Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic GM: Turning Down Job Is Smart Move by Shaq

All fans of Inside the NBA can breath a collective sigh of relief now that Shaquille O'Neal has made it known that he has no interest in assuming the role of Orlando Magic GM.

Yesterday, ESPN's Marc Stein tweeted that Shaq could meet with the Magic to interview for the position.

While Shaq probably would have done a pretty good job running the team, he made the right call in declining to interview for the position.

Shaq said this, as per NBA.com:

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“When I first heard about the vacancy for the Orlando Magic general manager position, I was clearly intrigued.” he said in a statement. “I was drafted by the Magic, I have a great love for the franchise, and I have made the city of Orlando my home.  Additionally, I have great admiration and respect for the DeVos family.  However, this is not a job I have an interest in pursuing.  I feel very fortunate to be with TNT and to have the best job in sports.  I look forward to many more years with Charles, Kenny and E.J.  I wish the best for the Magic and I am confident that they will select a great GM and coach.”

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I love that the reason he gave for not wanting the job is that he wants to remain on the set of Inside the NBA. I also love Inside the NBA.

This day in age has brought us too many pundits who take themselves too seriously and will say anything for some recognition, but Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaq have set the standard. They've won five Emmys since the show began and provide hilarious entertainment for the viewers at home.

Shaq would have stepped into a sticky situation in Orlando and had to deal with the never-ending Dwight Howard saga that has plagued the organization all season. He's been successful in almost every other venture in his life, so why jeopardize that now?

I'm sure Shaq would have been up for the challenge if he actually wanted to be a GM, but it seems he's happy where he is now.

He's a four-time NBA champion, a three-time NBA Finals MVP and a 15-time All-Star. There's simply no reason to put himself in such a volatile, precarious position that has unfolded in Orlando. It wouldn't have been worth his time, or the grey hair he would have gotten (if he had any hair).

While he did play a genie in Kazaam back in 1996, he's not a wizard in real life, and Orlando needs some Magic to fix the problem they have going on there.

Thank you, Shaq. Thank you for keeping faith alive in a time when NBA analysts so often find themselves eating their own words or spouting nonsensical blasphemy.

Now that we know Shaq isn't going anywhere, we can look forward to a second shirt-off between "The Diesel" and "Sir Charles" on live television.