Editing Shaquille O'Neal (section)

===Media personality===
[[File:Shaquille O'Neal 1998.jpg|thumb|O'Neal in 1998]]
O'Neal called himself "The Big [[Aristotle]]" and "Hobo Master" for his composure and insights during interviews. Journalists and others gave O'Neal several nicknames, including "Shaq", "The Diesel", "[[Shaq Fu]]", "The Big Daddy", "[[Superman]]", "The Big [[Agave]]", "The Big [[Cactus]]", "The Big Shaqtus", "The Big [[Galactus]]", "[[Wilt Chamberlain|Wilt Chamberneezy]]", "The Big [[Mikhail Baryshnikov|Baryshnikov]]", "The Real Deal", "The Big [[Shamrock]]", "The Big [[Leprechaun]]", "Shaqovic",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.com/sports/la-sp-briefing12-2008jun12,0,7253710.story |title=Bank shot could pay off for Shaq |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Mike Bresnahan & Robyn Norwood |date=June 12, 2007 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-date=July 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712070934/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-briefing12-2008jun12,0,7253710.story |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/jack_mccallum/news/2002/06/12/insider/ |work=CNNSI.com |author=Jack McCallum |title=Inside the NBA – SI's Jack McCallum: Sizing up Shaq |date=December 10, 2002 |access-date= March 2, 2007 |archive-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322190038/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/jack_mccallum/news/2002/06/12/insider/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and "The Big Conductor".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lowpostnews.com/celtics/shaq-diesel-never-say-never-again12182010/ |title=Shaq Diesel: Never Say Never Again |work=the low post news |author=Geof Harris |date=December 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217165746/http://www.lowpostnews.com/celtics/shaq-diesel-never-say-never-again12182010/ |archive-date=December 17, 2013}}</ref> Although he was a favorite interviewee of the press, O'Neal was sensitive and often went weeks without speaking.<ref name= heisler_06012011/> When he did not want to speak with the press, he employed an interview technique whereby, sitting in front of his cubicle, he would murmur in his low-pitched voice.<ref name= heisler_06012011>{{cite news |last=Heisler |first=Mark |title=Shaquille O'Neal was not always the most dominating, but always the most fun |date=June 1, 2011 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://latimes.com/sports/la-sp-heisler-shaquille-oneal-20110602,0,6780278,full.column |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606042836/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-heisler-shaquille-oneal-20110602,0,6780278,full.column |archive-date=June 6, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[[#oneal2011|O'Neal, MacMullan 2011]], p.205</ref>

During the 2000 [[Screen Actors Guild]] strike, O'Neal performed in a commercial for [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]. O'Neal was fined by the union for crossing the [[picketing (protest)|picket line]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2000/biz/news/admen-strike-back-against-sag-aftra-1117782988/ |title=Admen strike back against SAG/AFTRA |work=Variety |author=Dave McNary |date=June 23, 2000 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-date=January 30, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100130102351/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117782988.html?categoryid=18&cs=1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/801470.stm |work=BBC News |title=Sports stars break Hollywood strike |date=June 22, 2000 |access-date=November 11, 2007 |archive-date=May 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502123826/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/801470.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

O'Neal's humorous and sometimes incendiary comments fueled the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]' long-standing rivalry with the [[Sacramento Kings]]; O'Neal frequently referred to the Sacramento team as the "Queens".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/11/05/kings-come-out-fighting/|title=Kings Come Out Fighting|author=Tim Povtak|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=November 5, 2002|access-date=December 9, 2011|archive-date=June 6, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606230641/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2002-11-05/sports/0211050282_1_sacramento-kings-christie-lakers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2003-04-19/sports/25477258_1_chris-webber-shaquille-o-neal-los-angeles-lakers|title=Kings Eyeing Crown, not L.A.|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|author=Marc Narducci|date=April 19, 2003|access-date=December 9, 2011|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055744/http://articles.philly.com/2003-04-19/sports/25477258_1_chris-webber-shaquille-o-neal-los-angeles-lakers|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.sacbee.com/sports/kings/archives/2011/06/shaq-was-more-t.html|newspaper=Sacramento Bee|title=Shaq was more than a dominant player|date=June 1, 2011|access-date=December 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607195519/http://blogs.sacbee.com/sports/kings/archives/2011/06/shaq-was-more-t.html|archive-date=June 7, 2012}}</ref> During the 2002 victory parade, O'Neal declared that Sacramento would never be the capital of California,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/06/top-5-shaq-moments-as-a-laker.html|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Mark Medina|title=Top 5 Shaq moments as a Laker|date=June 2, 2011|access-date=December 9, 2011|archive-date=August 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826042509/http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/06/top-5-shaq-moments-as-a-laker.html}}</ref> after the Lakers beat the Kings in a tough seven-game series en route to its third championship with O'Neal.

He also received media flak for [[Ching chong|mocking Chinese people]] when interviewed about newcomer center [[Yao Ming]]. O'Neal told a reporter, "you tell Yao Ming, ching chong yang, wah, ah so."<ref>{{cite news 
 |title=Shaq's Apology Not Good Enough 
 |first=Emil 
 |last=Guillermo 
 |author-link=Emil Guillermo 
 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Shaq-s-Apology-Not-Good-Enough-2640506.php
 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle 
 |date=January 14, 2003 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |quote=Perhaps we should put it in terms Shaq might understand: If a white comedian imitated Shaq by making monkey sounds while eating fried chicken and watermelon, would the point be clearer? 
|url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030203034/http://articles.sfgate.com/2003-01-14/news/17470622_1_yao-ming-birthday-party-asian-american-studies
 |archive-date=October 30, 2017 }}</ref> O'Neal later said it was [[locker room]] humor and he meant no offense. Yao believed that O'Neal was joking, but he said many Asians wouldn't see the humor.<ref>{{cite news
 |title        = Sports of The Times; Fans in Shanghai Are Voting in the Mainstream
 |first        = George
 |last         = Vecsey
 |author-link  = George Vecsey
 |url          = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/12/sports/sports-of-the-times-fans-in-shanghai-are-voting-in-the-mainstream.html
 |newspaper    = The New York Times
 |date         = January 12, 2003
 |access-date  = August 25, 2010
 |quote        = Yao quickly said: 'The world is getting smaller, and I think it's important to have a greater understanding of other cultures. I believe Shaquille O'Neal was joking, but I think that a lot of Asian people don't understand that kind of joke.'
 |archive-date = May 26, 2013
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130526152619/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/12/sports/sports-of-the-times-fans-in-shanghai-are-voting-in-the-mainstream.html
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> Yao joked, "Chinese is hard to learn. I had trouble with it when I was little."<ref>{{cite magazine
 |title        = Tall tale? Shaq says Yao comments were said in jest
 |first        = Tim
 |last         = Brown
 |url          = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2003/01/10/shaq_yao_ap/
 |magazine     = Sports Illustrated
 |author2      = ((Associated Press))
 |date         = January 10, 2003
 |access-date  = August 25, 2010
 |quote        = "Chinese is hard to learn. I had trouble with it when I was little", Yao joked.
 |archive-date = March 30, 2014
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140330084618/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2003/01/10/shaq_yao_ap/
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref> O'Neal later expressed regret for the way he treated Yao early in his career.<ref>{{Cite news| last = Wilborn| first = Michael| title = Can't overestimate Yao Ming's impact| publisher = ESPN| date = December 20, 2010| url = https://www.espn.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=wilbon/101220| access-date = March 13, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402201354/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=wilbon%2F101220| quote=Shaquille O'Neal once told me he hated that he hazed Yao a little bit early in his career. | url-status = live| archive-date = April 2, 2015}}</ref>

During the 2005 NBA playoffs, O'Neal compared his poor play to [[Erick Dampier]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2005/news/story?id=2059037|work=ESPN|title=Shaq: 'I've been playing like Erick Dampier'|date=May 13, 2005|access-date=December 9, 2011|archive-date= October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011042928/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2005/news/story?id=2059037|url-status=live}}</ref> a [[Dallas Mavericks]] center who had failed to score a single point in one of their recent games. The quip inspired countless citations and references by announcers during those playoffs, though Dampier himself offered little response to the insult. The two would meet in the [[2006 NBA Finals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2006/|work=ESPN|title=NBA.com: Finals 2006|year=2006|access-date=December 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222144215/http://www.nba.com/finals2006/|archive-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref>

O'Neal was very vocal with the media, often making jabs at Laker teammate Kobe Bryant. In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, he responded, "I'm sorry, who?" and continued to pretend that he did not know who Bryant was until well into the 2005–06 season.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1187093/2/index.htm An A-to-Z remembrance of Shaq's career—basketball and (mostly) otherwise] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130119182433/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1187093/2/index.htm |date=January 19, 2013 }} – Sports Illustrated, CNN</ref>

O'Neal also appeared on television on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (he was initially picked to host the second episode of season 24 in 1998, but had to back down due to scheduling conflicts, being replaced by [[Kelsey Grammer]]; however, he did appear in two sketches during the episode) and in 2007 hosted ''Shaq's Big Challenge'', a reality show on ABC in which he challenged Florida kids to lose weight and stay in shape.

When the Lakers faced the Heat on January 16, 2006, O'Neal and Bryant made headlines by engaging in handshakes and hugs before the game, an event that was believed to signify the end of the so-called "[[Bryant–O'Neal feud]]" that had festered since O'Neal left Los Angeles. O'Neal was quoted as saying that he accepted the advice of NBA legend [[Bill Russell]] to make peace with Bryant.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260116013 |work=ESPN |title=Miami vs. Los Angeles – Recap |date=January 16, 2006 |agency= Associated Press |access-date=May 13, 2006 |archive-date=June 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614034500/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260116013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On June 22, 2008, O'Neal [[Freestyle rap|freestyled]] a [[diss rap]] about Bryant in a New York club. While rapping, O'Neal blamed Bryant for his divorce from his wife Shaunie and claims to have received a [[vasectomy]], as part of a rhyme. He also taunted Bryant for not being able to win a championship without him. O'Neal led the audience to mockingly chant several times "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tmz.com/2008/06/23/shaq-attacks-kobe-you-ruined-my-marriage/|work=TMZ|title=Shaq Attacks Kobe: You Ruined My Marriage|date=June 23, 2008|access-date=December 9, 2011|archive-date= December 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207081323/http://www.tmz.com/2008/06/23/shaq-attacks-kobe-you-ruined-my-marriage|url-status=live}}</ref> O'Neal justified his act by saying "I was freestyling. That's all. It was all done in fun. Nothing serious whatsoever. That is what MCs do. They freestyle when called upon. I'm totally cool with Kobe. No issue at all."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=3458056 |title=Shaq takes a freestyle swipe at Kobe |work= ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=June 23, 2008 |access-date=June 25, 2008 |archive-date=June 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630003446/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=3458056 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although even other exponents of [[hip hop music|hip hop]], such as [[Snoop Dogg]], [[Nas]] and Cory Gunz, agreed with O'Neal,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1589908/20080624/id_0.jhtml |title= Snoop Dogg, Nas, Cory Gunz See Nothing Wrong With Shaquille O'Neal's Anti-Kobe Freestyle |publisher= | website =MTV.com |first= Shaheem |last=Reid |date=June 24, 2008 |access-date=June 25, 2008 |archive-date=September 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928182005/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1589908/20080624/id_0.jhtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]], Arizona Sheriff [[Joe Arpaio]] expressed his intention to relieve O'Neal of his Maricopa County sheriff posse badge, due to "use of a racially derogatory word and other foul language". The racial quote from his song was "it's like a white boy trying to be more [[nigga]] than me."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/23/sports/s170747D71.DTL |title=Shaq booted from sheriff's 'posse' for Kobe rap |agency=Associated Press |date=June 24, 2008 | work=San Francisco Chronicle }} {{Dead link|date=January 2012|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>