Add Another Steal to Shaq’s Career…But Not the Good Kind

Published on: 21st August, 2009 @ 11:20 am by JeffG

So there’s this new show, of which I haven’t watched, called Shaq Vs.  Maybe you’ve heard of it.  It pits NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal against athletes from other sports.

Interesting…meh.

Watchable…probably not.

Stolen..uh oh.

Seems that Shaq may or may not have come up with the idea for “Shaq Vs.” all on his own.

Shortly after being traded to Phoenix in February 2008, Steve Nash, yes that Steve Nash, mentioned to his new teammate about a reality show he was looking into.  The show was to feature Nash taking on pro athletes in their own sports…wait, what?

If that sounds way, way too familiar, then you must’ve seen the premiere episode of “Shaq Vs.,” you know, that new show featuring Shaq taking on pro athletes in their own sports.

I guess Shaq mentioned to his teammates in the 2008-09 season about a new show he was going to be starring in where he would compete against other athletes in their own sports…to which Nash replied (according to one Suns representative), “You mean the idea you stole from me?”

So Nash sought out an entertainment lawyer, and yadda yadda yadda, he’s now an executive producer on Shaq’s crappy new show…and a few dollars richer I’m sure.  Except that a source close to Nash said that the guard was pissed at Shaq, and questioned the big man’s integrity.

And we think that the underlying tension between Nash and Shaq over the show idea probably caused some of the on-court issues that led to the Suns missing the playoffs this year.  But with Shaq Cleveland bound, and Nash signing a contract extension, expect the team chemistry to be 100 times better this year.

Even though the supposed conflict between Nash and Shaq is finished, the Big Aristotle isn’t out of legal trouble yet.  Author Todd Gallagher claims the show is a rip-off of his book, “Andy Roddick Beat Me With a Frying Pan,” and Mr. Gallagher may be pursuing legal action.

Not that it matters much anyway…from the sounds of it, “Shaq Vs.” isn’t long for the airwaves, after pulling in a meager 2.7 rating locally in the Phoenix area.

Methinks “Nash Vs.” would’ve done a helluva lot better than that. [Arizona Republic]

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