'Just trying to get you that 300 million dollars you deserve': Shaq clashes with WNBA players over lowering the rim for women



Shaquille O'Neal is trying to convince WNBA players that lowering the height of the rim is the best thing for women's basketball.

O'Neal was responding to Las Vegas Aces player A'ja Wilson, who made comments on the "Roommates Show," a podcast featuring NBA players Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and host Matt Hillman.

Hart began the segment by asking the WNBA player what was the boldest piece of unsolicited advice she had ever received.

Wilson bluntly stated her entire feed and social media replies contain "that kind of advice."

Seemingly unpleased with the online reactions, Wilson said to viewers, "Who asked you?"

Hillman then sparked the ubiquitous debate about lowering the rim for WNBA players, and although he did not specify by how much, most debates suggest anywhere from three inches to an entire foot.

Wilson completely disregarded any legitimacy to the argument.

"What is it really going to do for us?" she asked. "I would much rather just gear my offseason to, 'OK, vertical, maxing it out, let's focus on this jumping,'" she told the hosts.

"Versus lowering it an inch? That could change all of our shots. Do y'all not understand that?"

The Aces player did not seem to think that adding dunking to the women's game is what audiences are looking for, warning that if she dunks in 2025, she better get a good reaction.

"You never know, next year I might dunk ... y'all better go crazy," she joked.

Wilson finished the segment by claiming, "Lowering the rim is just a very childish discussion."

However, at least one NBA legend disagreed. Days later, Shaq turned to his Instagram page to directly address Wilson's claims.

"60% of the fan[s] said Dunking [is] their favorite thing," O'Neal wrote. "The WNBA has none of that. So they make much less money. Just trying to get you that 300 million dollars you deserve," he added, before directly tagging Wilson's profile.

WNBA legend Candace Parker replied to O'Neal's post with "goodbye Shaq," with O'Neal saying in response that ratings would "go through the roof" if dunking was added to the WNBA All-Star Game.

'People always disrespect women regardless.'

This isn't the first time O'Neal has suggested the height change, either. In October, the former Laker told WNBA player Angel Reese the women's rim should be lowered by a few inches.

Reese immediately replied with, "I hate when men say that."

Shaq then detailed the similarities between the two leagues but noted, "The only thing that's missing is the dunk."

Reese was not having the argument, however, and according to the Daily Mail, turned the discussion into a debate about sexism.

"People always disrespect women regardless. [They're] always not gonna give us the same value as a man."

While the debate subject seems to anger at least some of the WNBA's most notable players, the key factor in the suggestion is figuring out how to generate more excitement for the league and, therefore, more revenue.

Even after its biggest season, the WNBA was estimated to have lost around $50 million, much more than it typically loses in a year. Many of the league's players also seem unwilling to address the reality of their league being subsidized and that includes Wilson.

On the same podcast, Wilson blamed investors for not putting in enough money to help the league grow.

"If no one's willing to invest, and like, truly invest, not just talk the talk but walk the walk as well, you're never going to grow."

She said the conversation players around her are continuously having is about finding investors who are going to "put their money where their mouth is," instead of the typical platitudes and feigned interest.

Unfortunately for Wilson, disregarding suggestions, making demands, and playing identity politics while not generating revenue are exactly the types of things that result in undedicated investors.

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Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal says he wants to try skydiving



Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal, 51, told People that he would like to go skydiving.

"I've mostly done everything that I've set out to do, but I would like to skydive," Shaq said, according to the outlet, noting that he has been scuba diving but "didn't like that" since it was "very, very, very, very deep."

"I didn't like scuba diving. Skydiving would probably be next on the list. A lot of times, I just sit and think like, 'I want to do this, I want to do that.' So I think the next big thing that I would love to do is skydive," he said, according to People.

The 7-foot-1 basketball legend said he has watched skydiving on social media, according to the outlet. "I always would follow these kids that skydive and jump out of planes, and I always wonder what I will feel if I can do that. So if I do anything out of this world, it would probably be that," he said, according to People

"My only fear is, can the parachute hold me?" he said, according to the outlet. "I went to one little class one time and the lady was like, 'How much do you weigh?' I was like, and at this time I was heavy, I was like, '400 lbs.' She was like, 'I think it goes up to 350. But my mom, she sews. She can sew two together.'"

"It'll be just my luck that mom didn't feel like sewing that day. And then I'll be all the way up there and then the thing just rips in half. So I want to make sure that everything's in order before I go up there," he quipped.

Shaq has had tremendous success in basketball and beyond, but he has previously described himself as a just a "regular person," who "made it," noting that having more money than others does not make him better than them.

Shaq has been known to generously spend his money to do random acts of kindness for strangers.

— (@)

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Shaq appears in LA Port Police ad as Gavin Newsom promises to finally refund police with $267M to fight retail theft

Shaq appears in LA Port Police ad as Gavin Newsom promises to finally refund police with $267M to fight retail theft



Former NBA champion and current commentator Shaquille O'Neal appeared in a commercial for the Los Angeles Port Police just days after California's Governor Gavin Newsom promised to provide new funding to jurisdictions across to state to battle retail theft.

O'Neal, who attended Los Angeles County's Reserve Academy, officially became a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Port Police in 2005. He also became a reserve officer in South Florida in 2015.

"Team is more important than any one of us. If you have what it takes to join the Los Angeles Port Police, come on down. It's time to dive in," O'Neal said in the recruitment ad.

"Big thanks to @Shaq for his continued support for law enforcement and spending time with his old police department. It was great to see him back in our uniform!" the port police wrote on X.

Big thanks to @SHAQ for his continued support for law enforcement and spending time with his old police department. It was great to see him back in our uniform! \n\nMore clips to come\u2026
— LA Port Police (@LA Port Police) 1694706221

The September 14, 2023, ad came just two days after Governor Newsom announced a state investment to battle retail theft, a crime that has been rampant across the state and caused several major businesses to flee city centers, such as Sacramento and San Francisco.

Over $267 million in total was promised across 55 law enforcement agencies throughout the state, which will include up to $23 million for 41 sheriffs’ and police departments, as well as one probation department.

Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and Ventura County are all targeted with funding, and individual targets have been set for certain jurisdictions. For example, Sacramento will have a targeted increase of 20% in retail theft arrests, while San Francisco will receive funding for a crackdown on the sale of stolen goods.

“Enough with these brazen smash-and-grabs. With an unprecedented $267 million investment, Californians will soon see more takedowns, more police, more arrests, and more felony prosecutions. When shameless criminals walk out of stores with stolen goods, they’ll walk straight into jail cells," Governor Newsom said.

Another 13 district attorneys’ offices across California will get up to $2 million each as well to fund new teams dedicated to prosecuting organized retail theft and to establish county-wide "intelligence centers."

The funding is also specifically meant to curtail vehicle and catalytic converter theft.

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Marie Osmond defends refusing her children an inheritance — to protect them from 'laziness and entitlement'



Marie Osmond, one half of the famous duo Donny & Mari, is reiterating her commitment not to leave her children a financial inheritance.

Osmond, 63, told US Weekly in an interview last week that she believes an inheritance, especially among children who expect the financial windfall, only breeds "laziness and entitlement."

"Honestly, why would you enable your child to not try to be something? I don’t know anybody who becomes anything if they're just handed money," Osmond told the magazine. "To me, the greatest gift you can give your child is a passion to search out who they are inside and to work.

"That's one of my rules with my kids. If you start it, you finish it. You don't ever have to do it again, but you gotta finish," she added. "And, I just think all [an inheritance] does is breed laziness and entitlement."

The comments reiterate the sentiment that Osmond first shared three years ago when she publicized her intent not to provide her seven living children with a split of her wealth.

"My husband and I decided that you do a great disservice to your children to just hand them a fortune because you take away the one most important gift you can give your children, and that's the ability to work," she said in 2020. "You see it a lot in rich families where the kids don't know what to do so they get in trouble. So I just let them be proud of what they make."

Anything else?

Osmond is in good company with her view toward a financial inheritance. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, for example, has made it clear he does not believe in handouts.

Last year, O'Neal said his children must present him with multiple college degrees "in order to get my cheese."

"They know they have things to fall back on, but it’s not going to be that easy," he said of his children. "In order to get my cheese, you have to present me with two degrees."

And in 2021, O'Neal famously said, "My kids are older now, and they're kinda upset with me. ... They're not really upset, but they don't understand. 'Cause I tell them all the time: We ain't rich. I'm rich.'"

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Kyrie Irving SUSPENDED after brutal DUNKING from Shaq, Charles Barkley



On Thursday evening, the Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie Irving without pay for a minimum of five games after the NBA star refused, for the second time, to apologize for a tweet that many saw as a form of anti-Semitic hate speech.

Irving posted a link to the 2018 movie "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” last week, then twice refused to "unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs," according to a Thursday night statement from the Nets.

"We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity — but failed — to clarify," the statement read.

"Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets."

Just hours after the Nets announced his suspension, Irving apologized in an Instagram post.

"To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize," Irving wrote.


On a recent episode of "Fearless," BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock said he believes Irving has been unfairly vilified and demonized over a "sentence-less" tweet about "a documentary that no one is watching." He compared Irving's tweet to HBO host Bill Maher's "anti-Christian" documentary “Religulous,” pointing out that no one called for HBO or corporations to discipline Maher.

"Fourteen years ago, you could write and star in a documentary with the expressed intention to offend, mock, and challenge conventional wisdom without people demanding that you lose your job," Whitlock stated.

Tuesday on “Inside the NBA,” Charles Barkley called for Irving's suspension, saying the “NBA dropped the ball” and "I can't believe we're talking about this idiot."

\u201c"I think he should have been suspended. Adam Silver should have suspended him. They made a mistake. I can't believe we're talking about this idiot."\n\nCharles Barkley on Kyrie Irving\n\n#NBATwitter\u201d
— \ud835\ude4f\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude61\ud835\ude60\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude63\u2019 \ud835\ude49\ud835\ude3d\ud835\ude3c (@\ud835\ude4f\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude61\ud835\ude60\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude63\u2019 \ud835\ude49\ud835\ude3d\ud835\ude3c) 1667345070

Shaquille O’Neal also called Irving an "idiot."

\u201c\u201cIt hurts me sometimes when we have to sit up here to talk about stuff that divides the game. That we gotta answer for what this idiot has done.\u201d\n\nShaq speaks on Kyrie Irving\u201d
— Bleacher Report (@Bleacher Report) 1667346124

Whitlock, however, suggested there just might be another reason why Barkley and Shaq were really so outraged about Kyrie’s off-hours musings that they called for the NBA to suspend him.

"One tweet about a documentary no one is watching sparked this much outrage? I don’t think so," he said.

Watch the full episode of "Fearless with Jason Whitlock" below to hear more from Jason. Can't watch? Download the podcast here.


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Shaq takes a hard stance against vaccine mandates



Shaquille O'Neal seems to have changed his mind on mandates, and wasted no time making his opinion known during an episode of "The Big Podcast with Shaq." The former NBA player said he encouraged people to "be safe and take care of your family" but that "you shouldn't be forced to take something that you do not want."

When co-host Nischelle Turner pushed back and suggested mandates were not really being forced, Shaq doubled down.

Audio below:


SHAQ @SHAQ pic.twitter.com/78UI0Ptaek
— Gina Carano \ud83d\udd6f (@Gina Carano \ud83d\udd6f) 1643940613

Shaq was relentless, saying, "It is forced. Because if the man don't take it, the man gonna get fired."

Yes, that is what mandate means. One might argue "mandate" and "force" occupy similar spaces in the etymological circle, but vocabulary is hard for some people.

Shaq's recent statement runs counter to what he's said in the past about Kyrie Irving's refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. But if institutions are allowed to change and adapt, why not individuals?


@dbongino is LIVE on the radio!\n\nDan says it FINALLY feels like there is a real rebellion brewing in response to the left's authoritarianism. Enter @SHAQ...\n\nFind your local station to listen LIVE: https://bongino.com/station-finder\u00a0\n\nOr watch here: https://nation.foxnews.com/the-dan-bongino-show-on-fox-nation/\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/PTS6xPsuXx
— Bongino Report (@Bongino Report) 1643995407

Shaq indicates that he does not think people should 'be forced' into getting vaccinated



During an episode of "The Big Podcast with Shaq," former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal indicated that he does not believe people should be forced to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

O'Neal took issue with scenarios in which someone faces the threat of losing their job if they decline to get vaccinated.

While the basketball legend said that he urges people "to be safe" as well as to "take care" of their families, he added that he does not think people should "be forced" into taking that which they do not even want.

But Shaq has previously commented on NBA player Kyrie Irving's refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Since Irving is not vaccinated, he cannot play home games, and even after teammate Kevin Durant got injured, Irving indicated that he would not change his decision on vaccination.

"I don't see how the team could put up with that," O'Neal said. He added that if Irving were on his team, he'd "have to put hands on him."

Many Americans oppose mandates that require workers to get vaccinated regardless of their own personal medical preferences — the issue has remained a topic of significant cultural debate throughout the pandemic.

'Celebrities are crazy,' basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal declares: 'I denounce my celebrity-ness'



Former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal told the New York Post that he is denouncing his "celebrity-ness."

"Celebrities are crazy," he said. "How they treat people, what they do, what they say."

But Shaq noted, "That's never been me," and said that he does not want to be viewed in that way.

O'Neal does not believe that his wealth and success make him better than other people. He described himself as a "regular person," who "made it."

"But just because I made it don't mean I'm bigger than you," said the 7-foot-1 NBA legend. "Just cuz I have more money than you don't mean that I'm better than you. I've never been that way and I never will be that way."

Shaq said "celebrities are goin freakin crazy," noting, "I don't wanna be one. I denounce my celebrity-ness today."

Shaq is retiring from celebrity status | New York Post www.youtube.com

His down-to-earth take could be refreshing to many Americans who have grown weary with celebrity culture in the U.S. and the haughty spirit exhibited by some stars.

And while Shaq has been tremendously successful in the NBA and beyond, he has also been very generous with his wealth, doing many random acts of kindness for strangers.

"I'm just trying to make people smile... That's all."@SHAQ helped a young man out at a local jewelry store by pay… https://t.co/KuHLBBXTyH

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) 1617772719.0

This Saturday, the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation is hosting a fundraising gala in Las Vegas that will feature performers, including Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, and others.

"For as long as I can remember, giving back has been instilled in my family. When I started my Foundation in 2019, I wanted to help kids in need by giving them resources, opportunities and most importantly, hope. This past year has been especially tough on our youth. But we can change that," Shaq said in a letter posted on his foundation's website.

"Join me on October 2nd for The Event, the inaugural fundraising gala for The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation. Be a part of our history as we mark this unforgettable occasion. We have an incredible evening in store, with performances you won't see anywhere else. Your support will impact the lives of underserved children in Las Vegas, Atlanta and beyond. Together we will raise funds for a great cause, but we will also have a great time doing it," Shaq said.

Shaquille O’Neal surprises Atlanta man at jewelry store — and buys his fiancée’s engagement ring for him



NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal played the role of good Samaritan this week and threw down his own money to pay for a fan's engagement ring.

What are the details?

This week an Atlanta man — and O'Neal fan — got the surprise of his life when he arrived at an area Zales store to pay off the ring he was buying for his fiancée.

He approached an employee and asked what his balance was on the gift, and that's when O'Neal — who has his own jewelry collection at Zales — stepped in and handed over a bank card.

During Wednesday's "NBA on TNT," O'Neal recalled the moment.

"I seen a guy come in — he was just so shy and he was saying, 'Hey, how much do I owe to pay off my ring?'" O'Neal said. "And I was like, 'How much is the ring?'"

He added that the man buying the ring was a "young kid, a hardworking guy" and the ring had been on layaway, where the man made payments.

"I said, 'You know what, tell your girlfriend I got it. Take care of her.' And at first he didn't want to take it," O'Neal recalled, but the customer ended up gratefully accepting the basketball star's generous gift.

Social media video shows the moment O'Neal pays for the ring and shakes the customer's hand.

.@SHAQ saw this young man buying an engagement ring and decided to pay for it 👏 (via @shaqfu_radio) https://t.co/svMeqCT3e4
— ESPN (@ESPN)1617771525.0

What else?

During the Wednesday broadcast, O'Neal said that he strives to perform acts of kindness every day

"The other day, me and my mom went furniture shopping, and this lady, she had [a daughter with autism] and she was looking to pay for some furniture," he recalled. "I just took care of her. Whenever I leave the house, I just try to do a good deed."

He added that he doesn't make such gestures for recognition and didn't even know that the ring story made as many headlines as it had.

"I didn't mean for [the ring story] to get out, 'cause I don't do it for that," the basketball legend explained. "I'm just trying to make people smile, that's all."

"I'm just trying to make people smile... That's all."@SHAQ helped a young man out at a local jewelry store by pay… https://t.co/KuHLBBXTyH
— NBA on TNT (@NBA on TNT)1617772719.0