I’m not really sure that the Nets moving to Brooklyn necessarily opens up a vacancy in New Jersey for a future NBA franchise to replace them, but I guess Shaq feels differently. Or maybe he just wants to bring an NBA franchise to his hometown, kinda like Mr. Carter is sorta doing for his.
Whatever the case, in a recent Q & A with The New York Times Blog Off the Dribble, the newly retired Shaquille O’Neal talked about owning an NBA team one day down the road.
Q – You’ve talked about owning a team someday. Do you still want to do that?
A – Yes. And I’m looking forward to bringing a team to Newark. I haven’t spoken to Mayor Booker about it yet, but I’m working on it. I know Newark can support an N.B.A. team. And I’m going to be one of the guys that’s going to bring a team there.
To be honest, I’ve never thought Newark, New Jersey, that’s a city that really should have an NBA team, but what do I know. I also never really thought Oklahoma City needed a squad either, but things seem to be working out okay for them.
As far as the team currently in New Jersey, Shaq says he doesn’t know who they are.
Q – How will the Knicks and Nets do [this season]?
A – With the Knicks, Carmelo and Amare got together late. I think with a full season together they’ll be much better. The Nets? I don’t know who the Nets are.
Additionally, O’Neal talked about his eventual pairing with Charles Barkley in the TNT studios whenever this lockout ends.
Q – The pressing question fans want answered about the upcoming season is will Charles Barkley give you any airtime on TNT broadcasts?
A – I’m going to get all the airtime. I’m going to handle him like I’ve always handled him. I’m going to knock him out if I have to.
I seriously think those shows are going to be great. Unlike this Kobe Bryant talk, that won’t seem to go away.
Q – Kobe Bryant reportedly criticized you when he was in Italy recently. “I like players who workout,” Bryant said, according to a post on Sportando. “I use to do that 6, 7 hours per day. I cannot stand players who practice for 30 minutes. I need to say something to them.” Any response?
A – No. I don’t need to work out. My numbers speak for itself. My three Finals M.V.P.s speaks for itself.
I may have missed this entire story, but I don’t really see how Kobe was definitely criticizing Shaq in this interview with Sportando – which had to be translated since it is a website that does not report news in English – but whatever.
I’d like to think Shaq would be a pretty awesome NBA owner and I imagine his squad would have a pretty good nickname too. Hopefully that happens someday.
—
Photo: TK Newz
