June 08, 2005

monay-isnt that some kind of art work??? :-)

posted by daddisamm at 04:58 PM on June 08, 2005

"Shaq wants Jordan's Monet?????????" Art is a big deal in Miami, huh?

posted by sumokenobi at 05:10 PM on June 08, 2005

Daddy4, that doesn't even make sense. This is grandstanding to a degree, and he'll stay in Miami for at least another season or two I'd think, and for something north of $20m anyway. But as long as he plays, he is a marquee draw, and while championships are a good way to put people in seats, it's not the only way. Shaq filled the Arco arena all year long, and he will as long as he plays, simply because, in more ways than merely his weight (whatever it may be), he's larger than life. He's gone out of his way to be seen as likeable, and he's literally The Man in Miami right now. That's worth something more than whether he's 330 or less and how he's doing at the line. If he comes back, Heat fans will keep giving him a chance. And I wouldn't question his ability to bring the championship there at some point anyway, especially if he's more than 40% healthy like he was this playoff run. And hey, if he wants a Monet, some of them are going for that kind of monay, so that would make sense.

posted by chicobangs at 06:55 PM on June 08, 2005

Yeah, AAA is the one you want, chico. Arco's in Suckramento. American Airlines Center is here in D-town. I'm sure Arco was sold out when Miami visited this year though. Hell, even I'll admit that Sac's fans are some of the most loyal and rabid in the league.

posted by Ufez Jones at 07:07 PM on June 08, 2005

you take a flying knee from Jermaine O'Neal at full speed and see how well YOU can play in the playoffs Did a flying knee make him gain 50lbs? Step back from your knee jerk emotionally reaction for a minute and think about it rationally. Shaq wants a contract extension now, not for next season but for 2 seasons from now. He's currently 33. He'll turn 35 in the middle of the 2006-2007 season, and he'd be 36 by the end of the contract. So the question is what's going to be like in 2 years? Now, dfleming asked me in a different thread if I had even watched him play. Yeah, I watched him. I watched him block himself on the side of the rim on a dunk attempt. I watched him look like Shamu. But that's being snarky. I just don't see anything that would lead me to believe that Shaq is going to do anything but continue to decline. For all the Shaq defenders, I think it's incumbent upon you to explain what and why Shaq is going to reverse the natural decline? Finally, you can't ignore that carrying that much weight is a huge injury risk. I've thought for a while that, like Barkley, an injury will end Shaq's career. Bodies just aren't meant to withstand those kind of forces.

posted by Mike McD at 09:39 PM on June 08, 2005

If Shaq wants 30 million he should be held to some standards, if he gains weight money comes off the top, if he fails to play in a certain amount of games money comes off the top, if he was 28 I'd say yes without all the caveats, but now that he's old he has to give up a little to get what he wants.

posted by jbou at 11:39 PM on June 08, 2005

I say Shaq is worth the money, for example in game 7 he played his best game and the team had a great chance to win. If he had been fed the ball on any of four or five of the last possessions the Heat could have won the game; but instead the outside shooters got shot happy and could not buy a basket. It's hard to understand those decisions since Shaq was hot down the stretch.

posted by groovyduo at 07:29 AM on June 09, 2005

Hey JMD82 What time does the Shaqdaddy diesel pick you up for dinner? DOuble cheese burgers at burger king? Zing! Actually, not. That was really lame. Anyway, what else are they going to spend money on? If they want a real shot at hanging a banner--or, especially, more than one--they should spend their money on the best tools available. Yeah, it's greedy on his part. It doesn't make anyone like him any more than they already do. That's not what it's calculated to do, though.

posted by Uncle Toby at 09:56 AM on June 09, 2005

He WAS the most prolific big man.. Was being the key. I was the biggest Shaq Fan of all. Now he has showed that he is just another aging, uncaring, greedy player who thinks that no one can win the title unless he is on the team. Proven wrong again 3 yrs. running. Thats my point about staying in shape. Big Men cannot balloon up during the summer, use the regualr season to get in shape and then expect to stay healthy for the playoffs. Pay him 30 million to be hurt when they need him the most. Best tools available???? You have got a superstar in the making in Dewayne Wade. Nobody will deny that. So how about take that 30mill around surround him with good players. Not one aging, fat, dont care, cant hit a free throw, non defense playing quitter.

posted by Daddy4 at 01:54 PM on June 09, 2005

I thought the NBA had a hard salary cap at around $14-$15M a year. As Charlie Murphy would say "Wrong ... Wrong" The NBA has a soft cap w/ luxury tax that kicks in ~45M. You made me laugh though.

posted by Mike McD at 04:02 PM on June 09, 2005

You have got a superstar in the making in Dewayne Wade. Man all this talk about a superstar, Wade is good no doubt about it. But you have to give Shaq his credit. Whereever he goes another players game is elevated. Penny Hardaway what happen to him when Shaq left Orlando. Kobe well that speaks for itself. Now Wade some peaple did not even know of him until this season who's to say the same thing will not happen to him. No disrespect intended, but you have to give credit to where credit is do...........

posted by contayjust at 04:33 PM on June 09, 2005

DOuble cheese burgers at burger king? Can I get a side of fries with that? I'm also curious if you have just any idea how much these athletes eat, really? Nutritional value aside, a double mac would be an appitizer for most professional athletes. I worked at the UGA dining hall for 2.5 years serving our athletes and Lord could those people eat!!!

posted by jmd82 at 05:14 PM on June 09, 2005

you take a flying knee from Jermaine O'Neal at full speed and see how well YOU can play in the playoffs, let alone walk "My Dad says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs. " "The hell I don't. LISTEN KID. I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes"

posted by vito90 at 06:44 PM on June 09, 2005