He Was Too Hot To Handle

And so Kobe Bryant lobbed it up to the 7'1" center while his afro fluttered. Down came the center towards the rim. He gently grabbed the ball and with such grace slammed it home. The look on his face said it all. Led by Shaq, Horry, Fish, and Kobe the Lakers won it all that year and a legend was born in big-man Shaquille O'Neal.

Now it is 2011. A full 19 years since this man walked the courts in Orlando. Now anyone worldwide can say Shaquille and you will know exactly who they're talking about.

Shaq or Superman or The Big Aristotle or Hobo Master or The Diesel or Shaq Fu or The Big Daddy or the Shaq Daddy or The Big Agave or The Big Cactus or the Big Shaqtus or The Big Galactus or Wilt Chamberneezy or The Big Baryshkinov or The Real Deal or Dr. Shaq or The Big Shamrock or The Big Leprachaun or Shaqovic or even The Big Conductor was such a fun player he even posed as a statue in his final NBA season in Boston. In his final season he played with the man whom he nicknamed "The Truth," Paul Pierce.

How good was Shaq? Well obviously he's a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame in Springfield but in his career span he played for the Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavaliers, and the Celtics he has done great things. He was the 1994 FIBA World Championship MVP, Three Time NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2004, 2009), NBA All Rookie First Team, Three Time All Defensive Second Team, Four Time All NBA Third Team, Two Time All NBA Second Team, Eight Time All NBA First Team, Two Time NBA Scoring Champion, 15 Time NBA All-Star, NBA Rookie of the Year (1993), NBA MVP (2000), Three Time NBA Finals MVP, Four Time NBA Champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006.)

Go on Sportscenter Shaq.

I hope the future bodes well for you.