By Adongo Ogony May 21, 2024
Shaquille O’Neal Meets Kenyan President Ruto Amid State Visit to the US
Shaquille O’Neal almost has a penchant for this. He appears to frequently come across prominent figures almost by chance. Just a year ago, the Big Aristotle sat with Australian President Anthony Albanese to talk about the government’s referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
His recent encounter with Kenyan President Ruto and the First Lady also has the netizens awestruck. William and Rachel Ruto began their historic US State visit on May 20. However, just upon their arrival in Atlanta, both landed upon the opportunity to meet the basketball legend, O’Neal.
Both were present at the Martin Luther King Jnr National Historical Park in Atlanta. Upon meeting, the Los Angeles Lakers legend shared a few pleasantries with President Ruto. As the media released the clip, fans quickly began to reshare it on social media.
While the conversation wasn’t heard, both were seemingly delighted to meet each other and shook hands. Following this, President Ruto can be seen gently tapping the 7’1 tall giant’s shoulder as he and the First Lady posed alongside Shaquille O’Neal. For the Kenyan leader, this was his first state visit to the United States in twenty years.
The figure of the NBA legend leaves Kenyan President William Ruto in awe.
by Vaseline
Kenyan President William Ruto literally found himself in the shadow of an NBA legend.
The one problem with Shaq is that he makes you look small when you are standing next to him. It is not his wish but that is the way it is. Shaq is a giant physically and in many other ways because he speaks his mind with no fear at all. He made so many players in the NBA look even smaller as he just dunked over them and knocked many of them down as he was getting that airlift to the basketball net. In the end he won four NBA championships.
But I started loving Shaq when he joined Orlando Magic in his first year of basketball. There was a crazy player with him there called Penny Hardaway and basketball fans thought they will win the championship as one of the youngest teams in the NBA.
They were both the youngest players at the NBA at the time and they were terrific. Shaq could dunk on anyone including Charlie Berkley a very big dude then at the Suns and Patrick Ewing at the New York Knicks. The one guy who gave him trouble was Hakeem Olajuwon our African hero at the NBA with Houston Rockets who beat Berkey Suns three games in a row to win the championship. Hakeem was of one the few NBA stars taller than Shaq and very good at just about everything in basketball.
Charles Barkley
Patrick Ewing: The Knicks’ Uncrowned King
Patrick Ewing was not just a great basketball player but also a great leader. He led the Knicks to two NBA Finals appearances, and he was named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times. However, Ewing’s impact on the Knicks and their fans went beyond his on-court accomplishments.
Patrick Ewing During A Basketball Match
Patrick Ewing was one of the most beloved figures in New York sports history. He spent 15 seasons with the Knicks, leading them to two NBA Finals appearances. Although he was never able to win a championship, Ewing remains a beloved figure in the city. He is considered by many to be the Knicks
In 1993-94, Hakeem Olajuwon became the first player to be named MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in the same season.
During his 18-year career, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest
But when Shaq went to Lakers he did his thing there with Kobe Bryant. Nobody could stop him.
It was very nice for Shaq to meet the Kenya delegation at the Martin Luther King Centre because that guy loves black people and he is always on the line against racism in the USA. When black people in the US were facing violence from Trump racists in 2018/19 during the “Black Lives Matter” protests Shaq went into full attack in defense of African Americans annoying very many right wing media types. Michael Jordan, one of the greatest in basketball players, would never do that. Shaq has no fear about that and if anybody is mad wit him that is fine and he will go on and defend his people.
Michael Jordan was so angry Charles Barkley won MVP that he made former friend pay the ultimate price and changed NBA history for Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan knew he was the better player.
So when Charles Barkley was named the MVP of the 1993 NBA season, the league’s reigning champion had another name to cross off his list.
Jordan’s Bulls had already gone back-to-back as Chicago began constructing a dynasty.
After joining the high-scoring Suns via a blockbuster trade in the summer of 1992, The Round Mound of Rebound guided Phoenix to the best record in the NBA (62-20) and was rewarded for his hardwood dominance.
“The MVP always goes to the guy who had the best regular season,” Barkley said. “I had the best regular season. We had the best record in the NBA.
“Obviously, Michael was a better player than me. But that year, during the regular season, I played better than he did.”
The never-before-told and completely fictional “what if” alternate reality starring Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway
Shaq and Penny.
What are the first two words that pop into your head whenever you hear those names?
In this round of mid-to-late 90s NBA word association, there’s a decent chance your mind immediately drifts to “What If?”
And for good reason! The thought of Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway staying together (and staying healthy) floods my brain with so many disparate thoughts about what might have been that it’s impossible to not to get lost at sea; rudderless in a swirling storm of waves tossing you every which way into the abyss of an alternate NBA reality.
You’ve surely thought “what if” with regards to Orlando’s would-be dynastic duo but have you ever sat down to ponder what exactly that “what if” might have looked like?
One of the great things Shaq has done is that being on TV for the last 10 or so years he talks about America with no fear and people love him because he is always laughing and making jokes.
America has a new envoy to Cuba: Shaquille O’Neal
06/24/2016
The United States is staging a Shaq Attack on Cuba.
Shaquille O’Neal, the legendary basketball star, has been named a State Department sports envoy to the island nation. His role is part of U.S. efforts to increase cultural exchanges with Cuba in the wake of the two countries’ restoration of diplomatic ties nearly a year ago.
Just about a week ago Shaq got me into a big fight with the kids in my family who are basketball fans. As Canadians they love their rising superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and they think he should be the MVP of the NBA in 2024. There are two others but they really like this guy.
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, seen above in February 2024, has quickly made a home in Oklahoma City as the leader of an ascendant young Thunder squad.
So Shaq gets into a heated argument on TV with Shannon Sharpe who is another really good media person and was an NFL player who won championships. Shaq was mad that the Canadian was not named the MVP and instead it went to Nicola Jokic of Denver Nuggets who has won it three times in a row.
Then Shannon Sharpe told Shaq that he is against Jokic because he has won more MVPs in a row than he did. Shaq went mad. He told Shannon that he has more money than him and doesn’t want to listen to his nonsense. I told the kids Shaq was wrong to say that even though he supports their Canadian hero. The kids told me if Shaq is richer than the other guy what is wrong with him saying that.
I know the young people with me and I know how much they love sports and their country so I figured arguing with them was going to be completely useless so I just shut up.
The Real Deal 