His retirement
Orlando Sentinel
You're asking me — a longtime Orlando resident, writer and former Magic season ticket holder — to volunteer a favorite Shaq moment?
Are you kidding?
This is cruel and unusual punishment, like watching Shaq at the line.
I'll tell you a great Shaq moment: Wednesday — when he retired.
Orlando no longer has to look at him wearing another jersey. No longer will we be reminded of what never was.
After four seasons, he bolted for L.A. in '96, taking the Magic's future with him. Yes, The Greatest Free-Agent Loss in Sports History. Since then, we've seen Shaq in four title parades, one with the dastardly Heat.
And he even had the nerve to keep Orlando — this "dried-up pond" as he called it — as his offseason home.
bschmitz@tribune.com
Lakers' comeback
Shannon Ryan
Chicago Tribune
Shaquille O'Neal left as many memories as nicknames in his 19-year NBA tenure.
But the lasting memory for the 7-foot-1, 350-pound giant came during his first run at a Lakers championship with Kobe Bryant in 2000. After falling behind by 15 and on the brink of elimination in the Western Conference finals against the Trail Blazers, O'Neal scored nine points to help mount the biggest playoff fourth-quarter comeback.
The moment that erased lingering doubt about whether O'Neal and Bryant could combine for a title came when Bryant crossed over in front of Scottie Pippen and threw an alley-oop pass to O'Neal, who completed a one-handed slam. Shaq pointed to the crowd and ran down the court in amazement. He left the NBA in amazement after that, winning four titles, securing his legacy as one of the game's most dominant and entertaining big men to ever play.
sryan@tribune.com
Shaq-a-Claus
Tom Housenick
Morning Call
There was the sheepish, school-boy grin as he ducked his way into an office during a scene from the movie "Blue Chips." There was the look of amazement following his dunk as the Lakers rallied from a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals.
But the one image that remains with me of one of the most physically dominating players in NBA history is Shaq-a-Claus. Shaq has donated millions of dollars in toys for underprivileged kids in Los Angeles (and other cities) since 1992. On the back of a tractor trailer with a Santa hat and a smile, that was Shaq's best side.
He delivered many "facials," had his feud with Kobe and hung around too long. But the NBA was a better place with Shaq in it.
thousenick@tribune.com
'Big Deporter'
Broderick Turner
Los Angeles Times
The Lakers had just defeated the Pacers to win the 2000 NBA championship when Shaquille O'Neal gathered a few media people around him, a mischievous smile on his face.
He wanted to share his new nickname. Now, there had been so many during the course of the season that it was impossible to figure out what he would come up with next.
"Call me the Big Deporter," O'Neal said, laughing.
Of course, everyone in the media laughed, but no one was sure what the heck he was talking about.
And what does that mean, Shaq was asked? "I deported all the foreign centers," O'Neal cracked.
Indeed, he was right. He had defeated the Kings' Vlade Divac, the Suns' Luc Longley, the Trail Blazers' Arvydas Sabonis and the Pacers' Rik Smits, sending them all home.
bturner@tribune.com