Shaquille O’Neal and his career have presented me with a number of mixed emotions through the years. As a Los Angeles Clippers fan who’s suffered through endless losing and as someone with a passionate disdain for those other LA guys I’ve had moments where I hated him, then loved him and every other feeling in between.

That being said, it hurts me to see new reports that he may be chasing one last big payday instead of joining a contender (like the Boston Celtics) to add to his championship ring totals.

During the whole three-peat era the Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed from 1999-2002, I was completely anti-Shaq. I hated his monstrous performances and those pesky lane-clearing elbows. I felt bad for guys like Todd MacCulloch, Matt Geiger, Dikembe Mutombo and others who always got called for fouls as they absorbed those hits across the face.

The infamous referee/free throw advantages they benefited from as a major market team with deep pockets also infuriated the real fan in me. Small market or crappy team fans always hate the big bad evil empire image set forth by teams like the New York Yankees and Lakers. It was a no-brainer to hate Shaq, he was on top, stacking rings and was undoubtedly the alpha-dog bad ass on those Lakers.

Once the drama between him and Diet Jordan (Kobe) boiled over, I began to appreciate the Big Fella more. It was the trade for him that transformed the Lakers into champions again and it was on his giant shoulders that guys like Kobe, Derek Fisher and the rest got to ride coattails and establish legacies they enjoy to this day. Yet suddenly Los Angeles had become a bizarro world where people turned on Shaq, insulted him and sent him packing. It was as if they forgot about his three NBA Finals MVP awards and everything he brought to LA.

I felt much like I assume Shaq did; revitalized and eager to prove all the naysayers wrong. When he went to the Miami Heat and won a championship within his first two seasons there, all while Kobe miserably failed at being a leader, I rejoiced. Seeing bandwagon fans across Southern California look like fools was delightful.

He had four rings and seemed prime to chase at least a few more. Then Dwyane Wade got hurt, the Heat fell apart and he was on the move again. Phoenix seemed promising as he didn’t have to carry a major load alongside talent as great as Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash. When it didn’t work and he left to join LeBron James in Cleveland to “win a ring for the King” I still rooted for him. Shaq is one of the funniest, most entertaining guys in NBA history and I wanted to see him win.

It obviously didn’t work in Cleveland, but even at his age, Shaq will always be a giant on the court and against teams like the Lakers and Orlando Magic size definitely matters. After making more than $200 million throughout his career, I wish Shaq would forget about the money, focus on joining the Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks or Heat and do whatever it takes to win.

He doesn’t have another five years left in that big Diesel engine, so whether it’s starting, only playing 20 minutes a game as a sub or grabbing rebounds and blocking shots, someone as great as Shaq owes it to himself and his supporters to add some more shine to his already legendary career.

- Will.

The Sports Snob will be published once a week here on YouBeenBlinded.com. Will R. is a journalist/writer who covers sports, news and music for several websites. His music work can be found on www.WestCoastRydaz.com

One of the many things I’ve learned watching sports over the years is that some star athletes just can’t get enough of the spotlight, leading to all kinds of branching out. Some choose to form management companies or clothing lines. That’s cool and all but it’s usually not that interesting.

The real fun starts when these talented sports figures try their luck at music. Based on what we’ve seen and heard through the years, there’s a reason why they have their day jobs. The latest guy to make headlines for his music is Los Angeles Lakers starter and NBA Champion Ron Artest. Ron-Ron is no newcomer to rapping and his hometown of Queensbridge, New York has been the birthplace of many rap superstars (Nas, Mobb Deep, ).

His latest song has been his most famous though, especially since he plugged it during the live postgame speech after game 7 of the NBA Finals. It immediately became a hop topic online and by the next day he released the song – appropriately called “Champions” – and it was a viral hit. Trey Kerby over at Yahoo’s Ball Don’t Lie called it the “best athlete rap song of all-time in the non-unintentional comedy division.”

After more than a few listens it’s hard to say it isn’t a good song. Artest covers all bases, using several examples of sports superiority throughout the lyrics and it’s actually missing most of the antics that earned him the nickname “Crazy Pills” among fans. It’s certainly better than his puzzling tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

Since it’s brought up the topic of rapper/athletes again, we thought we’d line up a few of the most well-known examples and let you decide. If you want to know what some of the NBA guys think, you can catch Artest’s list here or watch Amare Stoudemire and Brandon Roy break down their picks. Whether you think they are good, unintentionally funny, campy cult classics or just plain awful, enjoy.

The Good/Decent:

The Bad (yet still memorable):

The Ugly:

It seems like a recipe for some success on the mic involves the right mix of charisma (Shaq), originality (Da Bears), and a bit of craziness (Artest). It’s a delicate balance though, as we can see with overdoing the cheesiness (Deion, the Dolphins and Eagles) or just lacking any flow (Barkley was turrible). If the rumors about Delonte West and LeBron’s mom are true, I doubt he won her over with his rap lyrics. Iverson went a bit too overboard with the homophobia (safe to say John Amaechi wasn’t waiting in line to buy his CD) and Kobe just S.U.C.K.E.D.

Whether they end up being ridiculed or accepted for trying to cross over, it’s unlikely we’ll see a decrease in rapping athletes anytime soon, especially when looking at the long list of those who hit the booth.

- Will.

Will R. is a journalist/writer who covers sports, news and music for several websites. His music work can be found on www.WestCoastRydaz.com

The Cleveland Cavaliers brought in Shaquille O’Neal to battle Orlando’s Dwight Howard and eventually the Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. They forgot about having to get past the Boston Celtics. Kendrick Perkins isn’t thought of as an elite center but he held his own against Shaq with his play and with his mouth. The two big men pushed and shoved for six games and even had a pro wrestling moment. Shaq belly-flopped onto Perkins and pinned him to the court. It was the only positive moment for Cleveland in their Game 6 loss to Boston.

Shaquille O’Neal is doing everything possible to keep himself in the news everyday until the 2009-10 NBA season begins. He tweeted up Kobe and the NBA Finals, he’s been mentioned in trade rumors, and now he claims he wants to fight 7-2 mixed-martial artist Hong Man Choi. The same Hong Man Choi that took out Jose Canseco. But as Shaq asks Does he look like Jose Canseco?

It’s all fun and games until Shaq actually gets in the ring or octagon. Choi does MMA for a living, not for attention. I’m betting Shaq doesn’t last much longer than Canseco did.

The Internet is such a lovely thing. Think about it, almost anything you can ever want is a mere tapping of a few keystrokes away. From some brand new exclusive shoes or clothes to the latest albums, movies, TV shows and blogs covering everything from Ants to Zucchini. Chances are that if you love something, it’s probably online. And if you’re an NBA junkie like me, its latest gift is the wonderful world of Twitter, or as Shaq calls it, “Twitteronia.”

For those who still aren’t hip to Tweeting, let me break it down.

First off I’ll go with what the site describes itself as: “Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?”

It sounds pretty straightforward and easy, and for the most part it is. You sign up with an e-mail, a password and a name of your choice. After that, you literally just post whatever it is you’re doing right now. Whether it’s listening to some music, mowing the lawn or publicly complaining about your roommate behind their back. After that, you can browse the site and pick and choose who you follow, meaning whose updates (tweets) you subscribe to. Anyone who subscribes to your updates is one of your followers.

At first use the site does seem pretty complicated to figure it out, with most new users probably wondering what the heck all the “@” symbols mean and where to make sense of it all. But after a while it starts to come together and you’ll most likely be hooked, checking to see what Martha Stewart is up to or to get a warm goodnight greeting from Diddy. Everyday.

A rather disturbing photo proclaiming Shaq as the King of Twitteronia.

If that happens to us common folk, imagine what happens when you give famous, multimillionaire athletes with 24-hour web access a free, instant website to express themselves?

How about a classic NBA sitcom/reality show. Think about it, we all have egos and sometimes think (either secretly or publicly) that everyone else cares about or wants to constantly know what we’re doing. Now imagine multiplying that ego-driven reality by someone whose bank account has about six extra zeros and you’re bound to get Twitter gold.

Back in the day you had to wait for tomorrow’s paper (usually boring, formulaic replies) or 30 minutes in a parking lot after the game to catch a few words from your favorite players or coaches. Not anymore, not by a long shot.

Take the posts of Twitter’s most famous athlete, Shaquille O’ Neal.

Timeless “Twitpics” uploaded on Shaq’s Twitter account.

He’s pioneered some fun and interactive contests for his 500,000 + followers, like the time he invited anyone reading his tweets to meet him at the restaurant where he was having lunch, and then poking fun at those shy or afraid to approach him. Or the contests he’s done to give away free tickets to the first person to identify where he’s at through his tweets or the first to touch him. (Click the link, it’s a great read.)

Not to be outdone, at least a dozen other NBA ballers tweeters have accounts and some have also used Twitter to make their way into the news cycle.

Perhaps the most publicized was the time Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva tweeted the following during halftime of a crucial game against the Boston Celtics: “In da locker room, snuck to post my twitt. We’re playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up.” Despite the fact that he came out for the second half and played well enough to secure an upset win over the Champs, he still received a lot of heat for the move and prompted Bucks coach Scott Skiles to publicly announce a ban on tweeting during a game.

There was a mini-fallout out after the Villanueva incident, with everyone from Doc Rivers to Alvin Gentry giving their take. Shaq took the opportunity to announce that he would post a tweet at halftime, fearing no repercussions from his coach, who it turned out didn’t really care. “As long as he gets 25 (points) and 11 (rebounds), he can do whatever he wants. He can Twitter, Facebook, MySpace,” said Gentry. Shaq did post at halftime, a fitting “Shhhhhhh.”

Turns out Gentry might have been more understanding since he has a Twitter account of his own. And he isn’t alone. Former player and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose uses the site, and Paul Pierce, Steve Nash, Chris Bosh and Clippers guard Baron Davis all regularly update as well. For Davis, the site also led to unexpected moments, like the time he updated his account with a picture of where he was having lunch with his teammates. It all seemed routine and innocent until he updated a few minutes later saying that people were calling the restaurant asking for him. More than once.

Baron Davis learns that posting a Twitpic of where you’re eating probably isn’t the best idea.

And while the Baron incident was taken with some humor (he later tweeted suggesting his followers should call and ask for teammate Marcus Camby at another restaurant they were at), it hasn’t all been fun and games. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was recently fined $25,000 by the NBA for comments he made about officiating on his Twitter. Ouch. If anything, just like with other social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, the Cuban incident served as a reminder that you should always be careful what you say, especially if you’re high profile on a public website. Cuban took it in stride, and of course he had to add his funny 2 cents on the fine. “can’t say no one makes money from twitter now. the nba does.”

Even with the few bad moments, Twitter appears to be the next big Internet phenomenon. With all the great fan interaction, the ease of following your favorite players, the satisfaction of knowing hundreds or thousands of people care what you think and the potentially gripping storylines, it’s hard not to have it be your new guilty pleasure. The only thing this drama has been missing so far is a good, old fashioned rivalry.

New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler hopes to change that though, according to a recent blog post on his website. “I was thinking about dissing Shaq on his Twitter. Something to make him come back to mine. That’s how it happens on the street. I feel like when rappers start a beef that their album sales go up. So I’m going to start a beef with Shaq and maybe I’ll get more Twitter hits. I hope he doesn’t take it personal though. Rappers just talk. I actually have to see Shaq in a couple weeks.”

At least Tyson is smart enough to admit that his only similarity to Iron Mike is the names they share. Nobody wants Shaq to beat anybody up because of Twitter, unless of course there are some portable Twitcams there to catch it all for the rest of us.

- Will.

Grab your drinks and raise them up to toast another memorable birthday for the most well-known “big kid” in the world: the NBA’s unstoppable Diesel, Shaquille O’Neal. The celebrated center turns 37 this week, (March 6) although it’s hard to tell with what he’s done this season.

As his career nears its end an impressive 16 years after it started, Shaq has been able to enjoy a public revival in both his game and his image, putting up numbers this year (18 points, 9 rebounds & nearly 2 blocks a game in only 30 minutes) that are higher than in recent memory and treating fans everywhere to his trademark antics along the way.

He’s second in the NBA in shooting percentage this season (61 percent) and has shot a spectacularly efficient 71 percent during his last ten games, including leading his Phoenix Suns to a win with a 45 point, 11 rebound domination of the Toronto Raptors. When Raptors star forward/center Chris Bosh suggested Shaq benefited from favorable officiating, Shaq responded with another of his classic quotes, saying “I heard what [he] said, and that’s strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men. I’m going to do the same thing (in the next meeting) I did before. Make ‘em quit and complain. It’s what I do.”

Who else but Shaq can get away with comically reducing a three-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist into a cross-dresser? Who else has websites dedicated to their endless array of quotables and try and name any other superstar who gets on his Twitter and invites his fans to meet him for a free lunch? Those are just some of his recent highlights, and it hasn’t been restricted to off the court.

Shaq the Thespian/Musician.

After the Raptors game his recent tear was capped off with 33 points and seven rebounds in a huge win over the league-leading Los Angeles Lakers. The 78 point two-game total was his highest since 2004 and added more historic marks to his resume as he became only the third player ever to score 40 points with four different teams and joined Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Alex English as the only players in NBA history over 35 to score at least 33 points in consecutive games. Oh yeah, he’s shooting a career high 60 + percent clip at the free throw line this season.

That isn’t a surprise, because when it comes to sports figures that are larger than the leagues they play for, few come with an image as unique and instantly recognizable as Shaq. Standing in at a physically imposing 7 feet 1 inch and weighing anywhere from his listed 325 to 340 plus pounds, the man known as the original NBA Superman and countless other monikers is quite a sight to behold.

Despite his large frame, most of his legendary status has always come from more than just the enormous footprint created by his size 23 sneakers. Shaq’s legacy entails the up and down career of a true giant in the game, from his physical dominance of the league to the surprising quickness and athleticism he possessed for a man of his size. His numbers are what cemented his place among the best big men of all time (with scoring, rebounding and block totals among the top 15 in league history), but it’s his inimitable personality that truly separates him from other greats. He’s been a rapper, movie star actor, spokesman, a Scrabble champion, out-danced LeBron and Dwight and is an all around unforgettable comedic presence. That charisma was missing from last year’s All-Star festivities and has turned out to be a timely asset to the association this year.

With the NBA facing the harsh realities of the global economic crisis, rapidly declining attendance and a turbulent situation for the host Suns during All-Star weekend, Shaq was able to instantly grab everyone’s attention with a memorable pre-game dance performance with The Jabbawockeez. He continued the night with a signature posterization of his would-be SuperCenter successor Dwight Howard and by collecting his third All-Star game MVP award. For one day during that weekend, Shaq did what he is quite possibly most loved for; he took control of the moment and gave another “Shaqtastic” performance.

It was evident from watching the fans and players at that game and most of this year that everyone in the NBA universe knows it’ll be losing a special figure when Shaq retires. People seem to be trying to soak up the best of him while he’s still around.

Shaq as Elvis. Possible after-retirement gig?

However, his “don’t call it a comeback” tour hasn’t gone without critics. They said he wouldn’t consistently contribute, that he was going to get injured or didn’t play in enough back to back games, but it’s hard to argue with his output as we near the 60th game of the year. He’s played in 52 and the Suns have a 32-20 record with him. They are less than two games out of the playoffs in a season that has seen them introduce two different coaches and desperately struggle to keep their window of opportunity open. With Amare Stoudemire lost for the stretch run and Steve Nash nursing several nagging injuries, Shaq’s role is more important than ever.

Granted he’s had his bad moments through the years, from his fitness issues to public dissing of former teammates and his infamous freestyle asking Kobe Bryant to describe a taste not fit to print. But none of it can overshadow the positives he contributed and he doesn’t seem to care much what his naysayers think anyway. “I never really worry about what Earthlings say,” Shaq recently said. “I know what I have to do. I know what I want to accomplish.”

They don’t make centers quite like Shaq, not now or in the past. To use his own recent words, “I think I’m the only player who looks at each and every center in the league and says, ‘That’s barbecue chicken down there.’” Like he told an ABC reporter after the win over the Lakers, “It’s what I do. I’ve been doing it since 1992. If you don’t believe it, Google me.”

Go ahead and give it a try. When the results pop up and you see the more than 27,000 points, 12,000 rebounds, 2,600 blocks, four championships, 15 All-Star selections, one regular season and three All-Star MVP awards, the Rookie of the Year trophy and a career that started in 1992 with 24 points and 14 rebounds a game and still collects 18 and 9 sixteen years later, it’s hard to disagree.

- Will.

Shaquille O’Neal went all out in what will probably be his last NBA All-Star game. He did a dance routine with the Jabbawockeez, split MVP honors with Kobe Bryant, and clowned Dwight Howard with a between the legs pass and slam dunk.

The East was using a small lineup featuring Rashard Lewis and center which allowed Shaq to get free in the middle for most of his 17 points. Kobe Bryant was gunning from the gate with 10 first quarter attempts and finished the game with 27 points and co-MVP status.

Shaq and Kobe played nice in front of the cameras for one night but I’m guessing there’s still some “You snitched on me to the police/You told me to taste your ass” beef between the two.

Jump and Bump BSOL for the video

Shaquille O’Neal is the biggest ambassador for the NBA due to his size, and also to the amount of goodwill he tries to spread for the league. Here Shaq is teamed up with the Jabawockeez for some pre-All-Star game dancing.

As I’ve said before, the Big Twinkle Toes has some decent moves for a man that size, but he needs some new moves. Shaq has now used the same routine at the bowling alley with his kids and against Dwight Howard two years ago.

Shaquille O’Neal is a large man and one of the most difficult players to officiate in the history of the NBA. Players bounce off of Shaq leading to non-foul calls for him, and some cheap foul calls against him.

O’Neal was ejected from the Phoenix Suns game against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday for committing a flagrant two foul on Rodney Stuckey. I think the refs made the wrong call.

When I watch the play I see Shaq trying to go for a huge block and inadvertently getting Stuckey’s arm. I also see a guy trying to send a message to the rest of the league that if you mess with his teammates or bring the ball in the paint, Shaq’s gonna put you on the floor.

Shaquille O’Neal has missed over 25% of the Miami Heats’ games this season, and he’s gonna miss the all-star game for the first time in 14 years. All of the people that didn’t like Shaq from jump are finally getting their chance to say I told you so… Yes. 16 years and 4 championships later, you finally told us so.. Since Shaq can’t get on the floor with the Heat, he’s helping another one of his teams off the court.

Halcyon Jets Holdings, Inc. has announced the next initiative in its celebrity-driven branding campaign with a “Team Shaq” appearance of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal at the upcoming Supercar Weekend exhibition of spectacular automobiles and vintage race cars, scheduled for this weekend in West Palm, Florida.

Halcyon will host a VIP reception, highlighted by an appearance by Mr. O’Neal, at the Gramercy Court, on the West Palm Beach waterfront. Mr. O’Neal is the force behind Halcyon’s “Team Shaq” sports and entertainment marketing efforts.

I don’t wanna tell Shaq how to spend his time, but with his injuries and the Heat’s play, partying with airline ballers isn’t a good look. At the same time, he’s looking to lose a grip in the divorce so he’s probably trying to pick up all of the loose change he can.

You’ve never heard of Halcyon Jets unless you’re living the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Their website states “Halcyon Jets represents a refreshing, new approach to luxury executive private jet travel“… Which is the exact opposite claim of any airline I can afford to fly. Hopefully I can get my money right one day so I can see what all the hype’s about. If the flights are good enough to make Carlos Boozer write about them, I wanna try it out.

Halcyon Jets team Shaq. Courtesy of 4 Hoteliers

Tags: Shaquille O’Neal, Miami Heat, NBA, Basketball