Shaq offers to pay for George Mikan's funeral

How is Michael Jordan a money grubbing fame whore. It's not like he's begged for his commercial gigs, or hasn't given money to charity. He's made a lot of money and kept a lot of it, but you don't see him pandering for screen time or being a blowhard.

Anonymous smooth dude with trucker hat and emo CDs seeks skank for butt love. Please provide couch.

He'd be better playing that role than the anonymous smooth dude.

After watching that Cribs episode, I'm not entirely sure that Shaq wants to play Superman as much as hold him down and soul-kiss him until he shits Kryptonite.

these things rub me the wrong way. otoh, Magic building a bunch of movie theaters on Crenshaw avenue, being up-front about HIV and doing a lot of community outreach, being a big figure in LA's black community - these things impress me in a famous athlete/public figure. Jordan just sat back, raked in the cash, and acted like he was better than everyone else.

Many years ago, I used to hate on Shaq. "he's only good cause he's a giant. if i was that big i'd score 30 a game too". But after seeing various programs and clips over the years that show what type of personality and character the guy has, I've grown to love him. Accusing him of grandstanding shows a lack of understanding and knowledge of what type of person he is.

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MJ could definitely do a lot more, but what did Wilt Chamberlain, Dr. J, Patrick Ewing; Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Mike Singletary, Walter Payton; Ken Griffey Jr., Miguel Tejada; etc. do for the community? Well, probably a lot, but not very much with a camera rolling.

There is a large grey area here, because you start treading toward the question of "do the owners make the stars or do the stars make themselves?" that gets asked in virtually every sport, and for which there is never a cut and dry answer. However, if you were ever going to make a major exception and pay a player based on his overall value to the league, you would make it for 1990's Michael Jordan.

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Yes, it's 100% silly and doesn't have any merit or truth in it at all; after all, look at all of the HIV work Magic did before he went public with his HIV status!

http://electron.cs.uwindsor.ca/60-270/05W/campag4/shaqmikan.jpg

(Mikan's family has accepted O'Neal's offer, fwiw.)

Oh and this stuff about "charitable work" is 99% baloney. EVERY rich person does "charitable work", it's how they avoid taxes innit.

Didn't Magic go on some nutty alternative medicine kick where he stopped taking his HIV meds?

- Magic Johnson appears to me to be a relatively nice guy with a lot of money.

- Michael Jordan appears to me to be a relatively nice guy with a lot of money.

- What they choose to do with their money and how they choose to live their lives are their business, not mine.

- You can play The Aspersion Game with anyone if you really want to.

- I wish I had more animated cat-dancing GIFs.

Jordan on why he's never taken a political stand.

Speaking of Shaq, my opinion of his playing has altered favourably)over the years, but he's not the best center in the league, and really needs to play with a superstar guard to "open up" his potential. Furthmore, he's really too obsessed with awards, thus his comments about Ben Wallace (post game 5). Still sour grapes for not getting MVP.

What's all this about Jordan and Magic Johnson though? Jordan has never done anything other than what's best for Michael Jordan. That's cool. Just the way he is. As for the Magic Johnson theaters. If they're making lots of money that's a good thing, since it shows that businesses shouldn't be afraid to open in inner cities.

Shaq urges others to help out victims of Katrina

Posted: Saturday September 10, 2005 5:47PM; Updated: Saturday September 10, 2005 5:47PM


Shaquille O'Neal (right) and his family hired tractor-trailers to take donations from Miami to Baton Rouge, La.
AP

MIAMI (AP) -- Sweat dripping from his head as he worked in the midday South Florida sun, Shaquille O'Neal loaded the last item into a cavernous 18-wheel trailer and pointed to the generous stranger.

"Give the man a hug," he urged his children, who quickly obliged. "Tell him thank you."

For the last week, O'Neal and his wife have coordinated efforts to help those in Louisiana and Mississippi whose lives were ripped apart by Hurricane Katrina. And Saturday, O'Neal was on the front line, personally accepting medical items, toiletries, clothes and other items from those inclined to help.

The tractor-trailers hired by the O'Neal family are expected to begin rolling Tuesday toward Baton Rouge, La. -- where O'Neal, the Miami Heat center, attended LSU.

"I commend everybody who's helping out in some way," O'Neal said. "Whether it's monetarily or going to the stores and buying cases of water, bundles of ice ... there's a lot of people chipping in, and my hat goes off to every American and non-American that's helping."

O'Neal spent two days in Louisiana shortly after the storm struck, returning home deeply moved by what he saw. And donating money, he said, simply wouldn't be enough.

So for several days, he and his wife Shaunie have teamed with the El Dorado furniture stores in South Florida and urged people to give whatever was possible. The response, Shaunie O'Neal said, has been overwhelming.

A warehouse commandeered to store the donations is nearly filled to capacity. There's 10,000 gallons of water, piles of diapers, peroxide, personal items and clothing, plus even some donations of refrigerators and beds -- which will be used to help furnish 400 apartments the O'Neal's plan to rent for refugees in Dallas and other areas.

"The refrigerators and beds weren't expected," Shaunie O'Neal said. "But they definitely can be used. They'll definitely come in handy."

The O'Neal's are unclear what will exactly happen once the trucks leave South Florida. They're finding that the process of distributing items throughout the ravaged region is perhaps the most difficult part of the plan.

Shaunie O'Neal said she's been told that the trucks, when they arrive in Louisiana, will be emptied for inspection and the items will be sent to various locations -- depending on what is needed where, and logistics in place for the distribution. She fears it could be a lengthy process.

"It's just frustrating," Shaunie O'Neal said. "All you're trying to do is help and get help to people in need and you see these people on TV just begging for help and whoever, I'm not going to point any fingers, but ... it's very, very, very difficult."

While the 12-time All-Star was manning the dropoff location, Edesio Biffoni, a Swiss man who works in finance and now lives in the Miami suburb of Coconut Grove, came with his sports-utility vehicle loaded with car seats, baby strollers, clothing, toys and other items.

Other citizens -- all unknowing they were about to meet O'Neal -- brought cases of soap and deodorant, plus toothbrushes, toothpaste, baby wipes and numerous other items.

"Everybody should be helping out. ... There's people who need these things more now," Biffoni said, moments after O'Neal gave the man a firm handshake and whispered appreciative words.

O'Neal said the damage he saw during his visit to Louisiana was unimaginable. So he returned home "to devise a plan," he said, and urged his friends and corporations he works with to provide immediate help.

"I'm just doing what I've been taught by my parents to do," O'Neal said. "This is the right thing to do, and I'm trying to urge other people to do it."

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