Who Knew There Was a Curse on the Lakers?

Hey, Shaq:

Thanks for being a great role model for my 10-year-old son!

You play a ... game for a living!

John van Rossem

Irvine

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After his foul-mouthed tirade at the refs (on live TV, no less), Shaq has proven that he’s the biggest baby in the history of sports. He also ranks right up there among the sorest winners and most selfish players of all time.

Hey, Shaq, the reason your teammates don’t throw you the ball every time down is because you’re constantly triple-teamed. There, I just gave you your latest excuse.

Paul Zemanek

Santa Monica

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In a world in which most of our movies, TV shows, books and magazines are overflowing with four-letter (and longer) words that once were considered completely taboo, and where depicting unabated violence is fine, it’s truly ridiculous that Shaq should be suspended and lose one game’s pay because of his little postgame contretemps with John Ireland, especially in a sport that depends on the “street cred” of its athletes for success.

The only thing that bothers me in this whole silly story is the revelation that Shaq’s salary per game is $275,000!

Now that, my friends, is what I’d call obscene.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles

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Although I am not a Laker fan, I totally agree with Shaq about the effect of NBA referees on the tempo of today’s game. I have quit watching the NBA because of the endless whistle blowing. This not only spoils the tempo and excitement, it detracts from the players’ ability to compete effectively. Every time a player drives to the basket, you can count on hearing a whistle, whether or not a foul has been committed.

Give the game back to the players and make the NBA a contest between athletes, not referees and their whistles.

Charles Jones

Calabasas

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This is not the first time we’ve heard Shaq paraphrase some rather good writing from the film “Scarface,” in this instance: “There’s nothing you can do to me that Castro hasn’t already done.”

Doesn’t anyone else find it odd that Al Pacino hardly ever uses quotes from O’Neal’s films “Kazaam” or “Steel” when speaking to the media?

Ric Sarabia

Los Angeles

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It’s time someone pointed out what has been obvious to Laker fans ever since Shaquille O’Neal arrived in L.A. As soft-hearted and talented as he may be, Shaq has never said anything worthwhile in an interview. None of his three interchangeable personas (sullen and grouchy, giddily playful and weirdly enigmatic) can be taken seriously. Why does the media keep interviewing this man?

David Macaray

Rowland Heights