Another entry into the “Shaq is alright” file. Harder and harder to actively dislike him as much as I used to, especially since he isn't a Laker anymore.
SI.com - NBA - Shaq wants to pay for Mikan's funeral expenses - Friday June 3, 2005 1:13AM:
Shaquille O'Neal wants to pay more than respects to the family of George Mikan.
O'Neal said Thursday that he wants the Mikan family to contact the Miami Heat offices, so arrangements can be made for him to handle funeral expenses for the league's first dominant big man.
Mikan died Wednesday night at a rehabilitation center in Scottsdale, Ariz., following a long fight with diabetes and kidney ailments. He was 80.
“I'd like to send my condolences to the Mikan family,” O'Neal said after Miami beat Detroit 88-76 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night. “I heard they were having some trouble, some problems, so if you contact the Heat office, I would like to pay for the funeral.”
Of course, this is only petty cash for Shaq, but the gesture is nice. Could have been done in private, but still a gentlemanly offer.
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Yeah, likewise. It was easy to hate the Lakers, but I'm rooting for the Heat. How can you not like Wade? And Shaq's been funny and amicable. The gesture to the Mikan family is awfully nice. You rarely see that. Shaq's becoming a real role model.
except, I like the Wallaces in Detroit. 'Sheed has issued some good one liners in his day. I especially liked his quote about meeting Bush in the White House.
But, yeah, have to root against Detroit and Larry Brown and his entourage, even though my 'common law' wife is from Detroit. She doesn't watch basketball anyway.
Here in the states, ESPN is running a reality show about Shaq in his first season in Miami. I've tivoed a couple of episodes, fast forwarding through the obnoxiously goofy stuff. Shaq obviously really enjoyed giving out toys to inner city kids in L.A. That was another entry into the 'Shaq is alright' file.
If it be a short and violent death, we have no leisure to fear it; if otherwise, I perceive that according as I engage myself in sickness, I do naturally fall into some disdain and contempt of life.