I had my first contact with the game of basketball when I was going to the 3rd grade. But I had to wait till I became 15 to decide that I would never play soccer again, and that basketball would be one of the sports that would identify me from that time on. 17 years have gone by, since those days. Back then I was a skinny child, now I am a man with some muscles (and some fat as well).
During all those years that I have been playing basketball, there was a man called Shaquille O’ Neal who played in the NBA. As a kid, I would buy basketball magazines and read about Shaq’s achievements with his first team, the Orlando Magic. It was the time when he, along with Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway created one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, eliminating even the Michael Jordan’s Bulls at the second round of the 1995 Eastern conference playoffs.
During that time, there were 4 elite centers in the NBA. Hakeem “the Dream” Olajuwon was playing for the Houston Rockets, David Robinson was playing for the Spurs, Patrick Ewing was in New York and Shaq was in Orlando. I have to admit that it took me few years to respect Shaq. Among my other classmates, I would watch him during the 1995 NBA Finals against Olajuwon and make fun of him. Hakeem had all those beautiful moves and gained our admiration, while Shaq was considered to be just a freakishly big man who played more with his body rather than his mind, earning for that reason,the respect of no one.
But the truth is that, just like there will never be another Olajuwon, same will go for Shaq. Shaq was unique. Besides his basketball skills, he showcased his multi talented personality, when he starred in movies, participated in commercials and even produced rap and hip hop songs. Shaq made the game of basketball more fun, setting a different tone than the conservative one we have been used to watching NBA games during all those years.
Here is a small video of his 15th and final all star game appearance in Phoenix at 2009, when he excited everyone inside the stadium upon his entrance.
In case you noticed, I am using past tense because this guy, the kid that never grew up, decided to retire at the age of 39, after 19 seasons in the NBA. How can someone, who loves basketball and grew up reading about Shaq, be able to realize that?
I had the fortune to study in Miami on 2006, when Shaq, along with Dwayne Wade led the Heat to their first championship ring, which was his last as well. I remember, one night, I was walking in South Beach on my way home and I heard from far away a car that was playing hip hop music so loud, even God himself would turn his head to look. I turned around to see who it was. I saw an old classic cabriole bouncing up and down. I stood carefully to see who was driving it… It was Shaq….Unbelievable and unforgettable moment.
Shaq spent one season with my favorite team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, which he tried to help win their first championship. But in the age of 38, he was just a glimpse of the brightness he once was. He could have retired years ago. After all, he had won so many championships and he experienced the privileges of magical world of the NBA, on and off the court, like nobody else. But Shaq kept on playing till he turned 39. Just for fun. "For the love of the game…"
The least that someone, who loves basketball, can do is showing his gratitude for someone who will be missed and most likely never be replaced….
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