Eat My Sports: Love Shaq

In regards to Valentine’s Day, and amongst the swirling rumors that Bryan McBournie and I are in a “tiff,” I’m putting down the gloves this week. I’m also leaving the NFL alone … until the draft.

Last week the NBA’s version of the Miami Dolphins, ironically enough the Miami Heat, traded All-Star Center Shaquille “Nick Nolte, I’m sorry about ‘Blue Chips'” O’Neal to the Phoenix Suns. I would under normal circumstances mention who those players were, but the Heat suck, so they get nothing, not even in love week. So, The Big Aristotle got dealt, and I feel like the only one who thinks that this was bigger than the trades that got the Big Three into Boston. Side note: Dear New England, I don’t hate the Celtics or Bruins, I love the Sox, it’s just the Pats, Boston’s a baseball town anyway.

This trade gives Phoenix the big post player that they have needed to get out of the West. The Lakers finally figured out that they needed Pau (seriously, you couldn’t add an “L”?) Gasol to challenge Tim Duncan and the quiet dynasty in San Antonio. Phoenix needed a big man to come out of the playoffs alive. So off goes malcontent Shawn Marion, and in comes the Big Diesel. A lineup that features Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, O’Neal, Grant Hill, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Leandro “Captain” Barbosa could be hell on any opponent on any night.

O’Neal may have lost a few steps over the years, as well as added a *cough* few pounds courtesy of the Roger Clemens diet. However one thing has remained consistent throughout O’Neal’s remarkable career, when he is motivated his teams win. Add some extra incentive to knock Kobe “Remember Denver” Bryant out of the playoffs, this whole scenario starts to make the Suns look pretty good to challenge the Celtics or Pistons for the NBA crown. Anyone remember his first two years in Miami after getting traded from an aging and declining Los Angeles franchise? Loss in the conference finals, followed up by a championship in year two. When he bolted to the Lakers after the Orlando Magic appeared to be an afterthought in the East, three championships and four NBA Finals appearances in eight seasons.

I know that it’s love week. But the East is horrible, other than Detroit or Boston no team is even worth putting into the playoff discussion. The Suns can run, we know that. They run the ball up and down the court like Jamie Lynn Spears from a pregnancy test. But add a defensive stopper to the equation, this may be the formula to not having Eva Longoria be the focus of yet another NBA Finals.

Shaq has already told us that the Sun will rise in the West, well I have no reason to argue. In fact, I love the sound of it.

Top five things I love about sports this week:
5. Adrian Peterson
Way to show up for a game that most veterans usually mail in.
4. Lost
Not a sports topic, I know. But the new direction of this show is fantastic. Way to get away from the soap opera-esque formula most shows go into by year four.
3. Boston Celtics
Not a Celts fan (truth be known, sigh, the Knicks are my team), but KG is finally in a situation that he deserves.
2. Semi-Pro
This is a film that will put We Are Marshall to shame.
1. You
You SeriouslyGuys readers get a special “We Love You” from the Guys. That’s love from four men.