LOST FAMILY? LESSONS FROM SHAQ

A lost family is no small thing to an older man like Shaquille O’Neal.

Two wives and six kids later, he seems to be feeling it.

A quote made the rounds last week with Shaq feeling remorse for living in a 100,00 sq ft house.

Alone.

And it sounds awful.

From People Magazine, a trusted source in such things:

 

“What most people don’t know about (O’Neal) is what a great dad he is,” Weiss told PEOPLE. “He loves having lots of children, and I think he’d like to have more.

But they’ve decided this is their last one, since they now will have six children.”

“If everyone is happy – my wife, my children – then I’m happy,” O’Neal told PEOPLE. “I have pretty much everything I need.”

She (Shaq’a wife) filed for sole custody of the couple’s four children together, with visitation allowed for Shaq, according to the court papers. She stated she will eventually seek a divorce.

“Seventy-six thousand square foot house by yourself, lost. No kids, go to the gym, nobody’s playing in the gym. Go to their room, nobody’s there,” he said. “I was just being greedy.”

 

During his championship run I saw Shaq in a similar light as I did Rasheed Wallace and Latrell Sprewell, guys who did their job with little concern for their future past the NBA.

They seemed to honestly not give a damn about how they were perceived off the court.

Both teams played hard. Ball don’t lie.

And it was enough if the plan was retiring and fading away.

But Shaq didn’t fade and now he’s letting it all out.

Is he giving a warning to the rising generations?

If that’s the deal, I’d start with learn how to shoot free throws and how to respect your wife, kids, and parents more than your hip-hop fans and lady friends hopping aboard the Big Diesel.

 

The Big Aristotle Likes A Big House

From US magazine, a trusted source like People:

 

“I made a lot of dumbass mistakes to where I lost my family and I didn’t have anybody,” O’Neal said. “That’s not the case for you (Jason Kelce), so enjoy your beautiful wife, enjoy your beautiful kids, and never dwell on what we had.”

O’Neal continued: “What we had is what we got. You got the ring, people know who you are. Enjoy, because again, I was an idiot, and I’ve talked about it a long time. I lost my whole family.

I’m in a 100,000-square-foot house by myself.

“At one time, my ex-wife Shaunie and I were happy, but I admit it — I was a guy,” Shaq wrote in his book. “I was a guy with too many options. Choosing to be with some of those women, well, that’s on me.

In my mind, I never did it disrespectfully, but obviously I shouldn’t have done it all.”

He added: “You know as well as I do relationships are about maintaining. … It wasn’t the big stuff, it was the small stuff, and that’s my fault. I had things to do. I was trying to win, trying to make some money.

I admit I wasn’t the best partner. I just didn’t know how. I’m learning now.”

 

Here’s how from boomerpdx:

Do you know more about luxury than a brand name, an outlet store, or a cruise ship line? (Or a big house?)

What is your luxury living go to?

Mine is taking an open-ended walk in the woods that won’t stop with a time limit, or the wrong shoes.

It’s letting your kids know you care about them based on the time you spend with them.

True luxury is feeling the warm sun, hearing familiar voices, and joining in.

It’s understanding that life isn’t a chronicle of events from beginning to end, but a romp with leaps and bounds.

 

Teamwork, Dream Work, Lost Family, Yada Yada Yada

Shaq had a few words of wisdom, hard earned wisdom. How hard?

From Fadeaway World:

 

I was a serial cheater. It would be crazy and blasphemous for me to get up here and say, ‘Boom, boom, bam.’ I can’t do that.

I know these guys personally. I know they’re going through a lot because I went through a lot.

“I just wish that certain parties weren’t involved. I’ve known Nia Long for a long time and I like her…

They’re going through a lot of family stuff. I’m never the guy that’s gonna get up here because of my platform and fake it.

I did it. I was the best at it and not proud of it at all. I lost my family doing it. I lost valuable, important years of my children from doing it. … I’m not that guy. I’m real with the situation.”

That was our Shaq sharing his view on another high profile slap at relationship harmony when the guy loses zipper control.

Is this sort of confession to his credit? He was the best serial cheater?

In the world of breakups, this is the classic take from Kobe.

Everybody gets old and looks back at what happened, and what could have happened.

Why not push yourself now to be a little better with those who matter to you?

The clock is running.

Best wishes.