Nathaniel

Shockey

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June 26, 2008

Time for Shaq to Give One Back

In case you missed it, Shaquille O’Neal received a framed Honorary Deputy U.S. Marshal Certificate in September 2005, and was made a special deputy in 2006 by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. That’s four NBA titles, one college degree (which he completed in the middle of his NBA career) and two badges, all for the same guy who has already completed more than one man’s fair share of Icy Hot commercials.

But Shaq, Shaq, Shaq, it’s time to give one back.

It seems as though he was caught on tape rapping in a club somewhere, and his language was not exactly police-worthy. Unfortunately for Shaq, Joe Arpaio wants his two badges back.

Here are a few highlights from the most recent Shaq attack:

You know how I be . . . last week Kobe couldn’t do without me . . . ain’t nobody in the world do it bigger than me . . . that’s like a white boy tryna’ be more nigga’ than me . . . that’s the difference between first and last place . . . Kobe nigga’, tell me how my ass tastes . . .

The rhymes are actually quite good, but seriously, Shaq? He continued:

I’m a horse, Kobe ratted me out . . . that’s why I’m getting a divorce . . . he said, "Shaq gave the bitch a mill", I don’t do that cuz’ my name Shaquille . . . I love ‘em I don’t leave ‘em, I got a vasectomy, now I cant breed ‘em . . . Kobe how my ass taste? Yeah, you couldn’t do without me . . .

What in the world was Shaq thinking? Was he intoxicated? Probably a little, but I saw the video and he’s definitely supporting all his 300-plus pounds on his own. Don’t chalk it all up to “the influence.” He was under a different kind of influence. It’s called “freestyling.”

For those who might not know: Freestyling is a form of rap that occurs when two rappers try to insult each other in the most witty, funny, nasty and impressively lyrical way. It rhymes, it is rhythmic, and it only really counts when conjured on the spot. The victor is determined by whose rap receives the more enthusiastic applause, generally characterized by loud shouts of “Oh!” A competition between two freestylers is traditionally called a “battle.”

An integral aspect of freestyling is to determine if the rapper really did make his material up while rapping or if it was rehearsed. One can usually tell the difference between the authentic and the phony by sniffing out “insert opponents name here,” lyrics, or simply by speculating that a certain rap just went way too smoothly.

Honestly, I think it’s a fascinating form of expression. But the problem is that it has never made its way to the mainstream without shrugging off its racial coils. It is still replete with incredibly upsetting language, what most would consider racist. And how do we explain it away? “Oh, it’s just a cultural thing.” But I think it’s time we admit that this just shouldn’t fly anymore. At least in the public spotlight, it doesn’t.

You’ll never catch Katie Couric on CBS News talking about niggers, niggas or what have you. Even allowing a column that includes the “n” word to be printed is a distant second, but a second indeed, to printing cartoons of Mohammed.

And yet, as long as you’re in a certain environment, such as a battle, it’s considered by many to be acceptable.

These issues matter, and it really is appalling that a figure celebrated for being honorable in so many ways – finishing college, receiving honorary badges, and just by being a fun, happy, nice guy – would stoop to the level he stooped to in the freestyle that just so happened to get caught on tape.

It’s just another piece of racial residue that our society has yet to throw away, and it’s costing Shaq a lot more than a badge. It’s costing him respect.

If you happen to watch it, you’ll realize that he’s grinning his typical Shaquille O’Neal grin, and he doesn’t really seem incredibly mean-spirited. But regardless of what we hear about the context or the attitude, words matter. They cut deeply, and especially in the 21st Century, they last a really, really long time.

But there is an upside to this unfortunate incident. It has brought another dark corner of American society into the spotlight. And if we can stop distinguishing between culture and morality and admit that certain traditions need to be dismissed, our country will owe Shaquille an ironic piece of gratitude. This would be in addition to all the gratitude he has already earned by being an honorable role model for so many years.

© 2008 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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