Shaq in the Hot Seat

Posted by Zach Lowe on Aug 11, 2010 95289 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F08%2F11%2Fshaq-in-the-hot-seat%2FShaq+in+the+Hot+Seat2010-08-11+23%3A47%3A44Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D9528

It’s a Sunday tradition: Deborah Solomon of The New York Times magazine runs a Q-and-A with a famous person. Solomon’s exchanges are famous for shifting quickly from friendly to feisty to cranky to uncomfortable and maybe back to friendly again. It’s always an entertaining read. 

This week’s guest: Shaquille O’Neal. 

Some excerpts (with Solomon in bold):

Did you watch along with the rest of the world when [LeBron] monopolized ESPN for a night to announce where he was going? 
No, I didn’t. One, I was with the kids, and two, I didn’t know it was going to be on TV.

I didn’t watch it, either. 
That’s because you’re mature and you’re my age and we have a different mind-set.

And:

When was the last time you panicked? 
1981.

When you were 9?
We were living with relatives, and I just happened to steal a lighter from the kitchen counter. I had a teddy bear. My thing was to just light the tail and then blow it out and laugh. Ha, ha. But as soon as I lit the tail, the whole thing caught on fire. It almost caught the house on fire. I got the whooping of my life.

Finally, bad news for all of you competing to give Shaq his Boston-themed nickname:

You’ve been called the Big Aristotle, among other nicknames. 
I’m done with the nicknames. Actually, when I obtain my doctorate, I will not allow people to call me Shaq anymore, either.

What will they call you? 
Dr. O’Neal.

(Note: Shaq is actually working on his doctorate, at Barry University in Miami). 

Do yourselves a favor and go read the whole thing.