Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Shaquille O'Neal continues to bristle at reports that Kobe Bryant suggested to police that Shaq payed hush money to women, calling him a "clown" and a "joke." Meanwhile, in more constructive basketball news, Dorrell Wright -- yes, that Tracy McGrady gonna-be -- has already put on four pounds, all muscle. Perhaps he will be readier to contribute even earlier than expected.
"You know what?" asked Shaq rhetorically, about Kobe. "He just let his true colors out, baby." Shaq then proceeded to explain what you know: "Everybody knows about what type of cat he is now. He's a clown. He's the only one buying love right now. I don't need that. I'm the Diesel. I don't need that stuff.''
It seems like the Diesel's feelings were hurt by the allegations, and legitimately so, and he has found an excuse to berate his former teammate about the one issue that had, until this point, been off-limits to the moral giant. Shaq had supported Kobe in his legal woes since the beginning, saying vaguely general things like he hopes he comes out of it okay, it's a tough thing for anyone to go through, etc.
Now, all bets are off. Now that it's public what Kobe said to the cops about Shaq -- and don't think for a moment Shaq is just finding that out now, he knew it a year ago -- Shaq wants to restore his image. No way, he is probably thinking to himself, am I gonna let Kobe drag down my image, endorsements, etc., with him for his issues.
The more significant basketball news may be the progress of Dorrell Wright. Adding muscle is every high school rookie's top priority. Kendrick Perkins of the Boston Celtics spent essentially all of last year bulking up. Robert Swift of Seattle is also expected to take about a year to a year and a half to get the required muscle. It may not be as important to swingmen like Wright as it is to centers, but girth, weight, and strength are important there too.
Wright says he has noticed a difference in strength already on the practice court. ''Guys on the team are telling me how much stronger they see I'm getting just from backing people down and things like that,'' Wright toldThe Miami Herald. (See Newslines below.)
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Ira Winderman ofThe South Florida Sun-Sentinelwrites: "The guy's a joke," the Heat's prized offseason acquisition said Thursday, after a photo shoot at the Mandarin Oriental hotel on Brickell Key. "I'm just trying to tell the world that the whole time, but just because he hits a couple of shots, everybody thinks he's a great person. He's a clown."... O'Neal said negotiations have yet to begin regarding a contract extension. He can opt out of his contract after this season or extend a deal that would pay $32 million for 2005-06... He said he no longer expects a possible reunion with Malone this season in Miami... He said he is down to 335 pounds, after arriving in South Florida in July at 355 pounds. In order to meet Riley's desires for a leaner build, he said, for the first time in years, he bypassed weightlifting this summer in favor aerobic conditioning.
Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: A day after dismissing allegations from Kobe Bryant that he has paid up to $1 million in hush money to various women, Heat center Shaquille O'Neal spewed more venom toward his former teammate... Heat rookie Dorrell Wright said he has put on about four pounds of muscle and has noticed a difference in strength during pick-up games with teammates.