Shaq's play a ray of hope for Suns
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Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist

March 1, 2009 - 6:11PM


Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal points to his team's bench as he trots past the Los Angeles Lakers' bench after making a field goal in the fourth quarter Sunday, March 1, 2009, in Phoenix. O'Neal scored 33 points as the Suns won 118-111.
The Associated Press

The old man had just pounded and bullied the Los Angeles Lakers for the better part of three hours, and now he sat in front of his locker, his voice soft but his words as defiant as ever.

Shaq, Suns overcome Kobe to beat Lakers

“It’s what I do,” Shaquille O’Neal said. “I’ve been doing it since 1992. If you don’t believe it, Google me.”

There’s no need. We got the live version Sunday, and what a show it was.

Five days before his 37th birthday, O’Neal scored 33 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the Suns’ 118-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. That came just three days after he poured in 45 points against the Toronto Raptors, a performance so unbelievable Toronto center Chris Bosh accused Shaq of cheating, saying he was camping in the lane.

“I heard what Chris Bosh said. Those are strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men,” O’Neal said with a chuckle.

Yeah, O’Neal could always deliver a line. But the quips seemed tired when O’Neal was injured and struggling with the Miami Heat; he came across as a washed-up comedian playing the Catskills.

These days, though, Shaq isn’t just making people laugh. He’s turned back the clock to a time many of us never thought he could get back to.

Sunday, he became just the fourth player over the age of 35 and the first since Michael Jordan in 2000 to score 33 or more points in consecutive games.

There’s no other way to put it: Shaq is back.

Posted by BigC:

Shaq is a funny guy. I wonder if Bosh will respond.

Posted by K22:

Posted by BigC:

Shaq is a funny guy. I wonder if Bosh will respond.

It would be in his best interests not to. You get into a war of words with Shaq, YOU WILL LOSE.

Posted by djsunyc:

shaq talking about dwight haowrd too:

``I can’t be impressed by something I invented in ‘92. I mean, you look at what (Howard) is doing, I’ve been there and done that. Every street he is driving down in Orlando, I have been on that street. Every night club, every restaurant, I have been there and done that. Until he wins three, four championships, then we can talk about him. But right now, he is just like every other big guy. You can run and jump, but you haven’t won yet.’’