By Michael Hurlbut
Assistant Sports Editor
Shaquille O’Neal is not the tallest player in the NBA. Cleveland Cavalier Shawn Bradley holds that title at 7’ 6”. Shaq isn’t even listed as the heaviest player in pro basketball. Priest Lauderdale of the Portland Trailblazers is tipping the scales at 325 pounds. However, the Los Angeles Laker center has a slight advantage over these two big men when it comes to playing basketball. Shaq is the best man at his position in the NBA.
Recently, the former LSU Tiger has been under fire due to the altercation he was involved in with Brad Miller and Charles Oakley of the Chicago Bulls in a game last week at Chicago. After being flagrantly fouled by the two, O’Neal took a swing at Miller as he walked away and then they engaged in a shoving match that found all three players facing fines and suspensions.
Now, I think that fines and suspensions were in order, although some felt that Shaq’s penalty was a little stiff (three-game suspension, $15,000 fine). I have a slight disagreement with Miller’s (one-game suspension, $7,500 fine) and Oakley’s (two-game suspension, $10,000 fine) punishments.
Shaq is a man just like every other player in the NBA. He hurts, he gets sore, he feels pain. Just because he is bigger and stronger than most players doesn’t give opposing teams the right to foul him harder in order to stop him. Even Tyson Chandler of the Bulls thought Shaq was wronged when he said, “Going through a whole year, that dude gets fouled a lot, and people intentionally foul him. I’m surprised he keeps his composure as much as he does.”
O’Neal claims to have warned Miller, the refs, and his teammates that if he were to be fouled flagrantly again, he would go after whomever did it.
He also claimed that he pulled his punch to keep from crushing Miller.
After having watched the replay of the foul over and over, it’s obvious that Shaq didn’t hit Miller on purpose, otherwise he would have most likely killed the guy.
“Anybody who comes at you from behind, you have to wonder about him,” said Miller. After hearing something like that, Miller must have been bragging about the fact that his team got away with the win in overtime, or he felt he got the better of Shaq.
The NBA has a right to protect the athletes they employ on both sides of the ball. However, I think Shaq is getting less and less protection as he scores more and more points.
Because Shaq is the strongest post man in the game, referees are allowing harder and more frequent fouls on him. Putting him at the line is the best possible way to beat him, but at the same time, it’s making his patience wear thin.
Punishments need to stronger against those who flagrantly foul so that situations don’t get to the point that they did last Saturday.
Get players like Miller and Oakley out of the game earlier. Maybe if they worked on playing better fundamental defense, they wouldn’t have these problems. Hit the weight room or something, it might help.
Oh, and even though Shaq’s fight was with Miller, Oakley got the two-game suspension while Miller got only one.
The reason: Oakley has committed too many flagrant fouls this season. Hmm …
January 24, 2002