Truth & Rumors > NBA

Shaq taking broadcast lessons

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Shaquille O'Neal is in training for his next career. The 7-foot-1 center for the Suns is taking a course at Syracuse University known as Sportscaster U, a crash course designed to teach athletes about the broadcasting industry. He arrived on Sunday and started school Monday at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Sportscaster U is essentially a broadcasting boot camp started last year by Syracuse radio play-by-play announcer Matt Park and fellow Syracuse alum Dave Ryan, an ESPN announcer. Park and Ryan are adjunct professors at Newhouse. The inaugural Sportscaster U was held last summer in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association. Four players, including Eric Snow and Adrian Griffin, signed up for the hands-on course. They will host another session for more NBA players later this summer, but this week's session was designed specifically for Shaq. "His energy level is unbelievable," Park said. "He wants to do it all and he's been terrific."

Associated Press

Shaquille O'Neal, Getty Images Shaquille O'Neal, Getty Images
May 20, 2009  07:06 AM ET

will they get him to remove the marbles from his mouth when he talks so we can understand him?

May 20, 2009  08:14 AM ET

Preparing for his next gig very soon because he's just about done.

May 20, 2009  08:31 AM ET

He can do whatever he wants except being a GM.

May 20, 2009  08:47 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

He can do whatever he wants except being a GM.

I have to agree with you on this. Shaquille can just about do anything he wants to after his career is over. Going into TV would be a good step for him though with his personality and sense of humor. He could offend people and make you laugh at the same time. Kind of like Charles Barkley.

May 20, 2009  09:21 AM ET

I think it would be pretty funny to have him as an announcer. Having him and Barkley together would be entertaining. Just maybe a little more diction when he speaks. Kinda mumbly at times.

May 20, 2009  09:36 AM ET

I despise Shaq. I hope he gets eaten by a Great White Shark.

May 20, 2009  09:39 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

I despise Shaq. I hope he gets eaten by a Great White Shark.

envy is such a bad trait... but I guess some people can't avoid it...

May 20, 2009  09:56 AM ET

Lets pray Syracuse has a school for rap and dance too.

May 20, 2009  10:03 AM ET

Love Syracuse, anyone who is pro-active in his education is alright in my book. Good for him.

Hopefully he can take over Mark Jackson's job, cause I'm thinking he is blowing the entire Nuggets' squad by how biased his commentary was last night.

May 20, 2009  10:10 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

I have to agree with you on this. Shaquille can just about do anything he wants to after his career is over. Going into TV would be a good step for him though with his personality and sense of humor. He could offend people and make you laugh at the same time. Kind of like Charles Barkley.

Exactly!

May 20, 2009  10:16 AM ET

I like it. If Shaq was doing NBA commentary, I could at least watch the game without having to mute the sound of Mark Jackson. Jackson should have been in the 1st class.

May 20, 2009  10:25 AM ET
QUOTE(#11):

I like it. If Shaq was doing NBA commentary, I could at least watch the game without having to mute the sound of Mark Jackson. Jackson should have been in the 1st class.

As much as I like Mark Jackson as a player, I got to agree it's tough to listen to him and Van Gundy go on. Shaq would be a much better substitute but I wonder if Shaq would want to be a game analyst?

He seems better off in the studio.

May 20, 2009  10:29 AM ET

I can hear him now.

*dumb voice*

So, how did you ------stops to think of a question------

ugh, basketball ------pauses------

-----interviewee steps in------

Yeah, the game was good, my team played well, it was a team effort.
-----interviewee runs away-----

Shaq: Thanks, Man!!

May 20, 2009  10:44 AM ET
QUOTE(#12):

As much as I like Mark Jackson as a player, I got to agree it's tough to listen to him and Van Gundy go on. Shaq would be a much better substitute but I wonder if Shaq would want to be a game analyst?He seems better off in the studio.

I don't know how Shaq doing analysis could be anything but distracting and annoying. Studio only!

May 20, 2009  10:59 AM ET

Okay maybe Shaq in the studio, but Mark Jackson has got to go. I could barely listen to him last night.

May 20, 2009  11:01 AM ET

I never thought I'd say this, but... Shaq is smarter than Barkley.

May 20, 2009  11:14 AM ET

Are you kidding me? To use a Barkley phrase, "first of all", Shaq doesn't even talk well, that alone should knock him out of consideration, and second, who likes shaq anymore?, he's a has been. Please Shaq, just go be a sherriff or something.

May 20, 2009  11:33 AM ET

I would have a blast listening to Shaq when watching games. When he retires I hope he truly does do it.

May 20, 2009  11:34 AM ET

SHAQ: 25% cop, 25% broadcaster, 25%rapper,25%NBA player.....100% IDIOT.....

 
May 20, 2009  11:34 AM ET

do you want to know what also would be interesting. Stan vun Gundy of Orlando broadcasting. It'd be hilariously listening to him yell.

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