Sheriff Shaq? Not Yet, in Ohio

After a promising start to his law enforcement career in Miami and Phoenix, Shaquille O’Neal is looking to forward his off-the-court law enforcement training in Cleveland while he’s a member of the Cavaliers this year.

But the Cleveland Plain Dealer broke the news on Sunday that O’Neal has some work to do before he joins the law enforcement ranks – he must pass an examination and undergo 30 hours of training first.

“It appears that Mr. O’Neal will need to undergo substantial additional training as well as successful completion of the state certification examination before he can become a certified peace officer in the state of Ohio,” said Holly Hollingsworth, spokeswoman for the state attorney general.

If Shaq does complete the police training and pass the Ohio police exam and a shooting test, he’d be able to carry a gun around and make arrests. Currently, he is not authorized to do either.

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid notified the state academy that he’d make O’Neal a deputy officer if he passes the examinations.

Shaq wants to work with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children task force, according to Reid.

Monday, November 23, 2009 at 6:52 pm by bryan

Coach: Shaq Out Against Pacers, 76ers

Cleveland coach Mike Brown announced that center Shaquille O’Neal would be sidelined by his shoulder strain through the weekend, forcing him to miss Friday’s game against the Indiana Pacers and Saturday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Shaq missed Wednesday’s loss to the Wizards.

“It’s early in the year. We all have a better comfort level than what we had in Game 1, Game 2, Game 3. And so in my opinion, it’s an opportune time to let him get some rest and let him get his body back,” Brown said.

“I’m not thinking of, ‘He’s got to play ‘X’ amount of games.’ Just like in practice, I’m not thinking, ‘He’s got to practice 75 percent of the time,” he said.
Shaq’s been seeing limited time so far this season for the Cavs, averaging 11.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in an average of 24 minutes this season.

“It’s just right here, and if I feel it, I sit him down,” Brown said. “If I don’t, then I won’t. If he feels it, hopefully he’ll communicate it with me, and same with our trainers. We’ll just kind of go from there. But really it’s not anything I’m doing that’s scientific or with a formula to it. I’m not that smart.”

Brown did add that if this were the playoffs, Shaq would be playing.

Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 11:20 pm by bryan

Shaq Doubtful Against Golden State Tonight

For at least a night, Cleveland fans will have to remember what the Cavs looked like without their 7-foot joker next to their King.

Shaquille O’Neal is considered doubtful for tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors, as he continues to rehabilitate a shoulder strain.

Shaq was scratched from the lineup minutes before the Cavs’ 107-103 victory over Utah on Saturday, leaving Zydrunas Ilgauskas to man the space down front.

“We can be cautious during this time of the year,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said Monday. “We’re not going to rush anybody back, let alone Shaq. Even though guys may miss a few practices here and there or a few games here and there, this is the time to do it as opposed to the end of the year.”

Thanks to the magic healing powers of Phoenix’s training staff, Shaq managed to appear in 75 games last season in Phoenix, his most since the 1999-00 season with the L.A. Lakers.

The Cavs have to hope Shaq recovers quickly, as they face a brutal slate of four games in five days this week, starting with the Warriors tonight. Cleveland has won seven of their past eight games after starting the season 0-2.

“Obviously, I think we’re a very, very good club,” Brown said. “It’s part of the ups and downs of a season when you have guys that are injured or have a sickness. We have to go out there and keep playing.”

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 12:04 am by bryan

James done talking about free agency

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James had made it clear that he is done discussing his pending free agency.

James’ free agency in the summer of 2010 has been the talk of the NBA for several years now, but he has heard enough.

The star forward said he does not plan on discussing anything having to do with free agency until after the season.

He doesn’t want the situation to become a distraction for his team, a hopeful for the NBA championship.

James can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, and he is fully expected to do just that.

Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 12:05 pm by steve

LeBron Gives Up Jersey Number for Jordan

Starting next season, LeBron James will be wearing a new number, in deference to Michael Jordan, who formerly wore James’ number 23 during his years in Chicago.

“If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan,” James said, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan; you see guys fly through the air, you think about Michael Jordan; you see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame.”

“He can’t get the logo [Hall of Famer Jerry West's silhouette is featured on the NBA's logo], and if he can’t, something has to be done,” James said. “I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I’m starting a petition, and I’ve got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I’m not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it.”

Next year, James plans on switching to the No. 6 jersey next season – his Olympic number. He has to file a formal petition to change his jersey number with the NBA by March 5 if he stays with the Cavaliers in 2010; if he departs in free agency, he is free to choose any number he wishes on his new team.

“My second-favorite player was Julius Erving, and he wore No. 6,” James said, according to the newspaper. “I wore 32 in high school because Dr. J wore it at first. My first child was born on Oct. 6, it’s my Olympic number, my second child was born in June.”

Whether James’ petition to get all No. 23 jerseys vanquished from the current NBA is yet to be determined. Twelve other players in the NBA wear Jordan’s No. 23, including Philadelphia PG Lou Williams, L.A. Clippers center Marcus Camby, and Phoenix G/F Jason Richardson.

at 12:29 am by bryan

Bulls Snap Cavs’ 3-Game Winning Streak, 86-85

The Cavs were down one point with 3.5 seconds left, but LeBron James couldn’t convert on a lay-up and didn’t draw a foul call he thought he deserved, and the Chicago Bulls upset the Cavs at home, 86-85 on Thursday night.

After drawing a shot-clock violation and a huge defensive stop on the Bulls, the Cavs regained possession with the chance for one final shot. Everyone in the Q knew the ball was going to LeBron, and it did. He beat Bulls F Luol Deng by a step, drove into the lane, but drew contact from Bulls C Joakim Noah, and lost the ball out of bounds.

James was incredulous that he didn’t receive the call, going to the scorer’s tables while the referees were conferencing to plead his case. Even after the final horn had sounded, James pled his case once more to the referees, who could do nothing by that point.

“It’s a call you think you may get,” James said. “I felt a push from Deng and some contact over the top from Noah. Enough to put me on the free throw line? Yes. But that’s a judgment call for the officials.”

Despite stuffing the box score as usual (25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block), James had a rough night, as he took two hard shots that left him slightly worse for the wear.

James rolled his left ankle after he pulled up under the Cavs’ basket in the first half, then slammed into a chair as he dove for a loose ball into the courtside seats.

“I took some good shots tonight, and it wasn’t even from the Bulls,” James said. “I’ve had better days and I’ve had worse.”

What’s worse, for James, is that with this loss, the Cavs matched their home loss record for all of last season (the Cavs have lost two games at home already this year, they went 39-2 last year in the regular season). With the offense traditionally getting off to slow starts this year, it’s up to the King and his 7 foot joker to figure out how to stop the bleeding before it’s too late.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 1:13 am by bryan