Description: SHAQUILLE O’NEAL AUTOGRAPHED SHAQ SLAPS GREAG OSTERTAG BEFORE THE GAME IN WARM UPS GETS SUSPENDED KOBE BRYANT 1ST NBA SEASON OPENER TICKET STUB 1997 LAKERS VS JAZZ OCTOBER 31, 1997 OPENING NIGHT PSA AUTHENTIC PSA/DNA 10 GEM-MINT AUTOGRAPH (SHAQ) Jacque Vaughn NBA Debut SHAQ INFAMOUS SLAPS GREG OSTERTAG IN SHOOT AROUND & DESTROYS HIS CONFIDENCE & NBA CAREER! “F**K You, Shaquille O’Neal”: When 325 lbs Lakers Superstar Made 7ft 2” Utah Jazz Center Almost Cry Over a Petty Altercation Today, Shaquille O’Neal is seen as this generous and kind man who woos people with his nice and helpful personality. But during his playing days, O’Neal was seen in a very different light. He was one of the meanest players in the league. The 7ft 1″ center liked picking fights and shutting down anyone who clashed with him. He proved to a Utah Jazz center exactly how far he was ready to go just to shut an opponent up. However, his actions may have come at a cost. When O’Neal joined the Lakers, the gold and purple were a struggling franchise. Their glory days were behind them and even with Shaq and Kobe on the new squad, things would take time to shape up. During this tumultuous time, Greg Ostertag made the mistake of talking trash to Shaquille O’Neal. Shaquille O’Neal knocked down Greg Ostertag In his book Shaq Uncut, O’Neal revealed how he went after Greg Ostertag. Diesel claimed that the 7ft 2″ center had said something to him which didn’t sit too well with the Lakers legend. So, the next time Lakers played Utah, Shaq visited him. The 325 lbs man was incidentally not even on the active roster for that game. But when he saw Greg during shootaround, the 325 lb big man rushed toward him and slapped him hard. Shaq detailed the incident in his book. Shaq: “I saw him at the shootaround and I went over and confronted him. I told him, “You should stop talking and stick to playing. Watch what you say.” He said, “F**k you, man. You watch what you say.” So I said, “Oh, you bad now?” We got into it and he was mouthing off again, so I turned and slapped him upside the head. I know. Stupid. But Ostertag hit the deck like I had slugged him or something. I got him with an open hand. He was curled up on the ground moaning, “My contact lenses.” It was embarrassing. I was embarrassed for him.” Shaq was suspended for his conduct The slap and the subsequent moaning came back to bite O’Neal. The NBA suspended him for one game. He also had to pay $10,000 as a fine. Shaq: “The league suspended me one game and fined me ten thousand dollars. But that was nothing compared to what Jerry West did to me. He got right up under my chin and blasted me.” Jerry West made O’Neal apologize to Greg. He also made it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated. Shaquille O’Neal was warned, one more such incident and he’d be traded.
Price: 999 USD
Location: Henderson, Nevada
End Time: 2024-12-29T12:06:03.000Z
Shipping Cost: 9.99 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Player: Kobe Bryant , Shaquille O’ Neal , John Stockton , Karl Malone
Sport: Basketball
Year: 1997
Original/Reproduction: Original
Grade: PSA AUTHENTIC PSA/DNA 10 GEM-MINT AUTOGRAPH
Team: Utah Jazz
Vintage: Yes
Event/Tournament: Shaq Slaps Ostertag In Warm Ups, Kobe Plays 1st Season Opener