The Big Farewell

So that's it for Shaq. One of the most dominant players in NBA history, it was sad to see him go out limping after an injury plagued year in Boston. We can go on and on about his on the court heroics, his numerous awards and accomplishments, and how he completely changed the image and role of a big man in the league. However, what I want to do is focus on what made Shaq the greatest entertainer that pro sports has ever seen.

Think of all the names that he had created for himself:

Superman
Diesel
Shaq Fu
Shaq Daddy
M.D.E. - Most Dominant Ever
L.C.L. - Last Center Left
Wilt Chamberneezy
Osama Bin Shaq - after terrorizing Keith Van Horn
The Big Deporter - after eliminating Rik Smits and Arvydas Sabonis in 2000
The Big Aristotle
The Big Felon - after making a game-winning steal
The Big Cactus
The Big Shaqtus
The Big Daddy
Dr. Shaq - after getting his MBA
The Big Baryshnikov
The Big Shamrock
The Big Twitterer
Manny Shaq-iou
The Big Maravich - after making 9 straight free throws

Well that's enough, you get the point, he was one funny guy.





In an interview before Yao Ming came to the league Shaq was quoted as saying, "You tell Yao Ming, ching chong yang, wah, ah so."


During the 2000 Screen Actors Guild strike, O'Neal performed in a commercial for Disney. O'Neal was fined by the union for crossing the picket line.

How did he get in SAG you may ask, but look no further than his collection of great films:

Yesterday I turned on HBO and Shaq's first movie was playing. I didn't know if it was planned to play after the retirement announcment or if it was just my lucky day but I had to sit down and watch Blue Chips: The Ohio State Story. With Shaq playing Terrelle Pryor, Nick Nolte as Jim Tressel, and Penny Hardaway as Ray Small.





Of course there was Kazaam, the 7-foot rapping Genie. What a lyrical genius.




In 1997 he destroyed Judd Nelson in Steel. He was unjustly nominated for a Razzie for Worst Actor.




And he was iconically tripped by Larry David on Curb.




That was just a portion of his on-screen credits.

The man even had his own fighting video game. In the age of Mortal Kombat for SEGA, this took fighting games to the next level.




Then there was his rap career. If it wasn't for that pesky game of basketball getting in the way, he would have been Jay-Z before Jay-Z, Lil' Romeo before Master P, Ja Rule before his mother mated with a bull frog, and the Baja Men before someone let the dogs out.










The Late Great Nate Dogg even wanted to team with the Diesel






And then there was his rap asking Kobe to give him gourmet cuisine advice.





We'll miss you Big Fella.