Le Basketbawl

New York Vinnie has been trying to come up with a new nickname for Shaquille O’Neal since he was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Cleveland Cavaliers this past summer.  Shaq was known as the “Big Cactus” during his stint with Phoenix;  however you are not going to find too many cacti in Cleveland unless they are in a flower pot at some body’s desk.  So ever since the trade went down New York Vinnie has been trying to come up with a replacement and it has not been easy.

Cleveland, Ohio is a working class city that is part of the “Rust Belt” section of the country where industry has picked up and moved on. Now the city does have the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, but that is way too Frickin long for a nickname. The only other things that New York Vinnie can associate with Cleveland other than their teams is Pink Flamingos and pirogi.  

Okay so you want to be the person that calls Shaq the “Big Pink Flamingo” because New York Vinnie is not going to be the guy! A pirogi is a dumpling with something like potato stuff inside it and the people brought it over with them from Eastern Europe. New York Vinnie also believes that O’Neal would take too kindly to being called the “Big Pirogi.”

However New York Vinnie may have come up the perfect name for Shaq in his new city. And the coolest Frickin thing about it is it’s one of those names that has a double meaning! The “Big Pick-Up” is the name that New York Vinnie came up with and here are my reasons. Cleveland is a working class city; what do a lot of working class guys drive? “Pick-Up” trucks, right? And the Cavaliers “Picked-Up“  O’Neal to try to help them win an NBA Title; its Frickin perfect isn’t it?

Thursday the “Associated Press” reported that the “Big Pick-Up” says that on paper the Cavaliers team that he will be playing with in the upcoming season just might be the best team he has ever been on. Let us remember that Shaq was on some pretty Frickin good teams in Los Angeles and Miami, teams that won NBA Titles. O’Neal told reporters “It’s probably the best team I’ve ever played on, on paper anyway. I’ve always been on management to get me the power forward I’ve needed and the shooters I’ve needed.”

Now whether this is Shaq’s true opinion or just some hype from the “Big Pick-Up” who can know for sure other than the man himself. But even it is what he believes you know as well as New York Vinnie does that the best Frickin team on paper does not always win. That is why they play the games; it is up to the “Big Pick-Up” LBJ and the rest of the Cavaliers to get it done.