Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:25 pm EDT

Shaq to face Phelps, Pujols and De La Hoya in new reality show

By J.E. Skeets


Shaquille O'Neal(notes) has been a busy, busy man this off-season. He was traded from Phoenix to Cleveland in June, filmed a Michael Jackson video tribute shortly after the King of Pop's death, and visited Beijing a week ago, where he juggled Chinese children, dunked on a shark and nursed a panda back to health. Very productive stuff.

Up next on his agenda: starring in "Shaq Vs.", a new ABC reality series that will see The Big Twitter take on other top athletes in their own sports.

According to USA Today, filming begins Wednesday in Pittsburgh, where Shaq takes on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger in football. Future hour-long episodes will pit him against Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, retired boxer Oscar De La Hoya, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, tennis pro Serena Williams and beach volleyball Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

(Please tell me Shaq's volleyball partner will be Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes).)


O'Neal says he also hopes to book Lance Armstrong for a cycling competition once the Tour de France ends, and while that's all fine and dandy and croissants, it's pretty obvious which "dream match-up" ABC needs to make happen: Shaq vs. Brock Lesnar.

The series premieres on Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET. TiVo set!

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103 Comments

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  1. zhushietgau
    1. Posted by zhushietgau Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:36 pm EDT

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    Panda's expression looks like he made a boo-boo. Good thing Shaq was wearing protection.
  2. danil l
    2. Posted by danil l Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:42 pm EDT

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    cool! love it
    i have got a new website http//www.adobeshow.com enjoy！
  3. tall john
    3. Posted by tall john Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:53 pm EDT

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    This wouldve been a good pic for Create-a-Caption...
    "This is exactly why Shaq shouldnt be allowed to breed!"
  4. Chris
    4. Posted by Chris Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:07 pm EDT

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    Wow. Got 2 love shaq. He is such a character
  5. Steven T
    5. Posted by Steven T Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:29 pm EDT

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    I'm sure Cleveland fans are all kinds of happy at Shaq's usual laser beam focus on winning a championship.
  6. Hitman
    6. Posted by Hitman Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:42 pm EDT

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    Shaq, how about practicing a few free throws?
  7. HMC
    7. Posted by HMC Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:43 pm EDT

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    **** it Shaq, just help LeBron win a title. Can't this wait until next year???
  8. Allen
    8. Posted by Allen Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:49 pm EDT

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    Shaq'a an ass hat.
    And what's with all the blogs on him through the off season?
    #6 said it best.
  9. Allen
    9. Posted by Allen Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:50 pm EDT

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    Hopefully Shaq will take on Brock Lesnar in MMA fighting.
    That way when he is out for the year after sustaining a tremendous beating, he will no longer be a topic for conversation.
  10. BALZER
    10. Posted by BALZER Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:59 pm EDT

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    That panda's expression tells me that he's very uncomfortable. Maybe Shaq got excited for the photo op?
    This reality show is a great idea. Should make very entertaining television.
    Sucks for Cleveland fans, though.
  11. Dremac
    11. Posted by Dremac Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:15 pm EDT

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    I totaly agree with HMC, help LeBron win a championship! Why is he wasting time and energy NOT practicing free throws and staying shape??
    It would be a scary sight to see Shaq get knocked out in an MMA fight though, LOL!
  12. lakersFTW
    12. Posted by lakersFTW Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Gotta Love it
  13. Jon Mac
    13. Posted by Jon Mac Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    haha shaq in a speedo vs phelps lol..
  14. squirrelyearl
    14. Posted by squirrelyearl Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Okay, so he MIGHT be able to hold his own on a few of these things, especially the team sports, but there is no way he is going to match up to Phelps or Lance Armstrong, so why on earth would that be exciting to watch?
  15. SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen!
    15. Posted by SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen! Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    same old / fat Shaq showing up to camp in Oct........!
  16. Bibz
    16. Posted by Bibz Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:27 pm EDT

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    Is it just me or does Shaq seem like a past superstar trying his hardest to stay relevant in a profession that has passed him by? I couldnt care less about this guy anymore but for some reason the media keeps writing about him. He is the NBA's Brett Favre - he seems to be the guy who will never ever go away....sad face =(
  17. Adam B
    17. Posted by Adam B Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:50 pm EDT

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    What a narcissistic douche. Is he just doing this in the hopes that he beats one of them by random chance - allowing him to gloat, brag, and write belittling raps about it for the rest of his life?
  18. ALLAN R
    18. Posted by ALLAN R Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

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    The only way De la Hoya will win is if there's a "PANTY HOSE" putting on contest. in singing Shaq will take it but I wouldn't mind a one on one against Kobe or a round of golf against Tiger Woods.
  19. the incredible hippo
    19. Posted by the incredible hippo Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

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    since he's only facing the very best every sport has to offer, one of the episodes could be Shaq vs. Maharajhad in a ball scratching and jacking off competition.
  20. Alrondin
    20. Posted by Alrondin Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:29 pm EDT

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    shaq forget about doing a series continue to amaze poeple at the free throw line.
  21. Travis H
    21. Posted by Travis H Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    Shaq is overrrrrrrrated anybody that big can dunk
  22. Travis H
    22. Posted by Travis H Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:40 pm EDT

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    Shaq will never win again 2 bad 4 lebron
  23. Travis H
    23. Posted by Travis H Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:42 pm EDT

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    What about la
  24. Brian L.
    24. Posted by Brian L. Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:44 pm EDT

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    Please tell me he takes on someone - anyone - in hockey. Put his big ass on skates. I'll pay to see that.
  25. Brian L.
    25. Posted by Brian L. Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:44 pm EDT

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    Please tell me he takes on someone - anyone - in hockey. Put his big a%# on skates. I'll pay to see that.

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