Last I checked there is a very big Cavs game tonight in Orlando. There we get our first glimpse to see how much of a difference the addition of Shaquille O'Neal will have on the Cavs.
Shaq has promised he will handle Dwight Howard man-to-man, but said the Magic will have to double him. He has been dismissive of Howard in the past, and has bristled at Howard's stealing his "Superman" mantra.
Tim Povtak of AOL thinks Howard will dominate, saying "there will be some sadness in seeing (O'Neal) get destroyed on his former home court Wednesday night by Dwight Howard." Yet 62 percent of those taking part in an online poll with the story think the Cavs will win (I voted once, and picked the Magic).
Me, I'm worried about Shaq — for a different reason. Tonight's game is one game, and the Cavs are more than candid about admitting that they are not playing at their peak at the moment. If they win, it would be great. If they don't, well they're not playing at their peak right now (Remind me I used this before if I'm still using it March).
I'm worried about Shaq because of off-the-court concerns. This week, his wife Va'Shaundya O'Neal (Shaunie) filed separation papers in a California court, with intent to divorce.
Your first thought in this is to extend a lot of thoughts to O'Neal. Because any time children are involved it's got to be painful. The O'Neals have four kids, who evidently were moved to LA the day before the legal proceedings were filed.
Clearly this is serious stuff. Potentially painful stuff. And if O'Neal has one thought on LA tonight and one in Orlando, well it would be understandable.
Just as clearly, what happens with his kids is prime importance. But divorces can be difficult — see Kosar, Bernie — and they can affect a player's mental well-being and ability to concentrate.
Shaq might have the experience and mental fortitude to plow right through it, but this might be a situation that stays with the Cavs as this season continues.
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Let's see, the Cavaliers have a super-duperstar ready to opt-out because the GM has spent five years surrounding him with stiffs and senior citizens; a criminal mental patient running loose around the countryside who's one wife-slap away from having his own divorce filed; and a 60-year-old, 400-pound center with Bernie Kosar's "diminishing skills" about to have a vindictive woman make a legal move for half of his stuff.
Oh, this really bodes well for 2010-2011. But on the bright side, at least the Cavs still have their own first-round lottery pick in 2011. But on the other hand, one of those teams on James' checklist, the one in Los Angeles with Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, et al., happens to own the Timberwolves' unprotected first-round pick in 2011. Oh, goody.
I feel bad for Shaq's kids, but not for Shaq himself. If your gonna fool around, you have to pay the consequences if you get caught.
this stuff with shaq and his wife has been going on for at least two years. they were separated at the time of shaq's wonderful rap about kobe tasting his rear. he blamed kobe for ratting him out to his wife in that artful gem. i have no doubt that it sucks but i doubt that it's going to affect his play.
Everyone:
Just curious, did anyone read the "alleged" emails between Gilbert Arenas' fiancee' and Shaq? My….goodness. I can see why his wife wanted out. But at the same, its well known that she fooled around with her personal trainer. This is all a mess.
Hey, terje, any guy can be an absentee father and a lousy husband and not have it affect his work. But the first step in the process to take a man's money? There's no guy on the planet it wouldn't affect.
alan, shaq wrote that check in his head months ago.
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