The Shaq and Van Gundy Battle

After Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy stood up for his big man Dwight Howard on Monday night, Phoenix Suns starting Center Shaquille O'Neal had some more comments for Van Gundy on Tuesday in Miami. 

From smack talk that initially began about Dwight Howard not being close to what Shaq is, this has turned into a viscous battle between the big bad Shaq Daddy and the little, short, fat, and stubby Stan Van Gundy.

Shaq retaliated to Van Gundy's comments after losing to the Miami Heat on Tuesday night by starting his conference saying, ""He (Howard) came with the same old, stale Patrick Ewing move so I tried to stand there and take the charge. The new rules say if you come through, you fall. But as I fell, I realized that it was a flop and it reminded me of Coach Van Gundy’s whole coaching career.

"The one thing I despise is a frontrunner," Shaq added. "First of all, none of his players like him. When it gets tough, he will become the master of panic like he did before and he will quit like he did before. The one thing I despise is frontrunners. Yeah, he’s got a young team playing good but don’t be a frontrunner. Him and his brother and even the legend on the bench ain’t done what I’ve done in my whole career. So flopping would be the wrong choice of words."

WOW! Did anybody expect those words to come out of Shaq's mouth!?! Shaq continued the conference by saying, "I just tried to take a charge. The (expletive) rules say you can’t stand there and get hit. You’ve got to fall. The (expletive) got the same old stinking move that Patrick Ewing has been doing his whole career. I went down, got up and didn’t complain. I see him and Stan complaining the whole game because they’ve got to. Remember, I’ve done more than him, his brother, and Patrick Ewing."

The same old stinking move that Patrick Ewing has been doing his whole career, huh??? So now, Shaq has not only brought both Jeff and Stan Van Gundy into this entire scandal, but a Hall of Famer in Patrick Ewing as well. Both Jeff Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing have nothing to do with what is going on between Shaq and Stan.

Why would a player that is supposed to be a role model cause way more confrontation than he really should be? What has gotten into Shaq?

The press conference continued with more bashing comments from Shaq stating, "Stan Van Gundy reminds me of a broke navigational system. He knows everything about everything but ain’t never been nowhere. Think about that. If I’m right here and I type in the address of where you’re going, I know where it’s at but I’m not going there."

Although I think Shaq has taken this way too far, this was probably the funniest metaphor that I have ever heard from an NBA players mouth in my entire life. Did Shaq really come up with the broke navigational system on his own, or was there a comedian whispering that joke in his ear!?!

Shaq continued by saying, "When a bum says some (stuff) about it and I respond, you can (expletive) cancel that cuz I know how he is in real life. We’ll see when the playoffs start and he (expletive) panics and quits like he did when he was here (in Miami). And you (expletive) print it just like that. Do I look soft to you like you can say something and I’m not going to say something?"

"Notice they didn’t play me straight up. We’ll see how far they go cuz I know Stan. I said this a long time ago but I was actually talking about him: 'When the general panics, the troops will panic. Like in business, when the head panics and takes out all his stock, what happens?"

Does the Big Fella even have a right to be saying who will win or lose in the playoffs? Especially coming from a player on a team that might not EVEN make it to the playoffs this season?

Shaq crossed the line in his next statement when he rambled on saying, "All the players hate him. The players don’t even like him. I hate frontrunners. I really do. I don’t like any frontrunners. There’s a pecking order involved. I’ve been there six times."

"I ain’t going to let no bum like him rip me and not say anything back. You can cancel that (expletive) all the way. Usually, I let (expletive) go. Not that. Not him. Hell no."

"The rules say when a guy goes through your chest you’ve got to fall to get the call. It was a flop. You’ve watched me play for 17 years. I don’t play like that."

"I’m not going to sit around and let nobodies take a shot at me and he is a nobody to me. And if he thinks he can get in a little press conference and take shots at me like I’m not going to (say) something back, he’s got another thing coming."

Shaq had the nerve to call Van Gundy not only a bum, but a nobody as well. Shaq really has shown a different side of himself during this confrontation.

I feel as if the only reason Shaq is dragging out this stupid battle is because he has no other way of getting publicity anymore! He is an old player in the eyes of every NBA player and is nearing an end to his career. He is on a lousy Phoenix Suns team that has no hope whatsoever in making it to the Finals this season (if they even make the playoffs).

Shaq is looking for anyway possible to still get noticed by fans all around the league and has obviously chosen the wrong way to do so.

He started by ripping up a superstar in Dwight Howard for no apparent reason. Howard, being the mature 23 year-old that he is, let the immature comments slide by the 36 year-old and Shaq realized that the only way his name will be on ESPN is if he started problems with someone else (Stan Van Gundy).

In my mind, Shaq is a just a big bully that has no other way of getting publicity in the league anymore. He has started more beefs with players and coaches than any other player in the history of the NBA.

It is said that he is not friends with Dwayne Wade anymore as well. The bully needs to realize that his time as a superstar is over and done with and he has to simply move on with his life.

Van Gundy had a few words to say back to Shaq's harsh remarks stating, "Whatever. I don't know ... that's his estimation of my coaching. I'm not going to worry about it too much," Van Gundy said. "Actually, that [Shaq's criticism] puts me in good company, very good company.

"He's taken shots at Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, so maybe I should consider it an honor."

Van Gundy obviously is taking this whole entire situation as a complete joke while Shaq is clearly taking everything said totally serious, especially with his career now on the line.

In my eyes, Shaq is nothing anymore. He is having an outstanding season this year, but has no more than one or two seasons left in the tank. Shaq should just apologize for the rude remarks and retire after next season.

More to come as big Shaq continues the battle with mini Gundy.