21 replies to this topic

[daco_inc]

The obvious answer of course, but I don't think he's actually said it outloud before.

By J.A. Adande | ESPN.com

LOS ANGELES -- Among the many things Shaquille O'Neal likes to take credit for is the construction of Staples Center, which was completed after his third season with the Lakers. As he yelled to Snoop Dogg in Shaq's first game back with the Miami Heat, "I built this [expletive]!"

It was hard to escape Shaq's legacy at Staples Center on Sunday. He was in town with the Phoenix Suns to play the Clippers in the afternoon game, and the evening featured a matchup of his former teams, the Lakers and Miami Heat. When I reminded Shaq of this unique confluence he went around the Suns locker room shaking hands as if he'd just won an award. If it's rare for such a superstar to play for four teams (can it really be almost 13 years since he left Orlando?) it might be an even greater oddity that none of the four is a guarantee to retire his jersey when he's done.

....

So where would Shaq prefer to have his giant jersey hang?

"Hopefully it'll be here," he said, walking through the hallway in Staples Center. "I was part of the greatest one-two punch in Laker history. Hopefully they still remember that.

"In a perfect world, I have four teams, I'd be the first guy standing there with all four jerseys, number retired in all four places. It's not something I really think about. If I had my first wish, it would be here. Because when I first came here, I made the statement I would love to have my name next to Kareem and those greats."

[lakerball4life]

dunkin donuts

[Game]

already posted

http://lakernation.c...h...c=10172&hl=

Edited by Game505, January 12, 2009 - 01:51 AM.

[ILLWiLL20]

I think Shaq making it clear that he wants to return to the Lakers after his contract is up, is that he wants to make things cool with the organization.

I think we should retire his jersey in L.A as lots of my friends aren't down with that plan.

I mean could you really see somebody else wearing #34 in purple and gold???

Shaq deserves it and especially once he returns to the Lakers as a backup center/mentor for Drew

[intense]

Shaq deserves his jersey retired. And guaranteed will get it retired.
Hate him or love him these days, the man was responsible for bringing 3 Championships to Hollywood.

He might have changed jerseys twice since those days, but without him, we wouldn't have any, and for that, we should be thankful for his time wearing the purple and gold.

Edited by intense, January 12, 2009 - 04:11 AM.

[Maddocks]

with luck phx will retire it, so we dont have to waste time with him

[daco_inc]

^Waste time? He lead us to three championships. Personally, I don't like the guy. But as Adande said, "three championships are three championships." He may have lost some of my respect for his antics over the years, but he certainly has earned that spot alongside those other greats.

Sorry for the re-post. It was lakers related so I didn't bother looking anywhere but here. Mods can lock it up, but I want to add a poll to see how others feel.

[LA Forever]

"Can you diiiiiiiiiiiig it?!"

I want his jersey retired here. Hate him or not, he was the force who got us that 3-peat. Most of you didn't hate him when he was here, so why hate him now. Yes, he can be an [expletive] at times, but that's how he is. Like said above, 3 championships is 3 championships.

#34 will be retired in LA.

[Imadogg]

Some people. If you can't appreciate what Shaq has done for us, then GTFO.

[ファイナルファンタジ]

It's got to be LA.

[kobynum]

LA without a doubt, i doubt Miami, though that was their only Chip, the Magic have a new Superman so i doubt it, and the Suns arent doing it, so LA it is

[lakerfool]

If you're a real LAL fan, you want his jersey to be in LA. 3 rings, 4 straight finales appearances with a Malone injury preventing the 4th title.

[kobynum]

^ 4 outta 5 years, but u are right A malone injury and the lack of a payton injury

[JEN]

L.A. all the wayyy!

[Tobias Fünke]

DEFINITELY! I love Shaq to death.

[azk81]

he def deserves his jersey retired here. what happened here was beyond any1's control and it was either kobe or shaq, both of which deserve their numbers ont he rafters

[Maddocks]

Some people. If you can't appreciate what Shaq has done for us, then GTFO.

i guess i have more of a.....i love what you did, but i dont love you as a person.

he talked trash about LA,the players,the coach, the owner and even didnt fix a injury in the off season.

[phifedogg76]

its 5 years already, when they retire his jersey itll be 10 years ... get over it

[Maddocks]

i refuse.

ill clap when its retired, because even i who holds hate, knows it will be retired. but like i said, ill clap for the player and what he did for LA, but not for the man.

[EchoZulu]

As much as I hated how the Big Krispy went out like a little whiny baby....he definitely deserves to get his number retired along side the other Laker greats.

Without him the Laker franchise would be sitting on 10 instead of 13...so for that I am grateful...even though he went out like a .