Joshua Nair
Shaquille O'Neal has revealed what he wished he said to the late and great Kobe Bryant, who sadly passed away in 2020 following a horror helicopter accident.
Shaq and Kobe were one of the most dominant forces in basketball, winning three back-to-back NBA finals with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002, becoming the fifth team in the league's history to do so.
Both have gone down in sport folklore, with Shaq a four-time NBA winner, 15-time all-star and three-time finals MVP and Kobe a five-time NBA winner, 18-time all-star and two-time finals MVP.
They were unstoppable on the court but off the court, their relationship was never plain sailing. Shaq was on a mission to become the most successful and richest athlete in the world, while Kobe was laser-focused on his game and nothing else.
The pair won it all together, three times (AFP/AFP via Getty Images)The difference in their personalities caused tension from time to time between the teammates for years, before Shaq was eventually traded to the Miami Heat in 2004.
Their feud eventually de-escalated in their later years, as Kobe won two more titles and Shaq, one, before both called time on their careers.
After the pair retired, they had a one-on-one sit-down interview in 2018 to hash out their supposed feud and talk about their respect for one another, which led to fans believing that a deeper friendship was in the works.
The basketball great has now teamed up with Klarna for Christmas by changing his name to 'Shaquille O'Deal', now having his own place in their app where he helps customers find the best deals, and spoke to LADbible in partnership with the company about a number of things from business to basketball and his relationship with Kobe Bryant.
Shaq often referred to Kobe as his 'little brother' when they played together, and admitted to us that his late teammate was always up for any challenges he set him, while revealing exactly what he wished he said before his former teammate passed away for the first time.
As part of the chat, the two-time NBA scoring champion revealed: "I always used to challenge him when we were playing together. So I challenged him in his last game to hit 50, and he hit 60.
"So you know, from start to finish, whenever I challenged him, he always accepted the challenge, did the challenge and overdid the challenge."
Kobe Bryant was teammates with Shaq for eight seasons (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)He then admitted: I wish I could have had more conversations with him, but you got to realise that, you know, we're two different people."
The pair last spoke in their 2018 interview, as the 52-year-old admitted that he didn't 'like to bother and call' people, with Kobe being the same, and also revealed that most of their conversations were about basketball.
"We're definitely be the most dominant one-two punch basketball has ever seen, and that's including Magic (Johnson) and Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), they were no.2," he boldly stated about the iconic 80s' duo.
But was there anything that he wished he told Kobe before his passing four years ago?
When asked about what he would have said exactly, he answered: "'Hi', 'Love you', 'What's up?' 'How you doing?' You know? I would like (to have) a lot of time," Shaq admitted, adding that life and work takes over sometimes, despite us wanting to call our loved ones.
He highlighted: "That's why I always tell people, when you think about somebody, just make sure you contact them."
Speaking about his success as an athlete and a brand post-retirement, he admitted that he wanted to be the 'richest athlete in the world', but there was someone in his way.
Shaquillle O'Neal is one of the most recognisable faces in sport (Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images)"I can remember having all the endorsements doing this and just wanting to have that title," he said. "But it was always this good looking kid from London, David Beckham, he was always ahead of me! So, you know, seeing what he was doing just made me work harder."
Opening up on the current crop of NBA superstars, he shared that they could all become all-time greats, naming Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo in particular, but clarified that 'all of them' could be hall of famers.
"I remember a time where the gap between American basketball and European basketball was really far, but now it's really, really close," he highlighted.
The man known as 'The Diesel' also spoke about his admission that he threw away his 1996 Olympic gold medal, having been on the bench for the final game behind David Robinson, barely playing as a result.
"The reason why I don't regret it, is because when I win an accolade, I forget about it anyway, and I'll move on to the next accolade. So I said to myself, forget this when I get another one. And then I did get another one in 2000," the 2000 NBA MVP stated.Featured Image Credit: Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Topics: Basketball, Sport, Business, Celebrity
Joshua Nair
Published 20:11 12 Feb 2024 GMT
Mike Tyson explains why he used to cry before every one of his fights
Former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson explained his attitude towards his opponents before every match.
Gerrard Kaonga
Mike Tyson once explained how he has two sides to himself, and how he would bring one unassuming side out just before he'd step into the ring.
Even now, you couldn’t pay me enough money to step into the ring with Mike Tyson.
Widely considered to be one of the best fighters in the world, he built up a terrifying image with power punches that would drop some of the best boxers in his hay day.
Getty/BettmannTyson is more than aware of this image and during an interview in 2020, the former heavyweight explained his attitude ahead of fighting.
And bizarrely enough, he revealed the much softer side to himself that not many were used to seeing.
The man who built an image of demolishing opponents with heavy blows to the body and face admitted he would be shedding tears ahead of it.
Sort of hard to believe, but the words came from Tyson himself.
While speaking to actor William Shatner on his Hotboxin' With Mike Tyson podcast, Tyson explained why.
“I always cry before I fight. I don’t know why, it is just who I am,” Tyson said. “I’m getting ready to change into somebody that I don’t like.”
Surprising Shatner, the former Star Trek actor insisted it was quite an illuminating statement from Iron Mike.
YouTube/Mike TysonExplaining why he didn’t like the fighter within himself, Tyson said this other side of him came with more than just fighting.
“He brought jealousy, envy, guilt, a lot of stuff, all the bad qualities,” Tyson continued.
He added that his critics would often define him completely by the persona he held in the ring and the person Shatner is speaking to now is not that same person.
The former champ did explain that that side of him was taught to 'cut off' due to the ego, and even now still occasionally comes out.
Those on social media seemed equally fascinated by Tyson’s answer with some likening him to a certain superhero who also had a more violent side to him.
Play
“Mike is like Bruce Banner but when he boxes he’s becomes the Hulk... Hulk didn’t like Bruce because Bruce knew Hulk was dangerous,” one YouTuber commented.
“Mike Tyson is one of the most interesting conversationalists in history. This is profound,” added another.
“Mikes in a healthy state of mine, if you can sit there and identify a toxic trait of yourself that you don’t like, you’re learning and growing. Always respected this man,” commented another.
“This might actually be the most fascinating clip from a former professional athlete I've ever seen,” a fourth wrote.
Well, all I can say is I hope to never be on the receiving end of Mike Tyson’s other side when he gets loose and comes out.Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Podcastn Out / Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Topics: Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sport, Celebrity
Gerrard Kaonga
Published 14:54 5 Oct 2023 GMT+1
Freddie Flintoff said not being allowed to meet Justin Bieber was the 'weirdest thing'
Flintoff was once turned away from a Justin Bieber meet and greet with his kids for a bizarre reason
Claire Reid
Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was once turned away from a Justin Bieber meet and greet with his kids because of his height.
The former cricketer recently spoke publicly for the first time since he was involved in a horrific crash while filming Top Gear.
Freddie Flintoff speaks for first time since crash
Credit: X/England Cricket
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The 45-year-old gave a moving speech whilst presenting England cricket player Tom Hartley with his international cap.
Speaking during the presentation, Flintoff said: “This enables you to walk tall and move faster. Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also part of a family of people.
"They'll share the good times with you, share the successes. But as I found over the past few months, they'll be there for you in the hardest times of your life.
"They will stand next to you. So, like the lion on the cap Tom, be brave, be, fearless, be proud and enjoy every minute."
The family man shares four kids - Holly, Corey, Rocky and Preston - with his wife Rachael, and, as such, this means he’s been dragged along to his fair share of pop concerts over the years - including one that involved a meet and greet with Justin Bieber.
Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty ImagesHowever, Flintoff was left baffled after while waiting in line they were given a briefing on how to behave when they met the singer.
Speaking to Sports Breakfast in 2020, the 6ft 4in TV personality said: “There’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure. I’ve been to see Bieber live, I’ve seen Little Mix live.
“We went to see Bieber a few years ago and we managed to get a meet and greet. So in this meet and greet, we were in a queue of people and then we got briefed!
“This American fella comes out and says, ‘Okay, when you see Justin, you don't go near him, you don't touch him, you don't look at him in the eye’.
Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images“So I said, ‘hang on a minute mate, I’ve met The Queen, I’ve got an MBE - this is Justin Bieber!’”
Flintoff, who is dad to four kids: Holly, Corey, Rocky and Preston, eventually ended up at the front queue but as his kids walked up to Bieber to get their photos taken, he was stopped by a member of security staff.
“We got to the front of the queue, the kids got a photograph,” he revealed.
“I took one step forward and I got the arm holding me back. This fella turned around and said, ‘He don't like big guys!’
“I didn't meet him. I was there watching my kids have a photograph with him. It was the weirdest thing. He doesn't like big guys!”Featured Image Credit: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images/Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/ Getty Images
Topics: Sport, Celebrity, Freddie Flintoff, Justin Bieber
Claire Reid
Updated 08:37 20 Aug 2024 GMT+1Published 08:29 20 Aug 2024 GMT+1
Update in case after Disney said man couldn’t sue for his wife’s death because he had Disney+ account
Disney has announced a dramatic U-turn on its decision following backlash
Olivia Burke
There has been a surprise development in the lawsuit a widower waged against Disney over his wife's death after she dined at one of their restaurants.
Jeffrey J Piccolo launched a legal battle seeking to claim $50,000 in damages after his partner, Dr Kanokporn Tangsuan, sadly died when she suffered an allergic reaction - but Disney tried to dismiss it.
The conglomerate claimed that when the US man had signed up for an account on its streaming service, Disney+, in 2019, he had agreed to terms and conditions which stated any disputes must be settled out of court.
Dr Tangsuan, who worked at New York University's Langone Hospital Long Island, passed away shortly after eating at the Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs on 5 October, 2023.
Her husband's wrongful death lawsuit alleges that they repeatedly asked staff whether the menu items they had ordered were allergen-free and that staff at the eatery reassured them it was safe for the 42-year-old medic to eat.
Tragically, Dr Tangsuan died later that night.
Jeffrey J Piccolo filed a wrongful death lawsuit following the death of his beloved wife Dr Kanokporn Tangsuan (Facebook/Jeffrey Piccolo)Her death was ruled as accidental and the cause was listed to be as a result of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
But after Piccolo filed his claim, Disney's legal representatives filed a motion for the case not to go to court and instead be sorted out by arbitration, court documents explain.
They argued that since Piccolo signed up to a free trial of Disney+ on a Playstation in 2019 and in 2023 bought tickets to Epcot, he agreed to the Disney terms and conditions, which state he agrees he can't take the company to court.
They wrote in court documents: “The first page of the Subscriber Agreement states, in all capital letters, that ‘any dispute between You and Us, Except for Small Claims, is subject to a class action waiver and must be resolved by individual binding arbitration’."
As you can imagine, this prompted a fair deal of backlash from shocked Disney+ subscribers who had no idea about what was in the small print - while Piccolo's lawyer slammed the response as 'preposterous' and 'inane'.
They said that Disney's case 'is based on the incredible argument that any person who signs up for a Disney+ account, even free trials that are not extended beyond the trial period, will have forever waived the right to a jury trial'.
Disney have now backtracked on their decision (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Piccolo's representatives also argue that when he was signing up to a free trial for Disney+ and buying Epcot tickets he was representing himself, whereas now he is acting on behalf of his deceased wife since he represents her estate.
But now, Disney has announced it is performing a dramatic U-turn on its decision and announced that it will waive its right to arbitration, so that a court can instead decide on the wrongful death lawsuit.
The corporation shared various statements with media outlets explaining that they decided to relent on their position due to the 'unique circumstances' of the case.
The chairman of Disney Experiences, Josh D’Amaro, told CNN: "At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss.
"As such, we’ve decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed in court."
Piccolo is seeking at least $50,000 in damages as well as additional compensation for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and financial expenses related to the loss, court documents explain.Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Jeffrey Piccolo
Topics: US News, Disney, Disney Plus, Health, Food And Drink, Business
Olivia Burke
Updated 14:27 22 Mar 2024 GMTPublished 14:29 22 Mar 2024 GMT
Michael Keaton had one huge demand before signing up to Beetlejuice 2
Keaton said he made on thing clear 'from the beginning'.
Joshua Nair
Fans were delighted today to see Michael Keaton back in the role of trickster ghost Beetlejuice after a 36-year wait, but there was one demand that had to be met before he agreed to return.
Keaton is a Hollywood legend, known for his work in Mr. Mom, Batman and of course, 1988 comedy-horror, Beetlejuice.
The latter is getting a long-awaited sequel though, and you can view the teaser trailer here:
Beetlejuice 2 teaser trailer (2024)
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures / YouTube
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will see many of the original cast reprising their roles with Keaton making his return as the titular character alongside Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara.
But there are some new faces, with Hollywood's new scream queen Jenna Ortega joining the cast with Monica Bellucci. Director Tim Burton has also returned for the sequel.
The original followed the crude demon Beetlejuice as he was enlisted by a ghost couple to scare people out of a house that they once lived in.
It was a film that was unique for its time, with its bizarre ideas and Keaton's creepy portrayal of the eccentric demon putting the movie high in critics' ranks.
But a sequel has been set to hit out screens in September this year, 36 years after the original.
With Keaton reprising his role as Beetlejuice, he made it clear early on that the filmmakers must adhere to one demand.
Warner Bros.Speaking to People, he admitted that making the movie was the 'most fun' he'd had on set 'in a long time'.
The 72-year-old said he was keen to do a sequel, but only if they could hit the nail on the head: “We thought, ‘You got to get this right. Otherwise, just don't do it. Let's just go on with our lives and do other things.’
“Once we got there, I said, ‘Okay, let's just go for it. Let's just see if we can do it, if we can pull this off,'"
But he admitted that he had one demand, which Burton agreed on.
Warner Bros.He said: “The one thing that he and I decided on early, early, early on from the beginning, if we ever did it again, I was totally not interested in doing something where there was too much technology.
“It had to feel handmade."
Talking about the methods they used on set to ensure it was handmade, he said: “What made it fun was watching somebody in the corner actually holding something up for you, to watch everybody in the shrunken head room and say, ‘Those are people under there, operating these things, trying to get it right.’”
He called it 'the most exciting thing', having spent the past few years of his career doing this kind of work in front of a green screen, pretending that someone was there.
So if you do watch it in cinemas, it'll be worth remembering that a lot of the effects and costumes you see are actually done by hand.
