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No Odd Timing With Shaq’s Time Off

Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 at 6:00 am by 3D in Basketball, NBA Basketball

I’ll preface my comments by saying that I don’t question Shaq’s toughness, or the fact that he may have a legitimate injury. However, the timing of his thumb surgery, and missing 6-8 weeks, comes to no surprise. The timing is eerily similar to Brett Favre announcing his comeback late last summer (and the one before, and the one before, etc…) allowing him to decide when his training camp is. Or like Roger Clemens deciding a few years ago that spring training for him begins in May, not February like the rest of the league.

This time off for Shaq would go completely unquestioned in my head if I was blind to his past. Whether it’s seemingly elongating his injury time off or putting on 75 pounds in the off season to get a late start on working out for the season, Shaq appears to play by different rules. His credentials speak for themselves: #1 overall pick, NBA finals appearances with 3 teams, 4 rings, and the list goes on. But does this really allow him to play be different rules? More importantly, is it OK for aging veterans to dictate when they take time off, when their season ‘starts’, and when they step on the playing field?

For many reasons I say no. It’s disrespectful to fans, teammates, and the game itself. No matter how big any of these 3 are they aren’t bigger then the sports they play. You can even take transcendent athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods – argue all you want, but they needed the game more then their game needs them. Basketball and Golf existed long before both of them, and if those two never existed their sports would still be doing just fine.

Unfortunately we all know the reality and that is that a select few will continue this behavior and their teams should, but won’t, take a stand. Further confirmation that morals take a back seat in pro sports.

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7 Responses to “No Odd Timing With Shaq’s Time Off”

Mick

02. Mar, 2010

I agree with you on a few points D. Roger Clemens having his personal spring training in May was a joke. Even though he was a Yankee for years, I still do not like him because he’s a fraud, liar, and a general piece of shit. I used to respect Farve, but the fact that he drags his heals until July PROVES he’s a selfish fuck. He has never once thought about his teammates. In my book. that makes him WAY below Elway in the QB ranks because Elway NEVER put himself ahead of his team.
Shaq is hurt and needs to get right before the playoffs. He’s also getting old and recovery time is going to be longer than if he was 25. I honestly think the the REAL man of steal is hurt and needs to get healthy before the Cavs make their run.
Meerkat

02. Mar, 2010

Shaq hater (that’s me) in the house! Can’t wait for the Big Brick Layer to start laying even bigger bricks at the foul line with his bad thumb in the playoffs. I will enjoy each and every back board thumping attempt. Also, I’m sure O’ Neal will be working hard with all this time off at his workout facility.
Kinger

02. Mar, 2010

Elway refused to ever play for the Colts when he got drafted. Yeah, he NEVER put himself over the team.
Stake

02. Mar, 2010

Didnt MJ retire from basketball because he had nothing left to prove? Basically saying that he was above the NBA? His stint with the Birmingham Barons was more or less an episode for Pros vs. Joes, MJ as the Joe. Isn’t that disrespecting the game of baseball? How many players do you think there were working their whole life trying to get the opportunity MJ was? The guy knocks down a few jumpers in basketball and gets a free shot at the minors? So then, what happened when the baseball didn’t work? That’s right. MJ came out of retirement to play again in the NBA. By doing this, hes either ‘above’ the NBA or disrespecting it, or even both.

Concerning Tiger, ask tournament reps how much money they have lost from him not playing or associating with the PGA. I would also ask the average sports fan if they can name a winner of any tournament so far this year. You don’t see Tiger begging to get back on the tour. You do see everyone(fans and officials) wanting, and wondering when he will tee it up again. Golf is nothing without
Tiger, therefore he is above golf.

If I’m a coach/owner/gm I would rather NOT have my QB (who is 40yrs old and, proven winner and competitor) participating in crab walks and shuttle drills 2 months before the season starts. Do kickers practice the same as LB’s or RB’s? Do you ever hear players(that mean anything) complaining about preferential treatment? You don’t. It makes a good story so the media goes with it. This whole ‘team’, equality and fairness concept is good to instill in kids when they begin in sports, but doesn’t really mean the same in the bigs. Pro athletes get paid to do a job and win games. Whatever it takes, or doesn’t take for one to do their job is on them.

Shaq is having surgery and your saying he’s disrespectful for not playing because of it? Was Tom Brady disrespectful for not playing last season? Oden must be the most disrespectful player in history then too.
3D

02. Mar, 2010

Apparently I didn’t write my post in English. Here it is in Lehman’s terms:

-Without hoops, Jordan is a degenerate gambler and probably winds up in jail or offed by the mob for owing so much money.

-Without golf, Tiger is called ‘Eldrick’, aka a corporate stiff who gets clowned on by his co-workers.

Stake: Shaq is having surgery and your saying he’s disrespectful for not playing because of it?

Ummm, when did I say that? I merely pointed out his injury and long ass time off is coming at a ‘convenient’ time. Then I noted how it reminded me of his past, taking time off whenever the fuck he pleases. And pointed out that other stars do the same.

Coming Soon: Blogs in brail
Stake

02. Mar, 2010

By saying it came at a ‘convenient’ time you imply that Shaq had some sort of control over it, when in fact he didn’t. Would you have wrote this if it was week 1 or 2 of the season? Taking time off from normal wear and tear, or in your opinion “whenever the fuck one wants”, is completely different from taking time off for surgery. If he rolled an ankle or sprained a finger and proceeded to sit out a month, then yes I could see your point. Did you think it was was wrong for the Colts to sit their starters? Did it cost them the championship?