“If I don't get five [titles], I won't be happy with myself as a basketball player. I don't know how you guys will feel about me.” IfsKnowsFeelsGuyWinningKnow HowFivePlayerBasketballTitlesBasketball Player Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“It's sort of like in the movie The Karate Kid when Daniel said he needed Mr. Miyagi. And Mr. Miyagi gave him that confidence to believe he really didn't. These guys think they really need me right now, but they don't. When I come back, we'll all need each other to step up our games and do what needs to be done.” ThinkingNeedsBelieveSaidDoneKidsGuyGamesWinningStepsNeededRight NowBasketballStep UpKarate Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how to play, and Gary Payton knows how play.” KnowsPlayGuyWinningKnow HowBasketballCablesWalkersGary Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“The first three championships that I won, I won them. I had big numbers and I won them. And last year, the guys won it for me. They won it for the big guy. Numbers are overrated. There's a lot of guys in this league who can say they've got great numbers. But they can't say they've got four rings in the last six years.” YearsFirstsBigsLastsGuyThreeWinningNumbersFourBasketballSixRingsLeagueLast YearChampionshipOverratedBig Guys Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Every time that I've won a championship I've looked at my guys around me and looked at their work ethic and said 'You know what, I'm going to win it this year. I feel that way now.” KnowsWayFeelsYearsSaidGuyWinningBasketballEthicsChampionshipWork Ethic Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I think everything happens for a reason. With my game being the way it is, if I did shoot 80 percent, I'd be a harder person to deal with. It just keeps me humble. Just imagine me in my game shooting the same percentage that Reggie Miller shoots. I wouldn't even talk to you guys because I wouldn't have to.” IfsThinkingWayPersonsReasonHappensGuyGamesDealsImagineBasketballPercentHarderHumbleThings HappenShootingPercentagesEverything Happens For A ReasonHappens For A ReasonFree Throw Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I'm a season kind of guy - not the preseason but the regular season.” KindGuyBasketballSeasons Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“When I was young I was on punishment a lot and I used to watch a lot of TV, and I asked myself a question: 'How come people like Mike? How come they like Magic? How come they like Bird? How come they don't like the big guys?' So I just throw a little bit of what they were doing. You smile, you act crazy and silly. And I think people like me because I'm different. I've always been a class clown type of guy. It comes natural.” PeopleThinkingLittlesDifferentBigsYoungUsedGuyBitsNaturalClassWatchesMagicCrazyTvsTypeBasketballLittle BitBirdSillyPunishmentLike MeClownMikeDoing YouBig GuysType Of GuyLike Mike Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I've been 11, 12 percent body fat my whole career. But when you've got a big, sexy, beautiful man that's up in the 340s, 350s, the way you guys were taught on this planet, you're going to automatically think it's fat.” ThinkingMenWayWholeBodyBigsBeautifulGuyCareersTaughtPlanetsBasketballPercentSexyFatsBody Fat Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“It's t'ai chi every time. I'm using your positive energy, and I'm blowing off it. See, most guys can't push, they got to lean. When they lean, I spin.” GuyEnergyBasketballPositive Energy Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“When you've got a guy that's going to look for you, you run. A lot of people think I can't run, but my thing was I wasn't going to be running if you're not going to throw it. I know Nash will throw it.” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsLooksI CanRunningGuyBasketball Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I'm a realist. I like to put it in business terms. I ran three different corporations my way and I was successful. But I'm an older guy who is on his way out so they brought me in as a consultant for the new, up-and-coming CEO. I'm here for him.” WayDifferentGuyThreeTermSuccessfulBasketballMy WayCorporationsRanCeoRealistConsultantsOlder Guys Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Let's put it in old movie Mafia terms. There are guys that are in position to get by but they didn't wait their turn. They back-doored the top guy to get the power. For example, Sonny Corleone went up there, and he wanted to be the top guy. And the Godfather said, 'You know what dude, I'm a star.' That's what I'm doing now, and that's what I was trying to do with what's-his-name.” KnowsTryingSaidWantedGuyTurnsNamesStarsWaitingTermExamplePositionBasketballMafiaLakersOld MovieCorleone Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“We want stuff done right. As long as it's my team, I'll voice my opinion. Yep, it's my team. You media guys might give it to him, like you've given him everything else his whole lifetime, but this is the Diesel's ship. And if we're not right, I'm going to go out there and try to get it right... Just ask Karl and Garywhy they wanted to come here. It was because of one person, not two. One.” IfsWantGivingTryingPersonsLongTwoDoneWholeMightWantedGuyAsksGivenStuffVoiceOpinionTeamMediaLike YouBasketballLifetimeWhole LifeShipsDieselLakers Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Talk to the guys that ain't doing nothing, don't talk to me. I just want eight guys out there with me who want to play.” WantPlayGuyBasketballEightDoing NothingTalk To MeLakersDon't Talk To Me Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“As a general, and as a leader of this team, whatever I've got to do get my guys going I'll do it every time. If I have to be the bad guy sometime, I'll guess I'll take that. That's what a leader and a general and a chief of police does. Everybody is not going to like it, but I don't care if they like or not. I'm Bush, so if they don't like it resign.” IfsDoeCareGuyLeaderTeamBasketballPoliceDon't CareChiefsI Don't CareBad Guys Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“The biggest thing that will define my legacy is how I've done it, and what I've done, and who I am. I'm a weird big guy. Doing rapping, doing movies. Do a lot of stuff. But always do things the right way. Went to the police academy to become a police officer. Get his master's in criminal justice, stayed out of trouble. Played for three different teams. Changed three different franchises around. This is a guy who they would have secret meetings about to change the rules. So, that's going to be my legacy: the most dominant player ever.” WayDifferentDoneBigsGuyThreeStuffJusticeSecretPlayerTroubleTeamChangedMastersBasketballPoliceMeetingsRapCriminalsWho I AmLegacyOfficersDominantRight WayAcademyPolice OfficerCriminal JusticeBig GuysPolice Academy Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Guys have made livings off me. Nick Anderson got a new contract. Travis Knight got a new contract off me. As a matter of fact, Derek Fisher called me yesterday to thank me. If you double me, I'm kicking out to Eddie, who's the best shooter in the East. Or I'm going to give it to Dwyane, or put it on the ground and come bang on you.” IfsGivingMadeMatterFactsGuyBasketballEastYesterdayContractsBangsKnightsMatter Of FactKickingShooterDouble Me Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I'm more like a senior adviser so I don't like to come in here and try to take over. Just like your basic karate movie where the young guys come to the old guys with beards who have them do weird stuff to get to the other side. That's who I am, the old guy with a long beard.” TryingLongYoungGuyStuffSidesLike YouBasketballWho I AmSeniorBeardKarateAdviserOld GuysYoung GuysWeird Stuff Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Georgetown. Alonzo was the guy I always heard about. I've always wanted to measure myself against the best.” WantedGuyHeardBasketballGeorgetown Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I don't really consider myself one of those superstars. I just consider myself a guy that was lucky enough to win the athletic lottery many times over.” EnoughGuyWinningLuckyBasketballAthleticLotterySuperstar Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I am aware that most people only see me as Shaq... the guy on the court. But there is another side to who I am, Shaquille O'Neal. And Shaquille O'Neal wants to explore every part of life. He wants the opportunity to pursue all of his desires. That includes being a part of the music industry as an MC. Music is and will always be a part of who I am.” PeopleWantDesireGuyOpportunitySidesIndustryBasketballMusic IsCourtWho I AmPursueMusic IndustryParts Of LifeShaq Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“You gotta fight all the karate guys, and once you kill them off, now you gotta get to the ninjas. Once you get through the ninjas, now you gotta get to the showmen. Now me, I'm the showman of big men.” MenBigsGuyFightingNbaKarateRefereeNinja Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“You guys make the rules up, so a foul is a foul. It doesn't matter if a guy is bigger and stronger. It's not my fault I ate my Frosted Flakes when I was little, and you ate Wheaties.” IfsLittlesMatterGuyBiggerStrongerFaultsNbaFoulRefereeFlakes Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I think it would be a boring game if everybody was the same, just like it would be boring if you guys asked the same dumb questions.” IfsThinkingWould BeGuyGamesMediaBoringDumbNbaDumb Questions Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Man, I don't wanna do what all the other guys do. I don't wanna end up in the booth after the games telling you what I think and talking smack about the guys on the floor when they are a lot better than that. I wanna be different. I don't wanna be known as Commentator Shaq. I wanna be a doctor or something good. I wanna be Dr. Shaq, Officer Shaq, Deputy Shaq.” ThinkingMenDifferentEndsGuyGamesTalkingKnownMediaDoctorsNbaOfficersDrsOther GuysCommentatorsSmackDeputiesShaqSmack Talk Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Obviously, Sam is the type of guy that hides behind his pen and pad. I promise you he wouldn't say that to my face in a dark alley where it's just me and him and no witnesses.” FacesGuyDarkBehindsMediaTypePromiseWitnessPensNbaI PromiseAlleysPadsType Of GuyDark Alleys Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. You all should be spanked for this.” ShouldGuyMediaAshamedNba Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I said it jokingly, so this guy was just trying to stir something up that's not there. He's just somebody who doesn't have a sense of humor, like I do.” TryingSaidGuyBasketballNbaSense Of HumorThis Guy Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“Finally, I have someone that's like me. My other two pupils were the opposite sides of the moon. But this guy is on the same side of the moon, is on the same planet that I'm on.” TwoGuySidesPlanetsMoonBasketballOppositesLike MeNbaThis GuyPupils Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“It was a weird game. There was ugly shooting and a lot of turnovers and mistakes, and we were just fortunate to get the win. I should have done better, but it was just a very ugly and weird game... I knew the game was going to be an ugly game when I saw those three guys at the scorer's table. Ugly people call ugly games.” PeopleShouldDoneGuyThreeGamesWinningMistakeSawsBasketballShould HaveTablesUglyShootingFortunateNbaTurnoverUgly People Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“It was a cheap shot. They won the game, move on. My thing is, I don't ask for a lot, but I demand my respect, especially from a guy like that.” MovingGuyAsksGamesDemandBasketballShotsNbaCheap Shots Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I had an awful first quarter but I picked it up. To all you single guys out there, it's not how you start the date, it's how you finish it sir. A lot of people can, you know, start the date with flowers and candy, but if you don't finish the date - you know what I mean?” PeopleIfsKnowsFirstsMeanGuyFlowerBasketballAwfulQuartersCandySingle Guy Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I average 25 with three guys on me and they are just looking at stats I guess.” GuyThreeSportsAverage Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me. And the one guy who didn't vote for me, thank you, too.” InspirationalGuySportsBasketballVoteInspirational SportsVote For Me Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“We would love to have Gary down here. He's still tenacious on defense, and I know he still wants [a title]. And I'm the only guy in the world who can get him one.” KnowsWorldWantStillsGuyWinningBasketballDefenseTitlesGaryTenacious Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I'm an unorthodox type of guy, a funny guy - at least I think I'm funny. And one of the things I like to do is come up with nicknames for myself.” ThinkingFunnyGuyTypeCome UpNicknamesUnorthodoxType Of GuyFunny Guy Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“I'm a weird big guy. Doing rapping, doing movies. Do a lot of stuff. But always do things the right way.” WayBigsGuyStuffRapRight WayBig Guys Author:Shaquille O'Neal
“When I get old, I'm going to the old folks' home. I don't want to be one of those guys who's hanging around the house bothering the kids. But not just any old folks' home. I want the whole top floor.” WantWholeHomeKidsGuyHouseFolksBotherHanging AroundFolks Home Author:Shaquille O'Neal
