Howard Reacts To Jabs From Shaq (The Big Diss)
Mar 3, 2009
Magic center Dwight Howard said he was "shocked" at some of the things Suns center Shaquille O'Neal has said about him.
"I try not to think about it. Some of the things I hear, I am shocked to hear him say that," said Howard, his trademark smile gone.
What has Shaq said?
Well, it’s all pretty much a variation on the same adolescent theme: I’m the original NBA Superman and Dwight can’t carry my, er, cape.
"You know, it’s normal for a kid to copycat his idol, but you know he can never be this good," Shaq has said.
Shaq was asked by CBSSports' Ken Berger recently if Howard was the closest thing to being the next Shaq. O’Neal scoffed.
"No. Not at all. He’s a good player. He can jump. But no," he said. "I was the type of player that they had to have secret meetings and change the rules and do all that. Probably never be another me. He’s a good player, but everything he’s done, I’ve invented. So I’m not impressed."
Sports Illustrated asked O’Neal --- who sports a Superman tattoo and often wears Superman pajama bottoms to practice --- whether Howard’s Superman shtick bothered him.
"Doesn’t bother me. I can’t be impressed by something I invented in ’92 (his first year in Orlando) . I mean, you look at what he is doing, I’ve been there and done that," O’Neal said. "Every street he is driving down in Orlando, I have been on that street. Every nightclub, every restaurant. . .. I have been there and done that.
"Until he wins three, four championships, then we can talk about him. But right now, he is just like every other big guy. ‘You can run and jump, but you haven’t won yet."’
Ouch. Ouch. And ouch.
Oh, and let us not forget the sight of Shaq bouncing a pass between Howard’s legs during the all-star game, leaving Dwight red-faced.
Of course, it just might be Shaq being Shaq. He has always been a giant entertainment center, flooding the league with pro wrestling-type propaganda.
He’s The Big Tweaker (ask favorite target Kobe and most recently, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, whom Shaq recently called "the RuPaul of big men.")
Before being asked about Shaq’s comments, Howard, 23, praised the play of The Big Comeback this season. He said he even taped the Suns’ game on Sunday against the L.A. Lakers and watched it twice, scouting the newly forceful Shaq, who turns 37 on Friday.
O’Neal scored 45 points in a win against the Raptors and 33 to beat Kobe and the Lakers, who, oddly enough, began Shaq’s ‘09 Reunion Tour. After facing the Magic tonight, The Big Diesel motors to Miami for a game on Wednesday against the Heat.
" I can’t stop Shaq from saying anything. I just wouldn’t expect that coming from him," Howard said. "But the only thing I would expect from him is that he would try to help me improve my game and that’s it."
Has he?
"No," Howard said.
"Like all the other big guys (do), you know, like Hakeem (Olajuwon), Pat Ewing, Dikembe (Mutombo), Bill Russell, David Robinson . . .tried to help me improve…Taking shots at somebody else, I wouldn’t do that."
Mar 3, 2009
Magic center Dwight Howard said he was "shocked" at some of the things Suns center Shaquille O'Neal has said about him.
"I try not to think about it. Some of the things I hear, I am shocked to hear him say that," said Howard, his trademark smile gone.
What has Shaq said?
Well, it’s all pretty much a variation on the same adolescent theme: I’m the original NBA Superman and Dwight can’t carry my, er, cape.
"You know, it’s normal for a kid to copycat his idol, but you know he can never be this good," Shaq has said.
Shaq was asked by CBSSports' Ken Berger recently if Howard was the closest thing to being the next Shaq. O’Neal scoffed.
"No. Not at all. He’s a good player. He can jump. But no," he said. "I was the type of player that they had to have secret meetings and change the rules and do all that. Probably never be another me. He’s a good player, but everything he’s done, I’ve invented. So I’m not impressed."
Sports Illustrated asked O’Neal --- who sports a Superman tattoo and often wears Superman pajama bottoms to practice --- whether Howard’s Superman shtick bothered him.
"Doesn’t bother me. I can’t be impressed by something I invented in ’92 (his first year in Orlando) . I mean, you look at what he is doing, I’ve been there and done that," O’Neal said. "Every street he is driving down in Orlando, I have been on that street. Every nightclub, every restaurant. . .. I have been there and done that.
"Until he wins three, four championships, then we can talk about him. But right now, he is just like every other big guy. ‘You can run and jump, but you haven’t won yet."’
Ouch. Ouch. And ouch.
Oh, and let us not forget the sight of Shaq bouncing a pass between Howard’s legs during the all-star game, leaving Dwight red-faced.
Of course, it just might be Shaq being Shaq. He has always been a giant entertainment center, flooding the league with pro wrestling-type propaganda.
He’s The Big Tweaker (ask favorite target Kobe and most recently, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, whom Shaq recently called "the RuPaul of big men.")
Before being asked about Shaq’s comments, Howard, 23, praised the play of The Big Comeback this season. He said he even taped the Suns’ game on Sunday against the L.A. Lakers and watched it twice, scouting the newly forceful Shaq, who turns 37 on Friday.
O’Neal scored 45 points in a win against the Raptors and 33 to beat Kobe and the Lakers, who, oddly enough, began Shaq’s ‘09 Reunion Tour. After facing the Magic tonight, The Big Diesel motors to Miami for a game on Wednesday against the Heat.
" I can’t stop Shaq from saying anything. I just wouldn’t expect that coming from him," Howard said. "But the only thing I would expect from him is that he would try to help me improve my game and that’s it."
Has he?
"No," Howard said.
"Like all the other big guys (do), you know, like Hakeem (Olajuwon), Pat Ewing, Dikembe (Mutombo), Bill Russell, David Robinson . . .tried to help me improve…Taking shots at somebody else, I wouldn’t do that."
