Shaquille O'Neal

Birth Data

Biography

American athlete, actor and rap artist, a basketball superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers, 7' 01" and 303 lbs. His contract with the Lakers was the biggest deal in the history of sports, signing him for seven years at an impressive $120 million. Best known for his signature, backboard-breaking power slam, he appeared in the films "Blue Chips" and "Kazaam." 

Shaq is the son of Lucille O'Neal and Joe Toney. When he was born, his biological father left him to be raised by municipal-worker and single-mom Lucille, along with the help of several relatives. Mom married co-worker Philip Harrison, who joined the army in 1974. Phil wanted his family, which included his own three kids, to have a better life and often worked as many as three jobs to make ends meet. As an army brat, Shaq lived on military bases in New Jersey, Georgia and West Germany by the time he was 12. Despite his adoptive father's strict military discipline, he was a mischievous and unruly child. "People look at me now and say I was an angel child – but I was bad. Anything outside of drugs and killing someone, I'd do it. I stole. I lied. I cheated. I broke into cars to steal tapes." 

At age 13 his shenanigans ceased, when the 6' 7" recalcitrant youth discovered basketball in West Germany. Two years later Harrison was transferred to Fort Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where Shaq, in his junior year of high school. led the team to a undefeated regular season. As a high school All-American in his senior year, Shaq led his team to a state championship. 

Over 100 colleges courted the giant's talent, and he chose Louisiana State University. By his sophomore year, he won the Associated Press award as college player of the year. Junior year found him on the All-American list again. Foregoing his senior year, he declared his eligibility for the NBA draft and was signed by Orlando in 1992, giving him a three year, $41 million contract. In addition to his agility and size, he exuded a good-natured charm, making him the "most marketable colossus in NBA history" and was once described as a "cross between the Terminator and Bambi." He gained international status as a member of the gold medal winning Dream Team II at the 1994 Olympic Games. 

Nationwide headlines featured Shaq in July 1998 as he signed the record-breaking contract with Los Angeles. Weeks later he earned his second Olympic Gold Medal an Dream Team III at the 1995 Olympics. 

Shaq makes his home in Orlando, FL, where his fiancée Arnetta gave birth to a daughter Taheara on 7/19/1996. 

Shaq addressed the artist within by embarking on a moderately successful career in hip hop. Parlaying his charm from the court to the world of rap, he spurned his father Joe Toney, who identified himself to Shaq, once he made the talk show circuit, in his rap song "Biological didn't Bother." He signed a contract for marketing and distribution with A&M Records in early 1998. Wisely, he kept his day job. The big man at the center remains unremarkable in both his presentation and his rap persona, offering the stereotypical rap subjects and delivery. 

Shaq won the Most Valuable Player award of the year on 5/10/2000, truly giving him the distinction that he earned in the 1999-2000 season. He received 121 of 122 votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters. This is the highest vote percentage (99.1) for a winner since the award began in the 1955-56 season.

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