Sports
The Front Row: The badge or the mic?
By Nick Prevenas, Green Valley News
SHAQ-FU IS BACK: We might only be halfway through 2008, but nobody is topping Shaquille O’Neal for “sports quote of the year.”
Of course, this is a family publication, so I’m not at liberty to divulge his refrain from Sunday’s freestyle rap directed at Kobe Bryant.
The Diesel was in a festive mood, so he decided to pick up the microphone and let a New York night club know how he felt about Bryant’s recent failures against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Gossip web site TMZ.com obtained a video clip and it began making the rounds Monday morning.
He started his performance by saying, “Check it, you know how I be. Last week, Kobe couldn’t do without me.” Nobody said he was Jay-Z, but his two-minute performance did include the most clever vasectomy lyric I’ve heard in a while.
In addition to his incredibly vulgar dietary advice, O’Neal revealed some stunningly candid and personal information, including how Bryant’s statements to Colorado police caused a rift between O’Neal and his wife (“Kobe ratted me out, that’s why I’m getting divorced”) and how this feud is far from over.
O’Neal said the impromptu rap was all in good fun, but Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio didn’t agree.
Yesterday, Arpaio told The Associated Press, “I want his two badges back, because if any one of my deputies did something like this, they’re fired. I don’t condone this type of racial conduct.”
Was it worth it?
If Bryant fires back with his own clumsy freestyle rap, I say yes.
TEAM USA IN TROUBLE?: On Monday, USA Basketball announced the roster it hopes will reclaim America’s status as the world’s basketball superpower.
Will it happen?
Those hopes rest on the broad shoulders of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Michael Redd and Deron Williams.
This group was picked from a pool of 33 by Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski and the rest of the USA Basketball braintrust.
I like how they addressed specific concerns like perimeter shooting and defense while emphasizing the team aspect instead of picking the 12 biggest NBA stars.
But I have to say I disapprove of Kidd’s inclusion.
Not only was he torched by Paul in the Mavericks/Hornets series this spring, but he’s an awful perimeter shooter and has trouble guarding quicker guards at this stage of his career.
Plus, it’s likely that Coach K will defer to Kidd instead of Paul or Williams.
Why not bring an extra shot-blocking center (say, Tyson Chandler or Marcus Camby) in case Howard, Boozer or Bosh get in foul trouble instead?
nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747
Of course, this is a family publication, so I’m not at liberty to divulge his refrain from Sunday’s freestyle rap directed at Kobe Bryant.
The Diesel was in a festive mood, so he decided to pick up the microphone and let a New York night club know how he felt about Bryant’s recent failures against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Gossip web site TMZ.com obtained a video clip and it began making the rounds Monday morning.
He started his performance by saying, “Check it, you know how I be. Last week, Kobe couldn’t do without me.” Nobody said he was Jay-Z, but his two-minute performance did include the most clever vasectomy lyric I’ve heard in a while.
In addition to his incredibly vulgar dietary advice, O’Neal revealed some stunningly candid and personal information, including how Bryant’s statements to Colorado police caused a rift between O’Neal and his wife (“Kobe ratted me out, that’s why I’m getting divorced”) and how this feud is far from over.
O’Neal said the impromptu rap was all in good fun, but Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio didn’t agree.
Yesterday, Arpaio told The Associated Press, “I want his two badges back, because if any one of my deputies did something like this, they’re fired. I don’t condone this type of racial conduct.”
Was it worth it?
If Bryant fires back with his own clumsy freestyle rap, I say yes.
TEAM USA IN TROUBLE?: On Monday, USA Basketball announced the roster it hopes will reclaim America’s status as the world’s basketball superpower.
Will it happen?
Those hopes rest on the broad shoulders of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Michael Redd and Deron Williams.
This group was picked from a pool of 33 by Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski and the rest of the USA Basketball braintrust.
I like how they addressed specific concerns like perimeter shooting and defense while emphasizing the team aspect instead of picking the 12 biggest NBA stars.
But I have to say I disapprove of Kidd’s inclusion.
Not only was he torched by Paul in the Mavericks/Hornets series this spring, but he’s an awful perimeter shooter and has trouble guarding quicker guards at this stage of his career.
Plus, it’s likely that Coach K will defer to Kidd instead of Paul or Williams.
Why not bring an extra shot-blocking center (say, Tyson Chandler or Marcus Camby) in case Howard, Boozer or Bosh get in foul trouble instead?
nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747
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