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Shanoff’s Wake-Up Call: Shaq’s Last Hurrah

Feb 16, 2009, 1:43 PM UTC

Today’s Calls: Shaq vs. Kobe, Matt Kenseth vs. Kyle Busch, Duke vs. BC, Kevin Durant’s HORSE vs. AI’s hair, A-Rod vs. Oil Can Boyd and More.â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: Last night felt like a last hurrah for Shaq.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe nostalgia-heavy “Co-MVP” award for him and Kobe was just the capper. Shaq had me at his pre-game intros, when he put on a wild dancing spectacle with the JabbaWockeeZ. Has there ever been a 7-foot, 300-pound athlete who could shake and move like Shaq?â†µ

â†µâ†µThen, despite playing only 11 minutes -- which, as Phil Jackson said, has to be some kind of record for an MVP in an All-Star Game -- he stole the game’s spotlight from the young players like LeBron or CP3 or even Kobe.â†µ

â†µâ†µ17 points on 8/9 FG (+21 plus-minus), including several classic Shaq slams, along with one very amusing through-his-legs pass on Dwight Howard. For all of Howard’s playful personality -- on display during the Slam Dunk Contest -- Shaq showed who the NBA’s once and only “Superman” really is.â†µ

â†µâ†µDespite Shaq’s return to All-Star status -- King of the All-Stars, actually -- his championship times are behind him. That’s what last night’s dream “Marvel Team-Up” between Kobe and Shaq left me feeling.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Suns are rebuilding. They have fired their coach. They are about to trade away the team’s youngest and most promising foundation. Shaq deserves better.â†µ

â†µâ†µIf last night made us appreciate him one last time on a national stage -- reminded us of just what an overwhelming force of personality and talent he is -- Shaq really was the big winner last night.â†µ

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â†µDaytona 500: What is more unsatisfying -- a D-500 cut short nearly 25 percent from rainy weather or a big, avoidable wreck (thanks to Dale Jr.) that takes out plenty of would-be competitors for the title? â†µ

â†µâ†µThere is a pretty good argument to be made that Matt Kenseth didn’t win the Daytona 500 so much as Kyle Busch was denied.â†µ

â†µâ†µCBB Weekend: What did we learn? That BC has checked the boxes for the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee when it comes to “quality wins” -- first they derail the “unbeaten-season” UNC bandwagon; last night, they beat Duke for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. (Sorry, BC fans: I think it says more about Duke’s overratedness than it does your underratedness.) â†µ

â†µâ†µMeanwhile: â†µ

â†µâ†µ• We already knew Clemson was overrated. ... â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Is Butler just trying to play possum in advance of the NCAA Tournament or something? ... â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Arizona will be one of the Top 5 toughest choices on your bracket in March. ... â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Why Blake Griffin is the leading candidate for national POY. ... â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Ack: Stephen Curry! Keep an eye on that ankle.â†µ

â†µâ†µTonight: Pitt at UConn. Based on the Huskies’ problems shaking off Seton Hall, they are obviously missing Dyson -- I think Pitt comes into Hartford tonight and stakes its claim as the team to beat, not just in the Big East, but in the nation.â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA All-Star Weekend Rewind: Other than the Shaq/Kobe theatrics, the game itself was a dud ... Between Kevin Durant’s Rookie Challenge explosion (46!) and his HORSE title, the biggest winner of the weekend behind Shaq was KD. ... I loved Nate Robinson’s “Lex Luthor” routine, but he would have never won without Dwight Howard being a good enough sport to let Robinson dunk over him. ... I think the 3-point contest might be dead.â†µ

â†µâ†µH-O-R-S-E Update: I went into the weekend with such high hopes for the H-O-R-S-E competition. Instead, it was a flop -- charitably, I’ll say there is plenty of room for improvement next year. The players didn’t make many “trick” shots (hey: even I could take trick shots and MISS them), the event felt like it was dragging, and ultimately, Durant settled for yawning standard 3-pointers to come from behind to win. Next year: Let a fan participate; they might just win.â†µ

â†µâ†µAllen Iverson cuts off his cornrows: It tells you how defining AI’s hairstyle was when its radical change drives as much interest as his did. Personally, I love it -- it reminds me of his tantalizing college career at Georgetown. (The true test: How many young players with cornrows -- NBA, college, prep -- will cut their hair, too?)â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB: What’s the chance that the cranks who populate the BBWAA will listen to Hank Aaron?â†µ

â†µâ†µSpring Training: It will be hard for any Spring Training detail to dislodge this one as zaniest -- would-be Padres closer Heath Bell got in shape this offseason ... using the Wii Fit.â†µ

â†µâ†µA-Rod Scandal, Cont’d: A-Rod almost flawlessly pulled off his “Sorry” spectacle last weekend with Peter Gammons. The one false note: His angry riff on Selena Roberts, who broke the “A-Roids” story. With yet another apology -- this time, to her -- he feels in the clear on this.â†µ

â†µâ†µTomorrow’s A-Rod news conference: Joe Girardi will be there. My question: Will team “captain” Derek Jeter be there to support his teammate?â†µ

â†µâ†µUnretirements: If you saved a roster space on your fantasy keeper team for Oil Can Boyd all these years, your dedication might just pay off.â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB: Like to chuckle at Charlie? Love to loathe Lane? Plenty to keep you busy this past weekend.â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL: I wouldn’t expect Marshawn Lynch to be playing a full season in 2009.â†µ

â†µâ†µWell, we’ve got our Absurd NFL Offseason Story of the Year covered.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: “It felt like old times. I miss those times.” -- Shaqâ†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. â†µ

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