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Thursday, June 02, 2005
Sayson: The call goes the other way -- Shaq gets a dose
By Homer Sayson
Second Overtime
CHICAGO– Shaq is arguably the most media friendly megastar in the NBA today, if not ever. Having watched much of his championship runs in LA up close, I can tell you that there’s never a dull moment when he is around.
Inside the Lakers’ locker room at the First Union Center in Philadelphia during the 2001 NBA Finals, I saw Shaq playfully hoist a tiny Japanese journalist in the air, flashing a Colgate smile as cameras and flash bulbs clicked with reckless abandon.
At the 2002 NBA Finals at the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey, I also saw a Shaq goof around with Rick Fox. Trust me, the sight of a barely-clothed 7-foot-1 giant running around like a rambunctious toddler wipes some of your worries.
Shaq tickles reporters with witty one-liners. He also draws quick laughs by constantly baptizing himself with new monikers such as The Big Aristotle, The Big Diesel, etc. This is why he so endearing, a permanent fixture in the NBA’s annual All-Interview Team.
There is a lot of debate whether Shaq weighs only 325 and not 355 pounds.
But there is no doubt that he is made up of muscle and funny bones.
Like most of our loved ones, though, Shaq also disappoints. And he did last night by refusing to appear in the post-game press conference that followed Detroit’s 106-96 win over Miami in Game 4 of the best-of-seven East Conference Finals series that is now tied at 2-2.
Leaving The Palace at Auburn Hills in a huff, Shaq told ESPN that “he was afraid he might say something about the officiating.”
You see, last night Shaq never got his rhythm going due to early foul trouble. And he’d like to place the blame on the referees for his 25-minute appearance in Game 4, a forgettable cameo where O’Neal just had 12 points and five rebounds while shooting 4-of-9 from the field.
He had four fouls and two turnovers and went just 4-of-10 from the stripe.
Joining Shaq in the Whine Club was Zo Mourning, who was slapped with three fouls in 16 minutes of play. Zo finished with four points, four rebounds and two shotblocks. He said he was so wary of the refs that he was “afraid to touch someone.”
I really love Shaq and Zo and Dwayne Wade. They are my newfound NBA trinity, a nice replacement for Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, which I used to worship with apostolic dedication. But this I have say: Stop crying and just play ball. Let the whistle blow as it may.
As far as I’m concerned, this series is fairly officiated. Look, Miami shot 23 free throws on 26 Detroit fouls in Game 2. In Game 3, the Pistons were called for 33 fouls resulting in 54, yes that’s 54, free throws. Last night, Miami shot 39 free throws on 28 Piston fouls.
The Miami-Detroit tussle has more fouls than a shady City Hall transaction. It has flagrant fouls, technical fouls and double fouls.
And the whistle is not blowing favorably in one specific direction.
Detroit won Game 4 because it shot 37-of-77 from the field (48.1 percent) and 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50 percent). Detroit won Game 4 because it out-rebounded Miami, 39-38, and the Pistons had more assists (27-17) and less turnovers, six to 12.
Shaq was in foul trouble because the Pistons double-teamed him hard and fast on defense and attacked him relentlessly on offense. As for Zo, well if you clobber an opposing player, that’s a foul, even though you did so with the honest intent to play D.
Detroit won Game 4 because Rip Hamilton had 28 points, Rasheed Wallace 20, Chauncey Billups 17 and Tayshaun Prince 15. The Heat had Wade with 28 points with so little help.
Of course, I’m still hoping against hope that Miami will advance to the NBA Finals. And of course, I still love Shaq to death, although I now wish that he weren’t The Big Cry Baby when it comes to NBA Playoffs officiating.
HAPPY PRIEST ASKS. Fr. Glad Niere of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Minglanilla wonders “how tall is Rip Hamilton and how does he play so well that many times he even challenges the defense of Shaq the man mountain?”
Fr. Glad, an unrepentant Pistons fan, also asked: “Was Hamilton a college standout?”
Rip is 6-foot-7 and 193 pounds. He is a walking cup of coffee, burning the opposition with his confidence to shoot and desire to win. When you have those qualities, Fr. Glad, it doesn’t matter even if a Shaq stands in the way.
Rip shares the same alma mater with All-Star Ray Allen – the University of Connecticut. At U-Conn, Rip was the only alum to ever score at least 700 points twice in his career and 500 points in his first three seasons.
In 1999, Rip guided U-Conn to the NCAA championship, scoring 27 points as the Huskies beat the Elton Brand-led Duke University, 77-74.
Finally, I’d like to thank the members of the Cebu Clergy basketball team for regularly reading this column. Thanks, too, to Fr. Peter Porio of the Lourdes Parish for his support.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
(June 2, 2005 issue)
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