BACKING IT UP; SHAQ'S WORDS AND ACTIONS DESTROY RIVALS.Byline: George Dohrmann St. Paul Pioneer Press
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is a newspaper based in St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). is a card-carrying member card-carrying member n → miembro con carnet card-carrying member n → membre actif card-carrying member n → of the Screen Actors' Guild, so maybe one should listen when he says NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= stands for ``Nothing But Actors.'' Anyone who saw ``Steel'' (Anyone? Anyone?) knows O'Neal's screen persona cannot match the character the Lakers center has created during the early part of the season. Part John Wayne. Part Stone Cold Steve Austin Steven James Williams (born Steven Anderson on December 18 1964) better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler. . O'Neal the protagonist has insulted All-Stars Tim Duncan Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan (born April 25 1976 in Christiansted, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands)[1] is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6'11" (2. and David Robinson David Robinson or Dave Robinson is a name shared by the following individuals:
What does it take to make O'Neal's list? Well, the Timberwolves are on it because they wouldn't trade Tom Gugliotta to the Lakers before the season. O'Neal talked as if Minnesota failed on a promise to improve Los Angeles' chances for a Western Conference title. ``Right now, I think Shaq has a list that includes 28 other teams,'' said Wolves coach Flip Saunders, whose team faced the Lakers - but not injured O'Neal - on Thursday night at Target Center. ``We're just one of many.'' O'Neal is not serious. He has just watched too much professional wrestling. He watches The Undertaker or Sting and decides the NBA can be just as confrontational and hammy ham·my adj. ham·mi·er, ham·mi·est Marked or characterized by overacting; affectedly humorous or dramatic. ham . ``We've got a kinda WWF See Windows Workflow Foundation. thing going in the NBA right now,'' O'Neal said, referring to the World Wrestling Federation. Said Saunders: ``If he wants to get into wrestling, he forgets that wrestling started in Minnesota. We'll bring out Jesse Ventura and the old Road Warriors.'' The grace Michael Jordan showed on the court and the thoughtfulness he displayed during interviews has been replaced by O'Neal banging in the post and one-liners that would bring Vince McMahon to tears. ``I'm known for backing up what I say,'' O'Neal said after scoring 26 points Monday night in a victory over San Antonio. He said before the game he didn't like Robinson and that Duncan was ``too light,'' and then he ripped Mario Elie and Sean Elliott for good measure. ``You all know I come out to play every night. ``We realized that (San Antonio) was going to come out strong after reading my statement. I do that on purpose to get pumped up. . . . On the court, it's war. It's nothing personal. It's just war.'' Said guard Kobe Bryant, whose fine start has been overshadowed by O'Neal's antics: ``Shaq is going to pump us up. And he's going to back it up.'' ``He's an entertainer. But what you have to like is that he backs up everything he says,'' Saunders said. ``What I love is that he tells you what he feels. And the truth can never be controversial.'' The Wolves, who beat the Shaq-less Lakers on Thursday night, had lost 10 of their past 11 against Los Angeles, including four losses last season with an average deficit of 14.5. ``We have a lot of respect for Shaq and the Lakers,'' Saunders said. ``Let's face it, in the last year and a half we haven't been in a game with them.'' O'Neal's game has changed much over the years. The Lakers have evolved around him, especially Bryant, averaging 20 points a 10.7 rebounds a game in his third season. He also has become one of the Lakers' best defenders. ``Kobe is a good defender,'' Lakers coach Del Harris said. ''He's awfully quick. He's 6-7 and a super athlete. He has as good a quickness and jumping ability as any guy in the game.'' But as good as Bryant has become, the Lakers still lean primarily on O'Neal. ``He is the toughest player to face. Not Karl Malone or those guys in San Antonio,'' said Wolves forward Tom Hammonds. ``He's just so big.'' Said O'Neal: ``I don't shoot jumpers. I don't take fadeaways. I don't play a finesse game. ``I play inside. That's what I do best. And that's what the fans pay to see.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) Bringing a WWF feel to the NBA, Shaquille O'Neal has been bad-mouthing opponents. Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News (2) Shaquille O'Neal has been getting the Lakers pumped up this season with various comments about the opposition. And he's usually able to back them up. Gus Ruelas/Daily News |
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