HANOVER, Md. — “Is that Shaq?”
It’s the kind of question that, normally, when asked about a celebrity from amid the slot machines at a non-Las Vegas casino, would be brushed off with a scoff.
But the quantity of viable Shaquille O’Neal doppelg盲ngers, well, really, anywhere in the world, is awfully spare.
So it was that the answer was, yes, indeed, that was Shaq, here at Live! Casino in Hanover Thursday night, to compete in, of all things, a free throw shooting contest against real estate mogul David Cordish.
It was a promotion designed to attract attention and people to a casino. Of course, it was all a bit silly and over-the-top. But it was also more fun than it had any reason to be.
Before the spectacle, O鈥橬eal fielded questions about anything and everything, though he played coy at times.
He didn鈥檛 want to talk about the Lavar Ball dis-track (鈥淚 have no idea what you鈥檙e talking about鈥�). He didn鈥檛 want to talk about Donald Trump (鈥淚 don鈥檛 talk about politics鈥�).
But he offered his opinion about LeBron James and the speculation that he might come to Shaq鈥檚 former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the 2018 offseason.
鈥淚 know LeBron, and I think it鈥檚 pretty confident to say that he鈥檒l stay at home,鈥� Shaq said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 in a very unique position 鈥� his legacy is already set. Whether he does good or bad, his legacy is set.鈥�
If that seems surprising, his reasoning may raise your eyebrows even more.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to say it was a mistake, but I had a 60,000 square foot house in Orlando, and I left it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f I had it all over to do again, I probably would have stayed, or came back.鈥�
O鈥橬eal also explained the reason that he and especially his co-host on Turner Sports鈥� NBA coverage, Charles Barkley, have doubted the Golden State Warriors, despite three straight NBA Finals appearances and two titles.
鈥淭hey defied a longtime myth: And the myth for us, as big guys, was 鈥榶ou live by the jumper, you die by the jumper.鈥� When we preach that, people think it鈥檚 coming from a place of hate,鈥� he said.
As for his own shooting, O鈥橬eal was always known as a particularly brutal free throw shooter (making 58 percent for his career), making Thursday鈥檚 spectacle against the 77 year-old Cordish something less than a one-sided affair.
Donning a polo shirt and jeans, less than optimal basketball wear, one wondered exactly how long it had been since O鈥橬eal, who retired in 2011, had actually shot a free throw under any kind of pressure.
鈥淟ast week was my first time coaching my son in AAU, and we won the championship, I had a free throw contest against those guys,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 shot a ball in a while.鈥�
When it was time for the festivities to begin, teams of four were chosen off the casino floor, the members set to receive $300 each for every made free throw from their respective shooter. O鈥橬eal and Cordish traded off rounds of two shots each, three rounds apiece from the stripe on the makeshift half court in the Center Stage venue. Each followed the same make/miss pattern: make, miss, make, miss, miss, miss.
With the score tied 2-2 after six shots, each took one final shot, for a chance for their team members to win $1,000. Neither disappointed.
In the end, O鈥橬eal hit just three of seven shots, but came away a hero, which all sounds just about right.
And, hey, he and Cordish tied. Perhaps we鈥檒l see this all again someday, if there鈥檚 a rematch in store.
