Shaquille O’Neal had quite a difficult childhood growing up. On his own admittance, he was on the path to becoming a huge juvenile delinquent. But, fortunately, he had his father around to put him on the right path. Speaking in a video, Shaq described the various disciplinary tactics his stepfather, Sgt. Phillip Harrison used to teach him. This included beating him in class in front of everybody in order to deal with his stubborn nature and hard-headedness.
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His tactics weren’t just limited to the classroom, he also beat Shaq up in the middle of games. One time, he scolded Shaq and slapped him across the face after The Big Aristotle tried a fancy Julius Erving-style layup. He warned O’Neal that this isn’t his style of play, prompting the big man to start dunking aggressively.
Shaquille O’Neal reveals his father’s disciplinary tactics kept him away from a life of crime
Growing up, Shaquille O’Neal was presented with many opportunities to pursue a life of crime. Thankfully, he had a great father figure to look up to who prevented him from going down that path. His stepfather, Sgt. Phillip Harrison was a disciplinarian, who made sure he dealt with his stepson’s stubbornness the right way.
Unfortunately, this involved giving Shaq regular beatings, more often than not in front of the company. As he described, his father once beat him in front of his entire class. But, while most kids would look back on such memories with anger, Shaq was grateful for his father’s beatings. According to him, every day was one where in he asked himself many questions.
Should he do drugs? Should he get involved in criminal activities? and so on. However, Phillip Harrison, who was aware of his son’s stubborn and hard-headed nature knew he had to get rid of such curiosities. So, he did the only thing he knew, beat him. And, to this day, Big Diesel defends his actions, saying it kept him out of trouble.
“My father used to come into class and whoop me in front of everybody. Yeah…long time ago. I was a major high-level juvenile delinquent that could have definitely been in trouble all the time. Every time I left the house it was trials and tribulations for me. Do I put the needle there? Do I smoke this? Do I sell this? Do I carry this gun for this guy? It’s every time I left the house and my father knew I was stubborn and hard-headed that’s why he used all the tactics he used on me would definitely work and it did work!”
Whether or not you agree with his strategy, it was effective. Sgt. Phillip Harrison managed to keep his son off the street and helped make him into the successful man he is today.
Shaq vowed to take care of his family after Sgt. Phillip Harrison passed away
In 2013, Shaquille O’Neal lost the only father figure he’s ever known. Sgt. Phillip Harrison passed away after suffering from sickness. But, despite losing him, Shaq continued to live up to his expectations. Recalling what his father told him, he vowed to take care of his family no matter what.
“Father taught me a long time ago, that it’s a man’s job to protect and provide. So now that the don is gone, the second in charge, which is me, I protect them and provide for my family. My brother’s and sister’s family. My mother’s family. It’s what you got to do as a man.”
Some sage words of advice from Sgt. Harrison. And Shaq is doing well to live up to his expectations. Safe to say, his stepfather is watching from up above, proud of all his son has accomplished.
