as Shaq. He was whining to the Lalas of getting traded to Chicago. Since Kobe wants to be Jordan so much. Which he isn't. When the Lala were doing good ,and got Gasol later they all forgot about the feud and were happy. The Lalas are struggling right now that Gasol is hurt. Watch the Lalas lose again in the first or second round. Kobe will be at it again bad mouthing everyone in the lalas this coming off season after the playoffs are finished.

[OC Dolphin]

Bynum changed Kobe's mind, not Gasol. Kobe is not different than any other egotistical, never say lose, my crap don't stink superstar. These guys are winners in large part because they can't deal with being surrounded by mediocrity. You and I may not view the world that way, but hey, that's why we are here typing for free instead of living like a Tiger.

[ginrai]

You defend Kobe because you are a lala too. You love the lalas so you defend Kobe. You are wrong. Kobe first is like Egonormus Shaq. You love the Dolphins yet you can't show any love for the Heat. I can't stand the lalas and alot of thier trolling bimbolistic fans like I can't stand the Yoyo Yanks and their arrogant trolling yoyo fans ,and the Patty cake and their trolling Bozoton fans including the Bozotonian. Boy they love to troll in the espn team fan boards. Among other boards.

[OC Dolphin]

First, your reference towards Lala is disrespectful and invites a war of words. Secondly, you are dead wrong about me and the Heat. Aside from just having payed tribute to Zo (see Abdul-Jabar's comment in front of yours), you should note that my support for the Heat is second only to the Lakers. Hell, I've posted a great number of support posts over ex-Lakers such as MacAdoo, Riles, Shaq, Smush, and others for months.

Not a big baseball fan anymore, even though I cheered my a** of for the Marlins when they were making their run. And NO, don't like the Yanks, or Dodgers equally. Do appreciate the Ducks and Angels, who play 20 minutes from where I've lived for 20 years and Cane football. Basically, every team that was in Miami as I was growing up, which should not be difficult to understand.

Most here have noticed that I'm passionate about the Dolphins, but seldom does anyone associate me with being equally passionate about the Lakers. That's because I have enough sense to understand and know not to rub it in on this site. There is a word for that. It's called respect.

[Dave in VA]

A break from the b-ball crap.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6fKNMCoenD8

[ginrai]

Spoiled Kobe and alot of trolling Lala fans lack the word respect. Oh and does Phil Jackson show any respect to the other opponents? No! So why should I respect any of them?

[ginrai]

Shaq looks like big baby Huey with diapers in that photo. Good going Greg! The excellent photo of Shaq for your thread.

[OC Dolphin]

I think you'll find that in all walks of life everything is not black or white. Other than death taxes, there are few absolutes. Grouping individuals by making statements in the absolute, e.g. - all Laker fans show no respect and are a bunch of Lalas. This is as wrong as branding all Obama or Hillary supporters as being nothing more than a bunch of commie, pinko, fags.

[Richard Simmons]

OC, I love Obama.

[Dave in VA]

Someone tried to slap me down a day or two ago OC, but I tell you, ginrai is a genuine tool. A can of corn. A soup sandwich.

[Flipper72]

Ready for another ass beating Patty Bitch?

Just let me know when and where and I'll pound your worthless ass one more time??

Go to the Boston Globe already...everyone is tired of your shit Patty Puke.

I'll gladly fire at you- as long as you keep talking rubbish.

Pathetic slime ball...!!

heh...heh...heh...!!!

[Flipper72]

Hey Guys!

There is one thing you have to understand about Ginrai. This guy hates all other sports teams from all major cities like-
LA, New York, Boston, Detriot, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Jersey, etc.

Ginrai is a true blue Floridian. South Floridian to be exact and he will not support any team outside the state of Florida. I personally think there is nothing wrong with that.

He is showing his dedication and support for the local teams. Nothing wrong with that!!

He has a right to say what he wants about any other team in the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL.

After all, this is the Miami Herald.

I understand OC's point of view but I also understand ginrai's and you guys should at least let him voice his opinion without bagging on him.

At least he's living in Florida which is more than I can say for that ass wipe Patty Bitch, who constantly infiltrates this site from that slime pit in Boston.

[George Takei]

Richard

I love Obama too and I supported him first. So hands off bitch, he's mine. You can have the Bostonian. He's a little snarly just like you like em.

[Grandma's under the bus report]

There has been a lot of discussion about what Barack Obama knew about Jeremiah Wright's anti-American, racist beliefs, and when he knew it. It turns out, though, that there is no mystery at all: Obama's own autobiography, Dreams of My Father, answers the question. In Dreams of My Father, Obama describes the very first time he attended Trinity and heard Wright preach. What was Wright's theme? A racist attack on white people. Here is an excerpt of that sermon from Obama's first book:

"It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere ... That's the world! On which hope sits."

Obama describes himself being moved to tears by this sophomoric analysis of the world's problems. By his own account, Obama wasn't repelled by Wright's racism, it was the very quality that drew Obama to Wright's church!

It's pretty clear that no form of Christianity other than black liberation theology had any chance of attracting Obama. Wright's sophomoric raging was a perfect fit for Obama. It made him feel authentically black, it fit the anti-American narrative Obama had picked up in the Ivy League, and it was the best church around for advancing Obama's career in Chicago politics. People have had religious experiences on considerably less than that.

It strikes me that Barack Obama is uniquely unfit to be President, or, for that matter, to serve in the Senate.

[ginrai]

Thumbs up Flipper! Thanks!

Now about politics. Neither Obama {the young and inexperienced Jimmy Carter clone} or McCain {who wants to continue what bush is doing} must not have their way. This country is already in bad shape as it is. We don't need them. Voting for Hillary is the way to go. She knows what to do. While these two don't have an idea how to get started.

[Duck Hillary]

Gosh, it would be fun to be an eyewitness sitting in the Clinton War Room today, hearing the Official Explainers duck and dodge the latest round on Mrs. Clinton’s “misspeak” of her dangerous arrival in Bosnia ducking and dodging sniper fire. Her story was fine until CBS released their video of her arrival, showing greeters not snipers, little girls presenting flowers, and the First Lady on a walk-about among welcoming dignitaries.

[Duck America]

On the one hand you’ve got Obama, a guy who’s attended a race-baiting anti-white/anti-American church for nearly 20 years, lead by his “spiritual mentor”, the hateful and ridiculous Reverend Jeremiah Wright. He compares his white grandmother’s fear of black panhandling men on the street with his spiritual guide’s hateful, racist demagoguery, which infects thousands every Sunday. He has many known associations with Marxists and radicals. How far to the left is he? Does Cindy Sheehan ring a bell? Yet somehow, he tries to paint himself as a post racial uniter.

On the other hand we’ve got Hillary, someone who couldn’t tell the truth to save her life. It’s getting to the point where if Hillary is telling a story from her past, we should all safely assume she’s bullshitting. If she can’t be trusted to tell the truth on trivial matters, how can she be trusted to tell the truth on the really important ones; matters of national security, for instance? She can't!

[ginrai]

Don't listen to the bone headed red neck bozotonian who doesn't have no idea what he is saying. He had to be typically stupid and originally from the Bozoton area and now is an implanter here. Right BozoKurt! Can't still remember your name sKurt? This country was doing quite well when Bill Clinton was president. He fixed the economy, balanced the budget, turned it into a surplus, there was much less poverty less crime, kept the whole country together, among many other positive things in the 1990's. But Bush and his Republican oil lackeys had to ruin everything immediately. If Hillary Clinton wins she'll do the very same thing her husband former president Bill Clinton accomplished in the 1990's again. And yes she'll get it done too.

[OC Dolphin]

Flipper,

I know you're trying to be a peacemaker here,

I'm okay with buds supporting our own. Hell, I would challenge anyone including dude who has yet to acknowledge direct props
for acknowledging that one can be a stout Dolphin fan - check that. That one can be even a more ardent Dolphin fan than even he, and still hold allegiance to another city's other team's sport.

All this crap about trollers and Lalas is demeaning. Look, you and I can sit at the 50 yard-line. In fact, I would welcome that. Dude can sit next to us. We can sheer the hell out our 1 & 15 team. Urging them on to beat - fill in the __________.

How would you react when the game is over and dude turns around and tells you that you're a Lala. All of you Lalas are crap and I don't respect you.

Fuck him! He needs to come correct!

I don't give a flying f*** that he lives where I've lived longer than he and makes it some kind holier than thou excuse to render others less than he.

[jznvkj]

Flipper,
Sht the fk up!

[Duck Hillary]

Hillary was under fire in Bosnia. Check it out

http://www.lindasog.com/archives/2008/03/hillary_redeemed.html

[Obama? Are you kidding?]

"It's easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions, it makes you feel justified in your own ignorance...That's AMERICA"

Michelle Obama
Campaigning for Change at the University of South Carolina
January, 2008

Another quote from the madam of the Hate America team ...The Obama Campaign.

[Obama? Are you kidding?]

"The Obamas' donations to all recipients totaled $2,350 in 2000, $1,470 in 2001, $1,050 in 2002, $3,400 in 2003, and $2,500 in 2004. They also paid federal taxes totaling $311,044 during the same period on their $1.2 million of income."

The Obama's are Al and Tipper Gore all over again. Vocal moralists who are hypocrites at their core. What a joke. Charitable giving of $10,800 on $1.2 million of income. That's less than 1% of their income. The average American household gives 2.2% of their earnings to charity. So the Obama's are earning about 5 times the average household and giving less than half the average household. Ouch!

Where's the compassion for those less fortunate Barack? That's the problem with liberals like Barack and Michelle Obama, they want everyone else to pay for their compassion with higher taxes.

I hate to say Hillary is right, but in this case she is right. The more we learn about Barack and his Mrs the less and less attractive they become. This one is as bad as his affiliation with the anti-white hating bigot Wright.

As Hillary predicted, the Obama shit just keeps coming.

[Obama? Are you kidding?]

More on the less charitable aspects of the OBAMA'S

The quality of an individual is measured by what he or she does for those who are less fortunate, when no one is watching. Barack and Michelle have proven themselves to be not too overly concerned about those in need. The average American household gives at twice the rate of the Obama's (2.2% of household earnings). The Obama's are Al and Tipper Gore all over again. They, like the Obama's, began caring for their fellow man with their money AFTER they decided to run for the White House. It's sad, truly sad.

For those of you who want to know of the Clinton's charitable giving here are some pre-presidential numbers to draw direct comparisons to the Obama's:

In 1989 the Clinton's gave $18,114 on income of $197,651 (almost 10%) and in 1990 they gave $36,875 on income of $268,646 (about 13-14%).

I'm no Hillary fan, but the Clinton's are charitable givers and have been for quite some time. Too bad we now know the Obama's are just political animals who at their core care little about those around them.

[The Name Game]

Obama, Obama Bo-Bama
Banana-Fana Fo-Fama
Fee-Fi-Yo-Mama
Obama!

[Joseph Pulitzer]

Now that last one was worthy of a prize!

[Spread The Word]

FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THIS YESTERDAY

Who is Barack Obama?

Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born
in Honolulu , Hawaii , to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM
from Nyangoma-Kogel , Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white Athiest from
Wichita , Kansas .

Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii . When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya . His
mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia.

When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia . Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta . He also spent two years in a Catholic school.

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also
attended Catholic school."

Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that that he is not a radical.

Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned
to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education.

Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school
in Jakarta .

Wahabism is the RADICAL ISLAMIC teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world.

Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States , Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he; DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.

Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.

Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy.

The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the
President of the United States , one of their own!!!!

Posted by: Need To Read | March 28, 2008 at 06:22 PM

[Dave in VA]

The Name Game, that was some funny shit!

[Lala Dolphin]

Thanks Blue

[Tom]

Could have predicted the author of that one. Well-done my leftcoast friend.

[Tom]

Hey Dave you figured out your pigmentation problem yet?

[ginrai]

I don't like spoiled golden girl acting lala bigots. Like I don't like other bigot implanters like the name changing skurt here. Oc root for the raiders or the rams instead. You poor excuse for a dolphins fan. We don't need you to ram your lalas and Kobe First in our faces every time. Especially that you know that we are mostly Heat fans. Except for most of the other implanters. Take your fools gold lala rubbish to the other lala boards that love to hear it.

[naples jack,patsfan]

Gaandma's Under The Bus
Obama? Are You Kidding?
Need To Read
All you guys keep up the good work exposeing, This scumbag Osama as just a poor mans jimmy carter, the worse president, in my lifetime.

[naples jack,patsfan]

AAh Ginrai- priceless!!!1

[Grandma's still under the bus]

ginrai is our kind of man. He'll leave that loser Hillary and vote for Obama. He can't help himself, he's a moonbat at heart.

[ginrai]

Hillary is a winner that gives positive results like her husband former president Bill Clinton. I don't like Obama much. I don't McCain much either or the other republicans. Remember the Republicans are only for one group of people. The rich and white. If you are poor and white you aren't in the club. The Republicans are a bunch of high society bigots that hand out everything to super rich ceo's. Leaving out the ordinary people behind everytime. Like the Republicans are doing now. McCain and Obama stand for only a group of people. An elected president should stand by everyone. It's his or her obligation to the country. Especially the ordinary people regardless of race. In this case the best candidate for the job as president happens to be a woman named Hillary clinton. Too bad bozo-skurt with that many ridiculous nicknames, you aren't intelligent enough to figure it out for yourself.

[Orange County Dolphin]

Blow me for a week gingin. I'm 10 times the Dolphins' fan you will ever be - dip-shit. I doubt you ever got up early every Saturday morning during football season, knocking on doors to cut lawns in heavy heat to get enough money to go to the OB and watch old man Wilson coach his crappy QB son and crappy team back in 66, 67. I rather doubt you attended every home game in 72 like I did, or get arrested for stopping traffic during the SB celebration. I know you don't venture into Raiders or San Charger sportstbars proudly wearing Dolphin gear like I do and represent.

I don't give a damn what you like or don't like. You go ahead and show me exactly where I've rubbed Laker accomplishments on this blog. You know what? You can't. That's because unlike the dissing piece of crap that you are, I have enough class to know what a Miami blog site is for.

Lastly. You make sure that when you talk to shadow next time you remind him know how much of a troller you think he is and that he is a Chacha. We would'nt want people to think you are also a hypocrite. Oh wait, I forgot. You don't talk to anyone. You just make inflammatory remarks and hope others just say - oh well, you know gingin bleeds Miami.

Tough shit. Plenty of people bleed Miami without having to live there. It's a big world out there Mr. and if you only wish to talk to Miamians you just go over to that laundry room in your duplex and talk all the Jai alai you want with Julio.

[Dave in VA]

OC, I love ya man! Wonder if we sat next to each other at the Orange Bowl during any of the '71-'73 games? My pops took me when I was a sprout, I remember it like it was yesterday. GREAT memories.

My dad's in his 70s now, he came to visit me in Miami (three of four years ago when I still lived there). I was able to get a couple good seats for a Patriots game. We tailgated, had brats and beer, then watched the Phins trounce the Pats. What a great day.

[raoul duke]

naples jack now lets not forget President Carter's brother without who we would never have had an opportunity to try "Billy Beer" swill. It's tastier than Sam Adams if you're already really, really drunk. Actually Obama might have "looked like a Kennedy" and possibly been more moral(like that's any real accomplishment)but his pastor blew it or saved the day depending on one's perspective.

[r. duke]

lol whoever thought of bringing George Takei to this website it was a "stroke" of genius.

[Grandma's still under the bus]

ginrai

You act as if you're never going to make any money. Uhhh, never mind, come to think of it, I think you're right. Thus, the advocates for a welfare state seem to be a perfect fit for you.

[OC Dolphin]

Dave,

Another guy that we both probably rubbed shoulders with was Tom. He also attended the perfect season. You should have him tell you his Earl Morral story.

[George Takei]

Well thank you Mr Duke. Always happy when I can create a gay atmosphere on the blog, wink wink.

Did Richard Simmons run off with my favorite salad maker, the Bostonian? That bitch!

[Richard Simmons]

No Georgie, I'm currently in a ceramics class molding something that is starting to look quite useful when it hardens.

[George Takei]

oh Richard you're so naughty. So where is that Bostonian? I bet that boy ran off with that other bitch, Barney Frank. I think they live in the same neighborhood. Birds of a feather and all that. I wouldn't surprised if the Bostonian was one of Barney's hookers when he was running those whores out of his townhome.

[Flipper72]

Patty Twat!!

Shut your trap loser switch-hittin' slime!

Guys beware of the Patty/Bostonian/Patrick/Kurt person- who
has the virus and is spreading the disease
and will also spread eagle for Richard Simmons.

heh...heh...heh...!!!

[the shadow knows]

ginrai,

the only positive results your boy bill clinton would produce: tests for sypohyllis, gonnorhea, herpes....

your infatuation with the clintons is laughable, and I AM LAUGHING: HARDEE, HAR, HAR!!!

[naples jack,patsfan]

Raoul Duke- Billy Carter, was the brains in that family. God, there had to be some inbreeding in that family. The daughter was as ugly as sin. I remember when she went to Brown Univ. real wacko. You know, the more I look at that commie, pinko, Osama Obama, he does look a lot like a kennedy. Teddy could be his father. People have said teddy would Fuck a snake, if someone held it.

[raoul duke]

LOL. No one seems to ever forget how ugly Amy was/is.

[raoul duke]

naples jack funny thing about Teddy is if he would have ever been elected President I doubt anyone would have taken a shot at him, with him maybe, but not AT him.

[George Takei]

Hey Patrick I'll have my salad tossed now.

[the shadow knows]

fellas,

as of this moment, the suns are tied for the lead in the west; weren't they alone at the top when mr. o'neal was traded? the heat are better off with shawn marion and the top pick next year than they would have been with shaq- i amstill sticking to my belief that kevin love would be a better pick than michael beasley. beasley would be a terrific small forward; love could play power forward, in the post, and possesses a decentt shot when looking at the basket to go with his amazing passing ability. i would prefer love stay in school another year, but if he comes out the heat should take him.

[raoul duke]

George Takei what a guy.

[r. duke]

Too bad Dorsey has question marks. He sounds like second coming of Jerome Brown on paper but as we know there was only one Bad Bad Jerome Brown. Christ we need so many players too. Damn I'm feeling parched. Time for a drink...

[raoul duke]

Speaking of drinks anyone notice Mickey Rourke looks like "Fire Marshall Bill" from "In Living Color?" What the hell happened to him?

[the shadow knows]

raoul duke,

thankful not to have seen mickey rourke for a good while; his looks may be attributable to lots of drinking and drugs, which tend to age a person rather quickly.

[the shadow knows]

r. duke,

you pay glen dorsey quite a compliment by comparing him to jerome brown, a brute of a defensive lineman. jerome brown and reggie white on the same line-wow!!

[raoul duke]

shadow too bad Buddy Ryan did not have much use for offenses. The Eagles might have had a trophy when Jerome Brown and Reggie White were there. He had some talented guys on offense he just exuded disdain for offensive football in general.

[heh8meN1]

REWIND-GRAY: What was your reaction to Shaq saying the Lakers are his team, and everybody knows it?

BRYANT: It doesn't matter whose team it is. Nobody cares. I don't, Karl [Malone] doesn't, Gary [Payton] doesn't, and our teammates and the fans don't either. There's more to life than whose team this is. But this is his team, so it's time for him to act like it. That means no more coming into camp fat and out of shape, when your team is relying on your leadership on and off the court. It also means no more blaming others for our team's failure, or blaming staff members for not overdramatizing your injuries so that you avoid blame for your lack of conditioning. Also, "my team" doesn't mean only when we win; it means carrying the burden of defeat just as gracefully as you carry a championship trophy.

GRAY: Do you consider Shaq to be a leader?

BRYANT: Leaders don't beg for a contract extension and negotiate some 30 million [dollars] plus per year deal in the media when we have two future Hall of Famers playing here pretty much for free. A leader would not demand the ball every time down the floor when you have the three of us [Malone, Payton, Bryant] playing beside you, not to mention the teammates you have gone to war with for years -- and, by the way, then threaten not to play defense and rebound if you don't get the ball every time down the floor.

GRAY: Shaq says that you have not been a team player. Is he right?

BRYANT: That's ridiculous. I have been successfully sacrificing my game for years for Shaq. That's what Phil [Jackson] wanted me to do, so I did it. Last year Phil told me Shaq was not in physical condition to carry the trust of our offense, so he asked me to do it. But then he saw Shaq was getting upset that the team wasn't running through him, so Phil asked me to pull back and I did. This year is no different; my role is whatever Phil wants it to be. Period.

GRAY: Through out the preseason, your leg and conditioning has been lagging. Are you in the proper shape to start the season?

BRYANT: My knee is not strong enough to play yet. I know it. When it is I will play.

GRAY: Does that mean you will miss the opener [Tuesday] night and other games?

BRYANT: I probably won't play tomorrow night or until I'm ready. But I don't need Shaq's advice on how to play hurt. I've played with IVs before, during and after games. I've played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball. I don't miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn't that serious in the first place.

GRAY: Kobe, Shaq said if you didn't like what he had to say you can opt out and leave next season. Will you leave the Lakers?

BRYANT: I won't make that decision until the end of the season. I told Shaq last year that I was planning on opting out. He knew before anyone. I told him out of respect for what we have been through together. I thought he should be the first to know. The fact that he acts like this is such a big shock is a mystery to me. If leaving the Lakers at the end of the season is what I decide, a major reason for that will be Shaq's childlike selfishness and jealousy.

GRAY: Do you feel Shaq has been supportive in regards to your legal situation?

BRYANT: He is not my quote unquote "big brother." A big brother would have called to lend his support this summer. I heard absolutely nothing from him. I spoke to Devean [George], Rick [Fox], Mitch [Kupchak], Phil, and our owner Jerry Buss. And Shaq's own Uncle Jerome called and left three messages. Other teammates like Derek [Fisher], Mark [Madsen], and [Stanislav Medvedenko] left messages as well. Opponents called like [Chris] Webber, [Mike] Bibby, and many others. So did a lot of coaches. Michael Jordan, who didn't have my home phone, tracked it down to lend his support. So did Tiger Woods. But yet from my so-called big brother, I heard nothing.

GRAY: Why not resolve this behind closed doors? Why is this so public?

BRYANT: I asked Phil on Sunday [yesterday] to say something to calm this situation down before it boiled over. But he backed away, so now here we are. I have been a bigger person every time something happened with Shaq, and I don't expect this to be any different. But somebody in this organization had to speak up, because his unprofessionalism hurt us last year, and I don't want it to hurt us this year.

[the shadow knows]

raoul duke,

somebody should have told buddy ryan that it takes 3 1/2 safeties to equal one TD and PAT; buddy ryan thought that he could get by on the abilities of randall cunningham.the eagles under buddy ryan had as miserable an offensive plan as imaginable, and an absolutely stellar defense. buddy ryan was nuts- he got sore at kevin gilbride when the oilers blew a 32-3 lead at buffalo. granted that the run'n'shoot does not project into ball control, bur a 29 point lead should be enough; it was his defense tat let buffalo back in the game, not houston'sinability to run the clock out with that lead.

[r. duke]

agreed shadow. Buddy just wasn't right in the head.

[the shadow knows]

r. duke,

was it norman braman or leonard tose that hired "his buddiness"? ryan's big head wouldn't allow him to ire a respected offensive co-ordinator for fear of that guy getting the type of adulation that he got while being an assistant for mike ditka. buddy ryan was a first-class SOB.

[raoul duke]

shadow I have no idea who hired him I have a harder time keeping track of owners and GM's these days. In Miami we would have lost our collective minds over "Buddy Ball". That was championship caliber defense with wasted offensive side of the ball. Though in Miami we're hoping Tuna will be just the anti-psychotic we fans need. I remember he had running back (Ernest Jackson?)from San Diego. Always liked his style even though it wasn't ultra flashy. He was just consistent unheralded it seemed to me 1000 yard rusher. Ryan seemed to be frequently critical of guy and his running style. In those days I thought what a luxury or idiocy it must be to be so hypercritical of your consistent 1000 yard rusher when Miami would avg like 46.7 yds a game.

[Shaq's ass]

Did someone say "Big Mac" ???

[manny]

that convo b/w grey and kobe...wow

I forgot about that. How true does that sound again? I cant stand Kobe, but there was not a single thing he said that wasnt true...

F U shaq