269: 118: Truth and Shaq (Asking for monthly tickets!) _3 269: 118: Truth and Shaq (Asking for monthly tickets!) _3 Without a doubt, Jordan was referring to the championship.
This year’s Bulls were completely different from before, and it was evident to everyone.
He longed for a real victory in the second game, which would take place in six days!
On December 11th, only two days were left before the rematch between the Magic and the Bulls.
O’Neal went with the team to New Jersey for an away game, but not to play.
Instead, he took the chance to visit his grandmother in Newark.
Roger accompanied Shaq during this time.
Odessa, the grandmother, was very weak, but she still managed to muster a smile, “Don’t worry, children, I just get very tired often.
A little rest should do me good.”
After this, Roger waited for Shaq in the living room and overheard an argument between O’Neal and a private doctor in the other room.
“Listen, I have plenty of money, no matter which country’s specialists you bring in, money is not the issue!”
“Money really isn’t the issue, Shaq.
The problem is that there isn’t any time left.
Spend a good Christmas with her.”
Half a year ago you said she couldn’t make it past 1995.
After I increased the funds, now you say she won’t make it past 1996.
I’ll give it to you, give it!
But I can’t leave her!”
“Shaq, believe me, it truly isn’t about the money.”
Roger sat in the living room without interjecting.
Then a nurse ran out, “Sir, your grandmother Odessa wants you to come in.”
Roger hesitated for a moment before entering his grandmother’s room.
O’Neal’s grandmother was a Catholic and never swore or spoke loudly; she always had a bible at hand.
She motioned for Roger to come closer with a smile and a wave of her hand.
Roger leaned in and put his ear next to his grandmother’s mouth.
She asked in a weak voice, “Is Rashaun behaving?
He hasn’t been causing you any trouble, has he?”
O’Neal’s full name, Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal, had the middle name given by his grandmother, meaning warrior.
“He can be a mischievous child, but he’s really not bad.
If he causes any trouble, you come tell me, and I’ll help you teach him a lesson.
But don’t you two have any big falling out.
I don’t know much about basketball, but I know it’s a game that requires a lot of teamwork,” the grandmother said with a laugh.
“He won’t be any trouble.
He and I are the best of partners,” Roger replied.
Because they visited Odessa, Roger and Shaq didn’t arrive at the stadium until half an hour before the game, but it didn’t affect anything.
Roger dropped 33 points as usual to lead the team to victory, and O’Neal waved his towel exactly fifty times, not one less.
On the way back to the hotel on the bus that evening, O’Neal suddenly told Roger, “We must successfully defend our title, I don’t want her to see me fail.”
On December 12th, there was only one last day left before this highly-anticipated national game!
Early that morning, Roger had someone clean the house spotless because an important guest was coming.
After the afternoon training, O’Neal meant to go home with Roger.
But upon hearing that Roger was going to the airport to pick up his French teacher, Shaq became curious.
So, once more, he squeezed himself into Roger’s Porsche.
“Great, just great, Shaq!
Now, where’s my friend supposed to sit when she gets in the car?” Roger asked exasperatedly on the way to the airport.
“Don’t get worked up.
I just want to see who your French teacher is.
Then I’ll take a cab home myself.
“Then I really must tell her about your adventures with Snow White.”
Upon reaching the airport, Roger and Shaq quickly met Laetitia.
Shaq bent over like a gentleman and kissed the back of her hand: “Welcome to the incredible Magic World, miss.”
Roger quickly pushed him away: “Shaq, you can go home now.”
“Alright, Roger, you don’t need to escort me.
But don’t study too late tonight.
I know you’re diligent, but tomorrow we still have to face the Chicago Bulls,” Shaq said.
O’Neal hailed a cab home.
Every taxi driver at the airport was willing to take him for free, only asking for an autograph in return.
Halfway there, Shaq saw a silver Porsche stopped by the roadside and hastily asked the driver to stop.
“Not again!” O’Neal saw Roger waiting on the side of the road for help and couldn’t help but almost laugh.
“Every time you ride in my car, something goes wrong!” Roger was speechless too; he felt that he would never experience the joy of sharing a ride with O’Neal in this lifetime.
“How is this my fault?
Damn it, what happened?”
“After parking, it just wouldn’t start.”
“Step aside, let me look.”
I don’t want the engine to end up in the lake too.
You haven’t even paid me for the rims yet!”
O’Neal pretended not to hear about the rims and started inspecting Roger’s car: “You haven’t driven this car for a while, right?
I tell you not to buy so many cars, and you don’t believe me.
You only have two legs and two hands; you can’t drive that many cars.”
At this point, Shaq remembered the scene from last season when he celebrated their championship by pulling down Roger’s pants, so he added, “Well, maybe three.
Anyway, if the car sits too long, it’s prone to problems like battery drain and tire leaks.”
I specifically told him to drive my cars regularly for maintenance!”
your beloved Joe has been training me lately, so you can’t blame him.
And you know, Old Joe is almost like your personal butler now, but he’s really just a trainer.
Maybe you should consider hiring a personal assistant or something.”
“Good idea, Shaq, but it’s probably too late now.”