Shaquille O’Neal is a loving and proud dad of six children. He has a daughter, Taahirah, with his former girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh and four children with his ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal. Furthermore, Shaq has also adopted Myles, Shaunie’s child from her previous marriage. Shaq has been on good terms with his ex-partners, despite their breakup. He has shattered the image of NBA players being terrible fathers. He also once dismantled Sports Illustrated for negligent reporting.
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Shaq has been a good parent throughout and he has also talked about the plight of women having estranged partners as a parent. In a Sports Illustrated issue, this issue of NBA players having children out of wedlock was elaborately discussed, bringing women’s experiences on the foray. However, Shaq tends to disagree with this issue, which he voices in his book Shaq Talks Back.
Shaquille O’Neal speaks the real truth about NBA players as dads
Shaq broke the stereotype of NBA dads being playboys and estranged parents. One example would be Karl Malone, who had impregnated two women before joining the league with Utah Jazz. Malone had repeatedly denied paying alimony or support for his alleged children and had an estranged relationship with them.
While Shaq proved to be a doting father, he had several reasons to disagree with the SI article illustrating the issue. He pointed out how some women would create sob stories to extort money out of NBA players. In his book, Shaq wrote,
“Remember that Sports Illustrated cover story, the one about NBA players not taking care of their kids? The truth is complicated. While some of the examples were legitimate, some were just women and their sob stories. At the same time, some guys have been very stingy with their money. But there also are a lot of NBA players who have children out of wedlock and are not deadbeat dads. Then, throw into the mix the women who are out there trying to profit off the fathers, saying, ‘You make $4 million? I want $60,000 a month.’ “
After this, Shaq talked about how many NBA players have stranded relationships with their fathers. He mentioned an incident of meeting Seattle SuperSonics SG’s father, Rashard Lewis. It is perhaps assumed that Rashard might have an estranged relationship with his father. On this, Shaq did not elaborate further.
Shaq also mentioned his own experience, where his biological father left his mother when he was an infant. His stepfather, Sgt, Phillip A. Harrison, whom he considers as his ‘real’ father, raised Shaq. He wants to give his children the same love he received from his stepdad. Hence, he tries to be involved and present in his children’s lives, being a proud and loving father.
Shaq is a happy father of six children and loves spoiling his kids
Shaq is a happy and loving father, having six children with his two ex-partners. He has two sons: Shareef and Shaqir, and daughters, Amirah and Me’arah, with his ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal. He has also adopted Shaunie’s son from her previous marriage, Myles, as his stepson. With his ex-girlfriend, Shaq has one daughter, Taahirah.
Shaq loves spoiling his children on Christmas, calling himself ‘Shaq-a-Claus.’ In an interview with Mila Kunis, when he was asked what he gives his children during the holidays, he said, “Everything they want.”
Shaquille O’Neal also wants his children to prove their worth and pursue a career they are best suited for. Although he would help them pursue their dreams, he also says, “I don’t give a s**t what you are, because if it’s done the right way, I believe in nepotism.”
Speaking about the experience of having his children, he had once remarked, “The best moment is just coming home every day and hearing five, six different voices.” .
