A Poll Falls Over Orlando, Where Fans Say No to O’Neal

By a whopping 91%, Orlando fans have voted against the signing of Shaquille O’Neal to a seven-year, $115-million contract.

The Orlando Sentinel conducted a poll asking its readers, “Is Shaquille O’Neal worth $115 million over seven seasons?” and 91.3%--or 4,668 people--voted no. A total of 443 callers, or 8.7%, supported the offer to O’Neal.

Charles Barkley, an Olympic teammate of O’Neal, ripped the Orlando fans who participated in the poll.

“They’re going to be sorry this time tomorrow, because they’re going to be idiots,” said Barkley, who was in Orlando with his Dream Team teammates Wednesday. “They are going to miss him.”

Barkley then went on to say that O’Neal will not re-sign with the Magic.

“He’s been gone for a week, y’all just not getting it,” said Barkley. “He’s been gone for a week, and y’all are still not getting it.”

Penny Hardaway, an Orlando and Dream Team teammate of O’Neal, said he does not know of O’Neal’s intentions.

“Maybe he told Charles something, I don’t know,” said Hardaway. “Charles told me the same thing, but Shaq hasn’t told me anything. The only thing I can say is how bad we need him and that I want to finish my career here in Orlando with him.”