I tried replying yesterday, but my Internet service threw in the towel for the rest of the night. I have no idea why. Anyway, here's most of my original post, complete with updated comments:
any laker fans want to chime in on this?
How can you draw a bright line between Shaq's comment, which, according to Andrew, is supposedly an "unoriginal, uninspired, immature, and pathetic disrespectful nickname," versus the aforementioned "'lame-beer,' zeke the geek, ewing the monkey" barbs? After all, is comparing Patrick Ewing to a lesser-evolved primate "original, inspired, mature, and
not pathetic?" I just don't see how you can judiciously call Shaq's comments "shallow" without similarly denouncing (and with equal, if not greater vigor) the nicknames given to those Bulls rivals. (It seems Andrew at least condemned the "Rapers" speak. Okay.)
I also find it amusing that O'Neal's "Queens" reference (which is now more than a year-old, by the way) suddenly elicited so much condemnation and condescension from two of the Forum's few voices of reason. Andrew, so eager to ascend his high horse and take issue with O'Neal (a player he openly dislikes), overlooked some of the most glaring facts surrounding the whole affair. First, as he knows full well, Shaq's almost always full of shit. He thrives on the inflammatory. Secondly, Shaq called Sacto's boys the "Queens" during the height of the Lakers/Kings rivalry. So looking back, isn't it possible (and moreover, probable) this was just a case of an attention-starved star adding a little panache to a feud? Look, Shaq took the word "Kings" and turned it into "Queens," hoping to spice things up a little. And you're telling me that makes him "unoriginal, uninspired, immature, and pathetic?" (My head's spinning after reading that again.) Come on, it’s the High Horse Factor talking. After all, shouldn't we be encouraging rivalries? Don't they make the sport more exciting? I think you're making too much of one comment, especially given O'Neal's standing as a rabble-rouser.
Consider …
When the quote debuted in print, no one jumped all over Shaq for his "immaturity." ESPN.com's Ray Ratto writes,
Maybe it's a bad reaction to the anesthesia. Maybe the pain killers aren't quite hitting on all CCs. Or maybe he's just got a mad-on for the California political establishment.
And then maybe Shaquille O'Neal is just trying to have some fun and market the NBA at the same time.
But whatever the reason for him seizing on the name "Sacramento Queens," he's made his point. He doesn't like them very much. And for that, we owe him thanks.
On the other hand, I can see Andrew's frustrations, and I can see crawford4MIP4real's frustrations. It's true, most of the Lakers fans on this board are quick to throw out a token "Queens" reference whenever mentioning Sacramento. But outside of this Forum, do either of you hear Lakers fans constantly and incessantly reliving the "Queens" trashtalk? I can only speak for myself here, but I'm almost always surrounded by hoop heads, and I haven't heard the "Queens" nickname (outside of this Forum) since it made headlines over a year ago. And you certainly haven't heard Shaq renewing his comments lately. So outside of our online community, and at least in my social bubble, the issue's a dead horse. And as for those NLSC members who delight in mentioning the "Queens," Andrew, crawfordMIP4real: Why is this such surprise to you? I don't mean to make indirect
ad hominem attacks, but good God, consider the sources. This also begs the question: If it weren't for the likes of kobe4mvp and Psycho Jackal's "witty and pithy" game of copy-cat, would you be chastizing Shaq just as hard? Doubtful.
The shots at Kobe and the Lakers are also cheap shots, no question. But this Queens stuff has been going on for a long time. It isn't mature to retaliate with the anti-Kobe/Laker sentiment, I grant you that. But the Queens reference is really getting tired. The only person who looks bad because of the reference is Shaq. He's the one showing the worst sportsmanship and coming off as unprofessional.
I disagree. Like I said, Shaq's an entertainer, and the Big Fella was entertaining the media and more or less promoting the rivalry. It's unfair to fault O’Neal simply because he made the comment first, and also because the likes of kobe4mvp, Psycho Jackal, etc. have beaten this thing into the ground. Again, these aren’t exactly the best representatives of Lakers fans, and I don't think you'd be so quick to trash O'Neal if it weren't for them.
Two more things that needed to be pointed out before I wrap things up …
1. Shaq actually respects the Kings, contrary to what Andrew's high horse says.
Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Daily News writes …
In one breath, O'Neal tells us he's simply polishing his marketing skills for the league benefit and actually respects the Kings, and then in the other he's unable to withhold another zinger.
Shaq has fun with all this, as does his main verbal sparring partner on the Kings, Divac. Divac said recently, "I say things to make my life exciting once in a while. Why not? Shaq does the same thing." Truer words were never spoken.
Aside from Dilbeck's take, it's not like we'd see O'Neal inexplicably taking shots at the Clippers or the Nuggets. He knows Sacramento can play, and that's why they were targeted. (By the way, isn't it always fun when the actual recipient of an insult is less offended than a high and mighty third party? Of course it is.)
2. Anytime I mention Michael Jordan in a future post, I'll be sure to note his status as an adulterer as well. Maybe I'll even make an irrelevant and off-hand mention to his highly-publicized gambling problems, too. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Last edited by
Bourbon on Sat Dec 13, 2003 10:40 am, edited 1 time in total.