“That Sumb**ch”: Years Before Inking $100,000,000 Deal, Shaquille O’Neal Talked Down on TNT, Dreamt of Doing a ‘Bigger Job’
When he had just entered his 30s, Shaquille O’Neal, like any other athlete, had big plans. The Big Aristotle did not want to become an NBA analyst like most players after he retired. In fact, he frowned upon the players who did. Shaq wanted to do something bigger and not be a “sumb**ch” that does TNT. As fate would have it, since his retirement in 2011, the Diesel has been one of the most prominent analysts on TNT for 12 years now.
The 4x NBA champ took his time to settle in with the legendary crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley. Smith and Barkley would not mince words to accommodate the rookie and rather trolled him hysterically whenever they got the opportunity in the initial days. However, they accepted him soon as one of their own. Shaq is now one of the most followed analysts in the business and has even signed a $100,000,000 contract with Turner Network because of it.
Shaquille O’Neal wanted a ‘bigger job’ instead of being a TNT analyst
A Sports Illustrated article from 2002, revealed that Shaquille O’Neal wanted to enter law enforcement and be a Sheriff once he was done playing basketball. He never wanted to be like Chuck or Kenny — an analyst for TNT. As per the SI report:
“I want my book to be different from most retired players. I want people to say, ‘Great high school player, great college player, great NBA player. And that sumb**ch is a sheriff now!’ I don’t want them saying, ‘Great player. That sumb**ch is doing TNT now.’”
But life happened and Shaq ironically is a 12-year analyst now at TNT. However, in 2005, he did become a part of the Miami Police Department after doing an astonishing job of tracking down a man who assaulted a gay couple. After authorities apprehended the accused man, the Miami Beach police made him an honorary police officer.
O’Neal also attended training in Los Angeles and is a US Deputy Marshall by title.
Shaq received a ‘US Deputy Marshall’ title from LA County
Before he had left the Lakers for the Miami Heat in 2004, O’Neal prepared for joining the LAPD, training at the Los Angeles County’s Reserve Academy. Therefore, the Diesel also fulfilled his promise of becoming a police officer, instead of being content with his identity as a hooper.
After his move, the LA county honored him with the title of US Deputy Marshall. Shaq makes $1 yearly from that job of his.
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