Shaquille O'Neal Video: Watch Shaq Get All Emo on Conan

Shaquille O'Neal has a lot of free time on his hands now that he has retired from the NBA and doesn't have to worry about analyzing games on TNT because of what appears to be a long, long lockout.

But one thing that he hasn't been able to do, as he explains to Conan O'Brien on his late-night talk show, is get to shake President Obama's hand.

As most people know—at least those four million of you who follow him on Twitter know—Shaq has shown up at the White House three times and asked to go in to say "Hello" and shake the President's hand.

Things haven't gone the way that Shaq planned thus far, and he is starting to think that the President really just doesn't like him.

"I just want to take up 30 seconds of the President's time, shake his hand and say 'Hello' and that's it," Shaq said.

Even in retirement, Shaq is still keeping his goofy, childlike persona going, and it's a very refreshing change of pace from all the shenanigans that we see from most professional athletes. Sure, these are simply publicity stunts to keep his name out there, but at least it's funny and we can laugh along with him.

It would stand to reason that with Congress passing this debt-ceiling bill, President Obama would have a little bit of free time in which he can let Shaq walk into the White House and shake his hand.

Maybe the President is just a cold, heartless human being who likes to see a 7'0'' retired basketball player cry on camera, or maybe he just doesn't want to talk to Shaq. After all, the President is a Chicago Bulls fan and may not like Shaq.

Somehow I doubt that, because it is very hard not to like Shaq. Say what you will about his ego, but he is one of the most likable athletes in the world.

He did say that he hasn't tried to make an appointment, though that could change if he gets rejected one more time.