The line between professional athletes and the sports media is getting thinner and thinner each year, with former players becoming analysts and current and former players starting podcasts to share their opinions about topics in the sports world.
One former professional athlete who has created quite a platform for himself during his post-playing career is Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, who is anything but shy when talking about sports topics that intrigue him.
Along with not backing down in any argument about the NBA or basketball in general, O’Neal has no problem blasting other media members for ill-advised takes or going a bit too far with a take.
On the Big Podcast with Shaq, O’Neal recently took aim at ESPN’s Chris Russo, otherwise known as Mad Dog, as he claims the longtime journalist and media personality has no idea what he’s talking about when it comes to sports via NBA Central.
“When it comes to sports, you don’t know what the **** you’re talking about,” O’Neal said. “I do.”
Shaq tells @MadDogUnleashed to shut the **** up
“When it comes to sports, you don’t know what the **** you’re talking about. I do.” 😳
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/gbzP5MWuOj) pic.twitter.com/7GnKfXWufh
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 6, 2024
It seems that many of the arguments or beef that get created in the media are the same kind of fight, with two sides trying to talk over one another and acting like they know everything.
This appears to be no different, and O’Neal didn’t prove anything with his comments other than stating the obvious that he was a professional athlete, while Russo will likely fire back at some point with an opinion of his own, which will stoke the beef as it goes back and forth until people no longer care where it goes.
NEXT: Austin Rivers Says Doc Rivers Had Interest In Coaching Celtics Again