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Old 07-16-2004, 10:47 AM   #22 (permalink)
Halx
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This was posted on a Lakers forum that I frequent:

http://forums.lakersground.net/viewt...926&forum=1&27
Quote:
Now that the era of Kobe/Shaq is over--and the Miami media is proclaiming Shaq as being the savior--I have to say that Shaq blew it. Terribly.
Any objective observer would have to admit that Shaq' skills were beginning on the downward slope. A lot of reasons exist for this. Shaq had horrible attitude towards staying in shape. He let excess weight and generally slovenly lifestyle during the off-season to contribute to the fact that he was getting older.

We all get older. Our bodies take a beating. I myself was hospitalized for three weeks in February after major back surgery and am still going through rehab. That's called life.

Shaq could never understand this. He could not accept a very fundamental fact of life--he was getting older, slower and Kobe Bryant represented the future of the franchise.

We will never know how good the Lakers could have been towards the latter stages of his career. Had he done what David Robinson did, Kobe/Shaq as a tandem would have become perhaps the best all-time one-two punch ever.

Robinson accepted the fact that he was getting older. He accepted the fact that Tim was now the offensive threat. He did not run away from this--he embraced it.

Kobe did not have the benefit of a teammate who accepted a fundamental fact of life like Tim Duncan did. Robinson proclaimed Tim to be the key player and accepted the fact this his own minutes would reduce, he would score fewer points, and that the offense would go through Tim Duncan.

Result: Robinson and Duncan became brothers. Even in his retirement, Robinson stays close to Tim--calling him, encouraging him, watching the games from the bleachers.

Kobe was deprived of this kind of support. Incredibly, as a parting shot at Kobe, Shaq had the gall to say that Kobe never made anyone a better player.

Shaq will soon find out his accusation against Kobe actually applied to himself.

Shaq had a chance to thank the Lakers for all the opportunities--the championships, the fans. He had a chance to thank Kobe for their years together and to wish him well.

His exit showed what he became after all these years. Bitter. Mean-spirited. He became a cancer on this team.

Shaq grew older, but refused to grow up. He blew it.
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