At 7’1 and weighing in at 147 kgs, Shaquille O’Neal was not just a giant in the flesh on the basketball court but a giant of basketball.
Adjudged College Player of the Year while studying at the Louisiana State University, O’Neal carried that early promise into the NBA to become one of the best centers of the league with his imposing physical presence causing the downfall of many an opponent.
O’Neal, born on this day 44 years ago, played for six teams in his 19-year NBA career, earning four championships and also an Olympic gold in the 1996 Atalanta Games.
He is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same year (2000).
His tally of 28,596 points ranks 7th all-time in NBA. Since his retirement in 2011, O’Neal who has also cut four rap albums and acted in movies, has become a TV analyst.
1947: Dick Fosbury, American who revolutionised the high jump with his back flip, now known as ‘Fosbury flop’ (69).
1962: Alison Nicholas, English winner of 1997 US Women’s Open and Solheim Cup captain in 2009 and 2011 (54).
1979: Tim Howard, United States’ most capped goalkeeper, and an Everton regular since 2007 (37).
1989: Agnieszka Radwanska, Polish tennis player, Wimbledon runner-up in 2012 and currently World No.3 (27).
