While a 7’1 stature might set you up for NBA superstardom, it also brings its unique set of problems with it. Shaquille O’Neal has always faced difficulties for his Herculean frame. However, the nature of his struggles changed with the progression of his career-from finding it difficult to afford basketball shoes to having to customize supercars to fit in them. Speaking of supercars, Shaq once completely shocked a police officer after a speeding incident on the highway. An honorary police officer himself, the four-time NBA champion regretfully recounted the incident during a podcast appearance last year.
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After retiring from the NBA in 2011, Shaq did a Buick commercial in 2012 that piqued the interest of fans across the country. In the commercial, the Diesel could be seen easily fitting his giant body inside the vehicle, probably to highlight the car’s spacious interior.
However, fans refused to believe that Shaq had used a random Buick for the commercial, and not a custom-made car. Therefore, the four-time NBA champion had to buy a Buick for himself just to prove a point.
Shaquille O’Neal shocked a police officer after a speeding incident
Shaq had always wanted to be a police officer after witnessing their impact on local communities. Inspired by his dill sergeant father, the Lakers legend decided to take up the role of a police officer despite his stint in the NBA. After tracking down a man who had reportedly assaulted a gay couple, Shaq was awarded the role of an auxiliary deputy by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, an honorary post in the Police reserves for a whopping salary of $1.
However, during an appearance on The Jordan Harbinger Show last year, Shaq revealed how he had baffled a police officer after speeding on the highway. And oddly enough, it was all tied to his popular Buick commercial from 2012. The Big man recounted the incident after apologizing to his fellow police officers for speeding:
“I got tired of being asked if I fit in the Buick so much[after the commercial], I went out and bought a Buick. And one time I was speeding on the highway, I apologize to all the police officers, and a cop stopped me. And he comes in to the window, ‘License and Registration.’ And he sees me and you should see the joy in his face. ‘Oh sh*t, you really do fit in a Buick. Go, be careful.’”
Shaq’s story should settle the debate among fans whether he really can fit in a regular Buick. During the podcast, the big fella also talked about other cars he has bought just to win bets about fitting in them.
Shaq buys everything in bulk
Fitting in things has always been an issue for Shaq. I mean, we are talking about a man who had to cut open two Ferraris and superglue them together to fit in a Ferrari.
To avoid the hassle of buying customized things time and again, Shaq orders everything in bulk. He is well-known for ordering a 1000 pairs of size 22 TOMS shoes. The Diesel adopts the same measure for buying jeans and T-shirts as well. No wonder Shaq still holds the record for the biggest purchase in Walmart history.
