Shaq O' Neal Under Fire for Bashing Houston Rockets NBA Player Yao Ming with Racial Slurs

The ESPN Insider and Asian Week Magazine ^ | January 10, 2003 | Chad Ford

[Enterprise]

Yao Ming to Shaq: "You're mother got her first job in a brothel in Shanghai."

[hchutch]

This is not a big deal.

Trash talks happens. It's part of sports.

[ewing]

And ESPN (who carries the NBA) buries an exclusive investigative story on its website, I didnt see it anywhere on the front page.

I credit Dan Patrick for having a pair to question Shaq on his radio show though.

[gaspar]

Always make your first foul a hard foul? That's the sort of thinking that has destroyed the essential beauty of American basketball -- along with palming, walking, backing in, holding, trashtalking and managers who have no control over their team. Basketball is now, as O'Neal says it is, a street game, played by and for muggers.

[My2Cents]

Well, I guess that destroys any chance of Shaq becoming Senate Majority Leader some day...

[Dog Gone]

I guess I'm so politically incorrect that I don't see it as a racial slur. He's making fun of the fact that Yao Ming is someone who barely speaks english and isn't an American.

It's rude, and certainly not politically correct, but a racial slur?

[dfwgator]

Trash talks happens. It's part of sports.

If a white player uses the N-word on a black player, he would be suspended and ordered to sensitivity training ala John Rocker.

[My2Cents]

Shaq said he would let his elbows do the talking.

More like his fat gut....Good ol' Fatty Shaq.

[dirtboy]

Based on the stories today, I'm wondering if it isn't time to rename Free Republic Hack a Shaq?

Shaq's a goon. He has polished his game a bit over the years, but it still primarily consists of muscling someone out of the way - something that in the past used to be considered an offensive foul - or shooting a baby hook if someone tries to maintain separation so Shaq can't muscle him. The problem is, Ming is tall enough that Shaq's gonna have a hard time shooting the baby hook over him, so Shaq will instead have to plow into Ming to try and get him out of the way. But that in turn puts the ball down where a guard can strip it under the new defensive rules.

[BenR2]

Ming is doing just fine.

Never said he wasn't. He's still a rookie: There is still an initiation phase. Nothing new.

[cactusSharp]

I'm not Shaq fan but in fairness this needs a mention
Shaq has never taken a dime from pro basketball in salary......he donates it to charity..Every dime of it.
Shaq lives on endorcements and investments.

bet the salary is directed to muslims now ? me thinks so

[ewing]

LOL! You sound like the sportscasters at ABC/ESPN

When a lesbian soccer player is suffering opression ESPN is the first on the scene, but bashing Asians racially is all in good fun

[dfwgator]

Basketball is now, as O'Neal says it is, a street game, played by and for muggers.

Another reason I was glad the US got their butts kicked at the World Championships. I hope the same happens to any so-called "Dream Team" in the future.

[EggsAckley]

Is there a reason this is just an excerpt? I went to the link and I was asked to "sign in." Couldn't get to the article. Just curious.

[The South Park Republican]

Based on the stories today, I'm wondering if it isn't time to rename Free Republic Hack a Shaq?

Yeah, real enlighted group these Shaq bashers...

What's next? "Nuke The NBA"? Well...It would solve their Shaq problems wouldn't it?

[Centurion2000]

It's rude, and certainly not politically correct, but a racial slur?

Ok, so then turn it around and see if the media would have freaked if Yao Ming told reporters about Shaquile O'Niel. Tell him " Wipe that chicken grease and chitlins off yo shirt and meet me in da hood boy"

You think that the media would have sat still for that ? B$

[dfwgator]

I agree, Shaq will never see 50 if he doesn't take care of his weight. Tall men don't live that long to begin with.

[Enterprise]

You're killing me - THAT WAS TOO FUNNY!!! LOL!!!