Shaq is a THUG. How much more proof do you need?

That is the first time that I've ever seen him react that way! Everyone has a limit and he was getting hacked on nearly every play that game! Most of the players in that game(on both sides) said that the refs let the game get out of hand!

toby and i tape the games to watch at our time. after the semi-fight, we reran about 20 minutes of the game over and over. no one should have to take the kind of hitting on the head and being thrown to the floor that he took. if he refs had called flagrant fowls in the beginning when he was being attacked, it would never have reached the point that allowed the two bums to attack. never have i seen shak try to hurt anyone. the roundhouse he threw and missed looked like a girl punching. i suspect he never had to throw a punch before. if you want a copy of the 20 or so minutes we watched, you are welcome to it.

You can justify anything. Shaq musta thought that guy was a free throw...Because he MISSED! Nothing worse than a THUG who can't even fight.

And if the Lakers are such a great "Team", then why didn't one of the bench-fodder get out there and dish out a little lovin' so Shaq wouldn't have to get his panties all in a knot? That's how REAL teams do it when their ace is getting hacked.

i guess you don't want a copy of the tape?

I remember Michael Jordan taking the same type of sissy swing(slap) at Reggie Miller and no one dared question Michael. There's no room for any of the violence that was exhibited in this game. Both sides were wrong and showed poor sportsmanship!

What happened prior to the bitch slap is not important. Basketball is a game where intense contact occurs under the basket. It is the refs job to contain the illegal contact, but it is players right to "get away" with whatever the refs allow. I don't doubt that Shaq was molested for 20 minutes plus. I also don't care. A strategic elbow would have produced the same results without the game ejection and subsequent suspension and fine. But a THUG can't be so level headed.

Joe, This is one place I really have to disagree with you on! Shaq is not a thug and he gets ridden more than a horse or a cheap hooker by every size and shape of henchman in the NBA! He is one of the finest examples of an athelete that will give to the community and take the time to help those who are unfortunate! Damn, I am sounding like a liberl! Well he is not a thug and it is a good thing he can't fight, because there would have been two really messed up players scattered around the floor! Charles Oakley is nothing more than a "thug" who has no other skills than fouling and causing problems! Charlie

Shhhh! Leave me alone, Charlie. I'm getting under the skin of Rick. Just don't tell him...

tailgator: i saw "the body snatchers" too. are the pods wrapped with the habana2000.

Do they have a Maduro wrapper? Charlie