http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...icle-1.1775087


DETROIT — Ex-NBA star Shaquille O'Neal has apologized to a Detroit man with a rare disorder for making fun of his appearance in an online post.
Best known as Shaq, the former professional basketball player announced the apology in a Twitter message Tuesday.


How do folks view the situation?

So far Shaqs response has included an apology,

"Made a new friend today when I called and apologized to Jahmel Binion. Great dude," the tweet said.

Should Shaq go further then an apology?

I think he was thinking "Hey I can get some cheap laughs by making fun of this funny-looking dude." I doubt if he knew the guy was disabled or had a medical condition. At least I hope he didn't. He seems to have genuinely realized he was in the wrong, as opposed to saying "I'm sorry if anybody was offended."

"#alwayslearning #MYBADCUZ" <- obvious proof of Shaq's heart of gold

While I don't think O'Neal should necessarily give him anything, the top 2 options would be WAY better than if he started and threw a ton of money at some BS anti-bullying campaign to make himself look better.

That he's an idiot who has never been funny unless he's mocking other people. Shaq is a big dumb bully who gets by because he has enough charisma to mask his true nature.

I'll tell you what, brother, Mr. O'Neil should let this gentleman enter his dojo and become his apprentice. Once the man with the facial disorder learns the lethal secrets of the Shaq-Fu fighting technique, no one will dare make fun of him ever again. Whatchoo gonna dooooo? When a Shaq-Attack comes down on you????

such as? maybe they should make him sell his NBA team?

Shaq made a mistake, but I won't rip up my Shaq rookie cards because of it.

Maybe if shaq employed a bunch of kids with ectodermal dysplasia there might be some REAL OUTRAGE here.

I bet shaq has lots of friends with ectodermal dysplasia, he lets them use his bathroom and everything.

We just can't have people with ectodermal dysplasia looking for SPECIAL FAVORS, that's all. They can go have their ectodermal dysplasia in the privacy of their own homes, nobody wants to take that away from them.

where is the "ban OP" poll option?

This won't be the first mistake Shaq makes or the last. Maybe he'll float the victim some Kazaam money but I don't think he is obligated to do so.

Why is shaq supposed to write this guy a check, exactly? Do we think this donald sterling thing would have blown over if he had just written Magic a check for the emotional distress?

Shaq is loaded and owes the guy something more then an apology, and because its a feel good thing to do.


Shaq publicly made fun of some individual dude, sterlings racist rant was private. Both actions were wrong, IMO. That being said I'm more surprised at Shaqs comments because they were public.

So if a rich person insults somebody they have to pay up because they're rich?

Are u sure u aren't talking about yourself?

It's within the realm of possibility that Shaq saw a funny looking pic and decided to imitate like making fun of duckface and it went wrong. Maybe he is also a dick. Does Shaq hate, mentally or emotionally, the disabled? Takes a lot more than a silly face to move that needle.

To play the game, does Anne Coulter hate people with Downs Syndrome?

Of course he isn't obligated to give the guy money, nor would I flame Shaq for not doing so…

But if I did something heinous like this and I was worth upwards of 350 MILLIONZ dollars, I'd at least pay to have the kids teeth fixed and probably kick him something just to be charitable and help out since he lost his job because of his condition.

I mean many posters here think the rich (white) should pay up more anyway to the government to help the unwashed masses. So why are people so shy to try and get Shaq to force up some of his money that can help the kid out some while it being an irrelevant amount to Shaq?

It is kind of strange hasn't done anything, because I have noticed he has been charitable in the past, paying for George Mikan's funeral in one instance.

$1,000,000, no way, that is too much. Maybe 20k? That allows the kid to get his teeth fixed and help him and his dad out a little. Would totally be a cool thing and negate the bad taste from him doing what he did.

An apology is enough, but at the same time it isn't.

I say he gives him a copy of ShaqFu and calls it a day.

I control f'd "Muslim" and got zero hits. WTF is going on in this thread and why is thekid posting in it?

Damn, my time on 2+2 is going to secure my retirement.

Lol at calling Dids an idiot, a bully or someone with charisma... Wrong on all three counts...

ZOMG I'm scared. Except for the typical libertarian-type derp under the Strikes... I agree with Silver_Man2. Even better... you'd think Shaq and/or his commercial sponsors could find a job for the dude he dissed.

Give the kid an NBA contract bc of obvious racism!
--overheard from the guy who started the NBA affirmative action thread

There has never been a video game worse than Shaq-Fu...that crap ruined my christmas