Other Sports Shaq retires

Hammock Parties · 06-01-2011, 01:21 PM

Props to one of the best basketball players ever. Where do you rank him?

Video:
http://www.tout.com/u/Shaq

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=6615886

Quote:

After a mentally exhausting season in which he was unable to overcome the effects of a right Achilles injury as a member of the Boston Celtics, Shaquille O'Neal has decided to retire after 19 NBA seasons.

In typical O'Neal fashion, he chose the unconventional approach of announcing his retirement via social media. He posted a short video on a new social media site called Tout in which he said:

"We did it. Nineteen years baby," he said in the message. "I want to thank you very much, that's why I'm telling you first, I'm about to retire. Thank you, talk to you soon."

O'Neal walks away with four championship rings, three Finals MVP trophies, one MVP award, and 15 All-Star appearances. O'Neal, a two-time NBA scoring champion, is fifth all-time on the NBA's list for career points (28,596) and 12th in total rebounds (13,099).

O'Neal arrived in Boston last August declaring he had 730 days -- or two more seasons -- in his NBA career, but he couldn't endure the first 365. Riddled by injuries, most notably the lingering Achilles ailment, he appeared in just 37 regular-season games and limped through two playoff appearances for Boston, playing a mere 17½ minutes after Feb. 1.

Upon arriving in Boston, O'Neal injected newfound lightheartedness in Boston's training camp and quickly endeared himself to the region with stunts like posing as a statue in Harvard Square, conducting a holiday medley with the Boston Pops, and dressing in drag for Halloween.

But even as the Celtics thrived when he was on the court -- enough so for Boston to consider trading away starting center Kendrick Perkins at the February trade deadline -- O'Neal struggled to stay on the court due to a myriad of injuries on the right side of his body.

No amount of rehab and medicine could cure the ailing Achilles, which limited him to one appearance after Feb. 1, a 5½-minute stint against the Detroit Pistons in early April that saw him limp right back off the court when the injury flared.

O'Neal played small minutes in Games 3 and 4 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Heat before being deactivated for Game 5 as the Celtics season ended in Miami.

**Saulbadguy** · 06-01-2011, 01:22 PM

Freak of nature.

**alpha_omega** · 06-01-2011, 01:22 PM

Finally.

Not sure, but somewhere in the top 20.

Mr. Laz · 06-01-2011, 01:23 PM

couple years too late but he was a stud in his day

**DaKCMan AP** · 06-01-2011, 01:25 PM

Shaq was a beast, but really was a shell of his former self since the 2006 season.

BWillie · 06-01-2011, 01:26 PM

Shaqatirement

DJ's left nut · 06-01-2011, 01:28 PM

One of the top 5 centers of all time, easily. If you don't adjust for era, he's probably the best center of all time, but it's not terribly fair to compare him to guys that didn't have the kind of training, etc... he had.

Shaq may end up underrated by history when all is said and done. The fact remains that I've still never seen anyone capable of dominating an opponent the way he did - Jordan included. His combination of size, strength, agility, exposiveness and skills are essentially unmatched in the history of basketball. For all the grief he gets for his FTs, Shaq had remarkably deft touch around the basket and had a legitimately well-developed set of low-post moves.

He wasn't always the most entertaining player to watch, but in terms of sheer dominance, Shaq may be the greatest of all time. He's easily a top 20 player, but a strong argument could be made that he's no worse than a top 10 guy.

Rudy tossed tigger's salad · 06-01-2011, 01:29 PM

Below Hakeem.

okcchief · 06-01-2011, 01:30 PM

It was time.

He could actually still have been a top ten center in the league if he could have stayed healthy.

He's definitely one of the top players of my lifetime and I think he had the best personality of any of them.

I remember seeing him play against the Hornets here when he was with the Heat. He was clowning around with the fans and was trying to do Harlem Globetrotter type shot against one of their guards.

I'll remember him for just having more fun than anyone while still being a great player and a winner.

BigCatDaddy · 06-01-2011, 01:31 PM

Damn. I was hoping to see Kobe taste his ass one more time.

BigCatDaddy · 06-01-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemon_Pie

Below Hakeem.

No.

Pasta Little Brioni · 06-01-2011, 01:33 PM

Plenty of time to work on his FT's now

Deberg_1990 · 06-01-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Phoenix

Freak of nature.

This. In his prime nobody could match up.

okcchief · 06-01-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemon_Pie

Below Hakeem.

Hakeem did dominate his ass as a young player in the finals. I think it would have been a different story with both of them in their primes. They were closer than most think though. I think Hakeem maybe the most underrated player ever.

Shaq and Hakeem are the best two centers since I've been watching. I would give Shaq the edge though.

I'm not old enough to remember Wilt or Russell and Kareem was pretty old and played no defense. I remember him walking up the court. His hook shoot may have been the most unstoppable shot ever though.

Over-Head · 06-01-2011, 01:37 PM

And another ledgend retires.....

Although I stopped watching the Celtic's (and B Ball) when Larry Bird retired

06-01-2011, 01:22 PM	#2
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2376966	Freak of nature. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 46,969

06-01-2011, 01:22 PM	#3
alpha_omega Supporter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liberty Casino cash: $1391251	Finally. Not sure, but somewhere in the top 20.
Posts: 16,778

06-01-2011, 01:23 PM	#4
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	couple years too late but he was a stud in his day __________________
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06-01-2011, 01:25 PM	#5
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6714952	Shaq was a beast, but really was a shell of his former self since the 2006 season. __________________
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06-01-2011, 01:26 PM	#6
BWillie El Gato Gordo Loco Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Earth Casino cash: $2171241	Shaqatirement __________________ Who wants free money? Use the link below to sign up at Bovada, BetOnline, Black Chip Poker and Ignition. Contact me for private deals, spot bonuses, possible rakeback or any questions! Bovada, Ignition, BetOnline, Black Chip Poker: baldeaglepoker.com Bovada Poker is back! Get up to $500 poker deposit bonus.
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06-01-2011, 01:28 PM	#7
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $2739099	One of the top 5 centers of all time, easily. If you don't adjust for era, he's probably the best center of all time, but it's not terribly fair to compare him to guys that didn't have the kind of training, etc... he had. Shaq may end up underrated by history when all is said and done. The fact remains that I've still never seen anyone capable of dominating an opponent the way he did - Jordan included. His combination of size, strength, agility, exposiveness and skills are essentially unmatched in the history of basketball. For all the grief he gets for his FTs, Shaq had remarkably deft touch around the basket and had a legitimately well-developed set of low-post moves. He wasn't always the most entertaining player to watch, but in terms of sheer dominance, Shaq may be the greatest of all time. He's easily a top 20 player, but a strong argument could be made that he's no worse than a top 10 guy. __________________ "If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."
Posts: 60,759

06-01-2011, 01:29 PM	#8
Rudy tossed tigger's salad Better than Nelson Join Date: Mar 2003 Casino cash: $10000400	Below Hakeem.
Posts: 17,356

06-01-2011, 01:30 PM	#9
okcchief MVP Join Date: Jul 2008 Casino cash: $9849890	It was time. He could actually still have been a top ten center in the league if he could have stayed healthy. He's definitely one of the top players of my lifetime and I think he had the best personality of any of them. I remember seeing him play against the Hornets here when he was with the Heat. He was clowning around with the fans and was trying to do Harlem Globetrotter type shot against one of their guards. I'll remember him for just having more fun than anyone while still being a great player and a winner.
Posts: 6,703

06-01-2011, 01:31 PM	#10
BigCatDaddy The Beast Inside Your Head Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $1759122	Damn. I was hoping to see Kobe taste his ass one more time.
Posts: 25,902

06-01-2011, 01:33 PM	#12
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3728880	Plenty of time to work on his FT's now __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,848

06-01-2011, 01:37 PM	#15
Over-Head Boom, Boom , Crash Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In my shed Casino cash: $9995760	And another ledgend retires..... Although I stopped watching the Celtic's (and B Ball) when Larry Bird retired __________________ ...Illegitimus non Carborundum est... Last edited by Over-Head; 06-01-2011 at 01:59 PM..
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