Shaquille O’Neal’s Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech

[Applause] I mean Shaquille O'Neal to the Hall of Fame arjuna's Irving Alonzo Mourning Bill Russell and Isiah Thomas ladies and gentlemen Shaquille O'Neal [Applause] [Music] I love to thank this wonderful gentleman for bringing me in the Hall of Fame Committee asked me to choose one but as all the coaches know that have coached me I'm not good with listening to rules so I picked four you know before have done so much for me Alonzo Mourning arch nemesis arch nemesis turned great friend we both entered the league together in 1992 had finished battles together see don't go Mia dumped on him then a 2006 we joined forces together to win his first and my fourth title for the Miami Heat thank you so Kevin better without you Isaiah Thomas was a man who pulled me aside one day at the all-star game and explained to me how a team leader was supposed to carry yourself we now work together we're friends he's a business mentor thank you very much mr. Isaiah Bill Russell give it up to the greatest big man to ever play a game when I first met mr. Russell we talked for about three hours talked about his life his gang and what he had to endure as a player I realized then that I should never complain about anything mr. Russell's leaves a lot to me that you would honor me on this day with your presence thank you sir and last but not least julius dr. J Ervin hey I know he's your guy and yeah he's your guy but he's really my guy I always dreamed of being as good as dr. J I used to dream about this man so much that one time he broke into my college drawing-room and woke me up remember that dot I thought I was dead I was sleeping and a good-looking brother man put his hand on my chest I was like God I was like God I'm like Doc how the hell you get in my room bro I've dreamed about this man so much he moved next door to my parents in Orlando I've dreamed about the dog so much that he answered the phone when I need a sketball advice and now my idol walking me into the Hall of Fame thank you the Gregg Jim Bob men on one side May dusk if anyone can give another person is believing in them so I'd like to start by saying thank you to those who first believed in me our first thank you goes to my beautiful mother you'll see a little nail we started off alone together in Newark New Jersey with you being a single mom my first recollection was of you fighting with the bus driver because he believed he refused to believe that a two-year-old it could be this big but also I remember you ultimately convincing him with that right cross mama said knock you out and him holding his hand over his red right I agree saying yes man kids to an under do right for free I apologize though we were alone family was never too far away a great grandmother Siller O'Neal grandmother Odessa Chambliss uncle Roy on vivvy on Velma because of the love and generosity of family mom and I always had a place to lay our heads and a place where I was able to have my favorite food which happens to be everything then one day while working on City Hall mom met the man who will become the biggest male influence in my life sergeant Phillip authorized my father sergeant Phillip Harrison was a disciplinarian he was firm but fair it was my first exposure on how an effective leader operated and when I did listen I was introduced to his alter ego affectionately known as the belt he was a student of the game it's because of him I was introduced to the game and developed a love for basketball he realized that I was going to be a big guy so I remember he made me memorize three names and he would quiz me on them and his eyes these three guys were gods of the game Bill Russell give it up Chamberlain and Kareem abdul-jabbar and Bill again I'm honored that she was able to walk me in and I know they will to my father are in heaven smiling down upon us and if I know my father he's up there arguing with will chairman right now trying to convince will that his son is the most dumb bit big man that ever played a game my folks my first exposure to leadership was when I was given babysitting duties while mom and dad work and having to Corral my brothers and sisters in a way this is where I left my first corporation my sister Latifah was my VP of dishes my sister Aisha was the chief operating officer of bed-making and my brother Jamal was my director of leaves they would always report to me as I would be in deep thought eating bologna sandwiches and frosted flakes and watching General Hospital Luke and Laura elbow by the way but seriously guys love you thanks for always being there and be a part of this enjoyable ride I commit with the day that gave me great anxiety was when we left nope New Jersey and we ended up in while flicking West Germany it was really here to start up a series of events that will help create the character known as Scheck it's important to know that my roof started untraditionally with no fanfare so matter of fact I was cut by my coach freshmen and sophomore year and I thought about giving it up we could have all ended there but there were three people who would change the direction of my life Florida big marches before where are you why you got back there Fort McMurray was my first official coach we had a travel team similar than AAU and what I loved about Ford is he saw something in me that others didn't he gave me the freedom to emulate my favorite player dr. J yes people I was a 69 guard I wash the fish they're paid safe Pittsburgh 50 times undo all this moves next Arace Iceman no not George Gervin but Chris Woodard Chris where are you stand up Chris Chris what thank you Chris was a six foot seven army base legend this government leg moves earned him the nickname ice when Elvis didn't pick this scrawny 69 kidney who couldn't play with it and dunk it was Iceman who will not only picked me but push me to hone my skills and pursue my dream of becoming the NBA player thank you guys and last but not least daddy Dale Brown my father came in the house one day and I was sitting on the couch feet stinking and he just came and threw the paper get your ass up if there's a college coach Tubby he might get a scholarship come listen to him talk I was six nine sixteen couldn't play definitely wasn't going to college so I get up there but before I go up there I'm like you know what I'm talking to a college coach let me let me go in this dictionary and pull out a big word so I'll see you smart so the word I chose was extremities so coach Brown is talking and you know he's he gets done with the speech and I go up to him I said coach hi my name is Shaquille O'Neal sir can you send me a program to strengthen my lower extremities and coach Brown looked at me and he said sure how long you been in the Army soldier I said I'm not an army I'm I'm only 13 what what where's your father's like he's in the sauna I want to offer you a scholarship right now and you know he offered me a scholarship on that day coach thank you but before I made my mark at LSU my family and I would leave West Germany and moved to San Antonio Texas where I would attend high school it was here where I was given my first nickname coach Joel Smith and Dave Maduro would lovingly refer to me as big old sumbitch [Music] [Applause] they would find true story they will find unique and wonderful ways to express their love for example coach I need some shoes I can't afford no size 18 you big old Sloane [ __ ] coach what time is the game I don't know but your big old sumbitch you better get 40 points in 22 rebounds and when we want to stay child in 1989 with an impressive 36 no record they both called me and say you big ol sumbitch we love you I knew you can do a big old sumbitch actually thought my name was big old sumbitch I could make one town of the announces seven one from San Antonio Texas Shaquille O'Neal that's a big sumbitch it's a big old son [ __ ] right there [Applause] excuse my language children it's also here where I realized that cliche is true there is no I in team cooking and Ellen without Doug and Dan and Samberg Joe Cavallaro Darren Matthew Rob Dunn Eric Baker Dwayne Cyrus just to name a few and then it was time for college and as I mentioned before I didn't choose LSU LSU chose me there was no way I was letting down coach Brown but once again it was time to eat a big slice of humble pie as I played behind two of the greatest players ever to grace LSU history Chris Jackson I've moved up duro and Stanley Roberts these guys set the bar high I knew what I had to do to get to their level it's funny but one of my motivations was to hear what dick Vai tell would have to say about me and that day would happen December 1990 LSU versus Arizona dick vie tell comes in the locker room and gives a scintillating speech I don't know what scintillating mean he uses it so I may use it versus Arizona gives us a speech and then he pulled you to the side said Shaq they got Chris Mills they got Brian Williams they got Shawn ropes they I'm like number two you might not win but have a good game and in my mind I'm saying to myself thanks dick [Applause] thanks a lot dick but it was at that moment where I realized I could create my own destiny and thanks to mr. Fox hell I ended up with 28 points 19 rebounds and I don't think he realized how much he motivated me and pissed me off at the same time I do want to thank the people in Louisiana mr. mrs. Malley Tony and Dane Geno my favorite restaurant Webb's barbershop Shawn and Bud Connors and the rest of the family because I heard bits of I tell say that when she killed on the other side to leave LSU he will be the number one pick made me comfortable and try my luck in the MBA like to thank the DeVos family in Orlando Magic for drafting me in 1992 like to thank Dennis Scott he showed me what it was to be a professional I like to think pretty Hardaway we had some impressive years ago I'd like to thank Nick Anderson for missing those four free throws in a row of my first NBA Finals I'm just playing Nick but when I was writing this speech I was like you know what it'll be pretty funny if a terrible free-throw shooter criticized a bad one and then I said to myself damn I should have listened to Rick Barry but then I also said to myself you know what I rather be a terrible free-throw shooter that in about 15 minutes we'll be in the Hall of Fame so Rick thanks but no thanks too damn big to be shooting underhanded after orlando i ended up in la Kazam too was not yet in production but was in production was the beginning of a new lego dynasty first-fruit few years we're not easy filled with trials and tribulations with Jerry West and the bus family and their objective of rebuilding a dynasty knew exactly what to do bring in the Zen master Phil Jackson many may not know this but Phil always made us meditate in a room filled with sage Scottie knows what I'm talking about now I don't know what sage is but I know what it smells like so one day I'm sitting in a room me gpo Kobe I've never been high before but if this is how I think I was it so I'm sitting there and finally have a conversation with Phil I said Phil come on now and Phil says it's not it's the cousin of cannabis so I said okay Phil whatever that means so starting today Phil and I will be opening medicinal sage dispensaries all across the yes and turn we should be in that meeting like this like to thank Big Shot Bob Bradshaw Rick Fox Horace Grant tyronn lue Jeff and George Gary VD Mike Penberthy Dale Harris mr. Rambis miss bus and last but not least the great Kobe Bryant a guy that would push me Kobe Bryant a guy that would push me and help me win three titles in the row it also helped me get pushed off the team and traded to Miami [Applause] but it was in Miami where two of my favorite people helped me obtain my full championship Pat Riley and d-wave but I'd be remiss if I didn't name other key players James Posey Jason Williams Antoine Walker hall-of-famer Gary Payton stand-up Gary Udonis Haslem and hall-of-famer Alonzo Mourning Miami Beach will always be one of my favorite cities like to thank the Ariston family down to Luke and family Miami Beach PD Doral Police Department model Ramos Steven Henry prime 112 dr. cup and Barry University then after Miami I played in Phoenix like to thank Steve Kirk he was the first general manager to actually call me and say I was being traded all the other times I found out because allowed a Steven a sniff on ESPN [Applause] like thank Mike D'Antoni Steve Nash mari stottlemyre Phoenix training to staff and my neighborhood Florida Grant Hill at the Phoenix I played with the King and Cleveland after that I went to Boston and played with three future Hall of Famers Paul the truth Pearce Kevin big-ticket garnett and one of the greatest shoes of all time Ray Allen so it's been quite a career and nowaday what motivates me is applying the life lesson that I learned from my parents so long ago I learned to be giving happy to say that my mom and I are approaching our 25th year of shakka close you don't know a shocker closes I put on a Santa Claus thing and I go around and I pass out toys thank you happy to say my mom and I are we are approaching our 25th year of Shaq's giving so we go to homeless shelters and feed them what we would eat things give it you know gary fried chicken macaroni goes from cornbread on that bang some iced tea some collard greens happy to say that I built the state of our movie theaters in low income area where I was born and raised in nope New Jersey I also learned to work hard but not to take myself too seriously like sitting in a Buick I know I couldn't fit in hey they paid me three million dollars what you want me to say no oh yeah it was like three males like I fit I fit overall I've done my best to be a good role model to the youth and to those who would look up to me my message to the youth has always been the same never give up work hard and continue to learn not only do I talk to talk I try and walk the walk I left LSU in 1992 2000 I received my bachelor's I'm the mom said she's known Whoopi mama had an alter ego to it and the name was bigger built 2004 received my MBA in 2012 I received my doctorate in education speaking of the youth I have six wonderful children three daughters my oldest two here stand up baby mr. hero she doesn't know this yet but after she graduate from college she will be attending law school a mirror he needs to end up in a mirror who loves volleyball and basketball I think you should choose LSU your daddy knows some people had to make a call for you when I go to Mimi's volleyball games the parents hate me because I'll be telling spike in any feets baby I want all this bloody right here spike it anyplace love you meet me my youngest baby maiara stand up baby I don't like to put pressure on my babies but she works out with with my sons and I think it's fair to say one day if she continues me all will probably be the best woman's basketball player ever she's that good then I have three boys mouths standup miles doesn't know this but after college he will also be attending law school yes you are already paid for cuz already paid for in their Sherif stand up Sherif my son Shareef is already one of the top high school juniors in the country and I hope to see you up here one day son and last but not least my twin Shakir O'Neal stand up Shakir [Music] if you ever want to know how bad I was as a little kid you need to meet you here damn be bad we had a conference a couple weeks ago at a school and the principal was complaining and I just started laughing and he was like miss O'Neill is a funny I was like no it's me I seen him before his me what shakir is also a fabulous little player and it's on I hope to see you up here as well my kids are the best kids in the world because they understood that in Daddy's line of work I couldn't make many PTA meetings I miss some birthdays I missed some Christmases I missed some school place I like to think I'm never and ishani for being a wonderful mother stand up he's good [Music] you guys you guys have done a perfect job thank you but of two things my kids always knew one not to disturb daddy during that time on game day and they knew that daddy's love for them is unconditional and it still is and forever will always be love you guys [Applause] like to thank the fans mothers and daughters fathers and sons every time you ruled on us please know I heard you especially when I missed free throws shat bend your knees shan't concentrated Shack play defense shut up I found so much inspiration looking into your faces you guys were a part of every win thank you for being such a big part of our league appreciate you very much give yourself a round of applause gotta thank the commissioners - best commissioners and sports David Stern and Adam Silver stand-up guys here David and Adam stand up daddy's not here these guys have taken MBA to Heights that none of us could imagine and they've done it with integrity I'm proud of my relationship with them and David even though you suspended me ten times hold on to the amount of 4.2 million dollars I'll still love you David but if you want to write the check I'll take it tax-free please and lastly I have to acknowledge the people that have been particularly influential in my life my first agent Leonard armato who taught me how to maximize my potential thank you letter my uncle Mike Parrish my uncle Jerome for those who don't know Jerome Jerome was always the guy sitting behind me on the bench eating popcorn smacking me around bossing me around thanks something's wrong like to thank Lester knispel my business manager Denis Roach Gary Oberstein Perry Rogers Colin Smeaton Cynthia Atterbury kitty Chicago chef Tomas chef Alex Alex Miami Derek Mustafa Karen Rock Geena and a guy who cared for my father from from the time they both retired from the Army until he passed away uncle Burt Solomon thank you very much stand up uncle Burt my father couldn't be here with us tonight but I left the seat empty for and I know he's he's watching and I just want to say thank you thank you guys for everything today is a great day day of honor humility great sacrifice and resolve to keep on keeping on I like to think that the Hall of Fame Committee like to congratulate the other Hall of Famers aiu was a bad boy he was two quick stories you know i like to touch guards up when they come in the lane it's no secret I'm gonna put him on the ass I didn't know that so first time we played at a I told Gary I said let him go baseline I'm gonna touch him up I touched him up he came back the next five times so it got to be a point where we started playing chess if I touch him up too many times gonna be sitting over there next to sage smoking Phil and he'll take over the game or I just had to let him go so I let him go congratulations ai yai man yau-man was the first to block my shot three times in a row and people like to say he's seven seven but he's really like my favorite convenience store 7-eleven he was a great player and he tricked me three years I never spoke to Yahoo's I thought it was a language barrier there and then one game he hit me with a team Olajuwon being being fade away and I said hey nice move and he said thanks my brother you speak English he's like shet you never talk to me of course I speak English okay I'd like to thank David Levy and the Turner family for giving me this great life after basketball it's a true honor to be a part of this great fraternity at the age of 10 my father said son have you listened to me you told me this day would happen and hopefully when the father's quizzing this sound great big man of the game hopefully Shaquille O'Neal's name will be in the answer thank you very much for attending tonight's ceremony yes once a Shalom a wiedersehen Alex how you say bye in Spanish adios Salaam alaikum and peace love you guys very much thank you [Applause] you

Channel: OfficialHoophall

Views: 6,628,574

Rating: 4.9082365 out of 5

Keywords: Shaquille O’Neal, LSU, Orlando Magic, Basketball Center, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Inside the NBA, TNT Basketball, Basketball, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement

Id: C-IiiFvfdVo

Length: 30min 2sec (1802 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 09 2016

Reddit Comments

[u/Breaktheglass]

I know absolutely nothing about basketball. That was the most entertaining 30 minutes I have spent in months.

[u/ecnal321]

shaq is one of my favorite people on this earth. happy for him!