Shaquille O'Neal's Newest Nickname: The Big Mouth

So not only is he taking a shot at his former coach (who he once called "the great Pat Riley"), he is also dissing Howard who has nothing to do with him. What good does this comment do? And seriously, is Superman still yours Shaq? You can barely get off of the ground anymore, nonetheless fly.

But no, Howard isn't the only person Shaq has talked about. Last month, he made comments about another top big man. This time, his target was Boston Celtic forward, Kevin Garnett. During an interview, he said he would put teammate Amare Stoudemire ahead of Kevin Garnett in terms of the MVP race. That's understandable considering most guys name a teammate if you ask for their MVP vote.

But Shaq had to keep talking. "Garnett doesn't play defense," said O'Neal. What? The defensive anchor of one of the league's top defensive teams doesn't play defense? Has Shaq been watching the same NBA that the rest of us have this season?

Sometimes I wonder if Shaq just says things to be controversial. Is he trying to get attention and stir the pot? Does he like to see his name in the headlines? Or is he dead serious and just jealous that he's no longer on the level of guys like Howard and Garnett? Does it bother him that he isn't the cornerstone of a franchise like he once was?

All I know is that I used to love Shaq interviews. Back when he was funny and personable, I would just watch him and laugh. But now, when I look at his recent comments, I see a man with an extremely big ego who needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut. 

In kindergarten, we learn the phrase, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it at all." Most of us grow up, sharpen our social skills and learn how to interact with others appropriately. But with Shaq, the only thing that seems to have aged is his body and as his talent deteriorates, he seems to be taking out his anger on others through the media.

So Shaq, please just take this advice: Grow up. Many people who have your frame and skill set have been given the nickname "Baby Shaq". But recently, the only Baby Shaq I've seen is suiting up for the Phoenix Suns and he needs to learn when to keep quiet.

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