If the big fella did indeed mean to say that, he's still entitled to his opinion, but it would be oozing with hypocrisy.
Nearly 16 years ago, O'Neal bailed out on Orlando, moving to the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent a season after leading the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals.
It devastated the franchise, so Shaq knows all about causing "tragedy" throughout central Florida.
Then again, since the definition of travesty is "any grotesque or debased likeness or imitation," Shaq might just consider Howard an inferior copycat of himself, the original Superman of the NBA.
Still, it sure sounds like he's trying to rewrite history.
O'Neal said he wanted to stay in Orlando and signed with LA only because it offered a better option.
Exactly.
Los Angeles over Orlando is not a difficult choice.
However, Brooklyn or Dallas over Orlando isn't a difficult choice, either, and those are the destinations, along with LA, where Howard has indicated he wants to go.
Shaq, who won three titles with the Lakers, got his by leaving Orlando. Why shouldn't Howard get his? . . .
I like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. He's the type of fully committed owner I'd want for my team.
But Cuban has a tendency to talk out of both sides of his neck.
Early this week, Cuban, who vocally protested the trade that would have sent All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the league-owned New Orleans Hornets to the Lakers, said the league still made a bad deal when it sent Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Basically, Cuban reiterated his claim that the NBA lockout was about making it possible for teams - particularly small-market teams - to keep their own stars.
