When it comes to public figures, no one has embraced the public part of that phrase more than NBA superstar and all-time great Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq, who entered the National Basketball Association 19 years ago, was more than just a basketball player. He was a recording star, a movie star, and a personality the likes of which the world has never seen and may never see again. Fittingly, Shaq announced his retirement via Twitter and Tout, a new social networking/video sharing website.
It goes without saying that Shaq was one of the best players of his generation, and one of the five best centers in NBA history. Thanks to his unique combination of strength and height, he followed in a trail blazed by people like Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, and Bill Russell, despite entering an NBA dominated by other massive centers. Still, none of them could compare to Shaq, who was simply a monster among men, both in terms of his physical playing style and his simple physical presence.
In case you’ve forgotten (or didn’t know), here’s a video of Shaq destroying an entire basketball goal with a simple power dunk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_zXjuebDXoTags: Twitter, Shaquille O’Neal, Shaq, Shaquille O’Neal retires, NBA, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Shaq retires, Shaq retires via Tout, Tout, Shaq retires via Twitter, basketball, professional basketball