Mr. Big Throwing Quite a Shadow

When first I heard Indiana guard Mark Jackson identify Shaquille O’Neal as “the Big Aristotle,” I was not certain this was not some sort of gaudy trash talk, because the next Greek philosopher to slam-dunk a basketball will be the first.

O’Neal has become many and more Big one thing or another, all self-anointed.

For example: With Kobe Bryant injured in Game 2, O’Neal became the Big Cancun. The last resort, get it?

O’Neal even has a description for being sent to the free-throw line where he is inevitably the Big Brick or the Big Stiff. Others call it Hack-a-Shaq. He calls it the Big Homage. He considers it a compliment to be given the chance to make a Big Fool of Himself.