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Shaq's Superstar Arrival in Cleveland
Shaquille O'Neal has officially joined his Cleveland teammates. Comment below on Shaq's superstar arrival to the Cavs.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - -
Appropriate for a 15-time NBA All-Star, the formal arrival of Shaquille O'Neal in Cleveland was a larger-than-life event with school kids, season ticket holders, corporate sponsors and media from across the country all in attendance to welcome him at the Cavaliers practice facility in Independence.
Children from St. Martin de Porres family center lined up to high five the NBA superstar as he entered the gymnasium. Jeff English, the center's program director, says many of the children could not sleep the night before because they were so excited about the event.
Shaquille O'Neal is coming to the Cavaliers from the Phoenix Suns in a trade that sent Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix in exchange for the 37-year-old, four-time NBA Champion.
With the star power O'Neal brings to Cleveland, many of the kids at the practice facility to welcome him struggle to say who they now think will be the superstar in the Cavs lineup, Lebron James or the player everyone will know by first name only.
Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert was first to welcome Shaq, handing him a pair of yellow snow boots, remarking that the superstar has never before played in a cold weather city.
Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry went on to say, "We are obviously excited. We have been pretty good for the last several years, we can always get better, and I truly believe Shaq is going to be a part of making that go further."
Head Coach Mike Brown echoed Ferry statements, "Shaq is a rare and unique force and when you have an opportunity that doesn't happen often. When you have the ability to add someone of that culture you have to do it and I am excited to have him and his family here."
A formal jersey presentation came from the kids from St. Martin de Porres.
O'Neal will wear #33 and feels he has plenty of gas left in the tank for a championship run.
"I think I have a lot left, there are only four or five pretty good centers in the league and I am one of them," said O'Neal, "I put Lebron up there with Tim Duncan as one of the most intelligent players in the game. I have been here 17 years but I think I have missed 3 years with injuries, so if you do the math, I have a lot left."
O'Neal's interest in law enforcement quickly became a topic at the press conference.
"Everyone knows I'm very interested in law enforcement and when the time comes we will have a conversation, but right now my motto is very simple, win a ring for the king".
Among those in the crowd is U.S. Marshal Peter Eliott of the Northern District of Ohio and Cuyahoga County Sheriff Robert Reed who says he was contacted on Wednesday by the Cavaliers about formally making Shaq a special deputy in Cuyahoga County.
"What could it hurt," Reed tells FOX 8 News.
O'Neal is a graduate of a Florida police academy where he was formally deputized and Reed says his paperwork was transferred to Phoenix when Shaq was there.
The Sheriff says he has started the process of having O'Neal's paperwork sent to Ohio.
"He takes this very seriously," said Reed.
When asked how he envisions the superstar center helping law enforcement locally the Sheriff tells FOX 8 he will have to sit down with Shaq and see what he wants to do.
"It depends, if he wants to be a spokesperson for the department that's one thing, if he wants to get out there and 'mix it up' that's different."
But O'Neal wasn't brought to Cleveland to fight crime, he was brought here to win a championship.
"I'm not going to do it by myself, Lebron is not going to do it by himself, it is going to take a team and city effort, but all of the pieces are here," said O'Neal, "My sons actualy love LeBron more than they love me, kind of jealous, but it will be ok."
O'Neal has one year remaining on his contract and when asked if his stay in Cleveland will be limited to one-year.
"We are not going to negotiate through the media, but if they offer me a $35 million extension, I'll sign it right now."
Children from St. Martin de Porres family center lined up to high five the NBA superstar as he entered the gymnasium. Jeff English, the center's program director, says many of the children could not sleep the night before because they were so excited about the event.
Shaquille O'Neal is coming to the Cavaliers from the Phoenix Suns in a trade that sent Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix in exchange for the 37-year-old, four-time NBA Champion.
With the star power O'Neal brings to Cleveland, many of the kids at the practice facility to welcome him struggle to say who they now think will be the superstar in the Cavs lineup, Lebron James or the player everyone will know by first name only.
Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert was first to welcome Shaq, handing him a pair of yellow snow boots, remarking that the superstar has never before played in a cold weather city.
Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry went on to say, "We are obviously excited. We have been pretty good for the last several years, we can always get better, and I truly believe Shaq is going to be a part of making that go further."
Head Coach Mike Brown echoed Ferry statements, "Shaq is a rare and unique force and when you have an opportunity that doesn't happen often. When you have the ability to add someone of that culture you have to do it and I am excited to have him and his family here."
A formal jersey presentation came from the kids from St. Martin de Porres.
O'Neal will wear #33 and feels he has plenty of gas left in the tank for a championship run.
"I think I have a lot left, there are only four or five pretty good centers in the league and I am one of them," said O'Neal, "I put Lebron up there with Tim Duncan as one of the most intelligent players in the game. I have been here 17 years but I think I have missed 3 years with injuries, so if you do the math, I have a lot left."
O'Neal's interest in law enforcement quickly became a topic at the press conference.
"Everyone knows I'm very interested in law enforcement and when the time comes we will have a conversation, but right now my motto is very simple, win a ring for the king".
Among those in the crowd is U.S. Marshal Peter Eliott of the Northern District of Ohio and Cuyahoga County Sheriff Robert Reed who says he was contacted on Wednesday by the Cavaliers about formally making Shaq a special deputy in Cuyahoga County.
"What could it hurt," Reed tells FOX 8 News.
O'Neal is a graduate of a Florida police academy where he was formally deputized and Reed says his paperwork was transferred to Phoenix when Shaq was there.
The Sheriff says he has started the process of having O'Neal's paperwork sent to Ohio.
"He takes this very seriously," said Reed.
When asked how he envisions the superstar center helping law enforcement locally the Sheriff tells FOX 8 he will have to sit down with Shaq and see what he wants to do.
"It depends, if he wants to be a spokesperson for the department that's one thing, if he wants to get out there and 'mix it up' that's different."
But O'Neal wasn't brought to Cleveland to fight crime, he was brought here to win a championship.
"I'm not going to do it by myself, Lebron is not going to do it by himself, it is going to take a team and city effort, but all of the pieces are here," said O'Neal, "My sons actualy love LeBron more than they love me, kind of jealous, but it will be ok."
O'Neal has one year remaining on his contract and when asked if his stay in Cleveland will be limited to one-year.
"We are not going to negotiate through the media, but if they offer me a $35 million extension, I'll sign it right now."
