Oh how far we’ve come.
Turner Broadcasting is kicking off the spring Counter-Strike tournament in their eSports initiative, ELEAGUE, so they got someone as big as their ALL-CAPS LOGO to promote it: retired basketball player Shaquille O’Neal. Because sure, why not!
It’s actually a pretty funny video. Or at least, you know, a couple parts are funny. I liked when he had the cheese.
Shaq’s no stranger to the world of video games. Incredibly, Shaq Fu 2 is really, actually, honestly a thing. This also implies that, yes, Shaq Fu 1 was really, actually, honestly a thing as well.
Shaq also got into a heated verbal exchange with Counter-Strike analyst Duncan “Thorin” Shields earlier this year while both of them were at commentating desks for their respective games on television channel TNT. It all started when Shields took a shot at 1996 Shaq cinematic vehicle Kazaam. By the end, Shaq said he wanted to punch Shields while chuckling through teeth gritted hard enough to bite a diamond in half.
These are the times we live in. Despite being a man trapped in a future he never asked for—one in which The Youths treat him as a punchline while becoming famous athletes from their computers—I have no doubt that Shaq is profiting handsomely.
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