as if you needed areason to fear him...

I've gotta say, the about face this guy has made in my esteem is unbelievable.

I was a Lakers fan when I was a kid, but that ended when he went to LA because he always struck me as a guy who cared more about rap than free throws (you get my point...). Over the years, I've come to understand that he isn't the unprofessional, irresponsible guy I thought he was. He obviously cares about people (see the examples listed up the thread), shows a gratitude for his gifts ("I've won the athletic lottery a couple of times") and in an industry where rich people constantly find new things to bitch about, has become an icon of reason and sanity. He's a lot smarter then I gave him credit for, glib in a clever way, savvy with the media...he's doing everything right.

I'm a casual basketball fan at best, but Shaq is undoubtedly amongst my favorite atheletes. He combines god-like talent with remarkable humanity, and is living a fuller life and broader scope of experience than most of us can dream of. This is just the latest example of all that. Shaqtacular.

Gary