SHAQ AND THE WAR ON AGEING
IT’S THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER AND SHAQUILLE O’NEAL IS STANDING ON THE FRONT LAWN OF HIS 800-SQUARE-METRE HOME, DRESSED IN A BLACK TANK TOP AND MATCHING GYM SHORTS.
Shaq has been known to whisper during interviews when he’s not interested in talking, but out here his deep voice carries across the grass as he greets me.
I’m here, walking around his compound – past the tree house, then through the backyard where he hopes to one day add a path for riding dirt bikes – to see how the 7ft 1in (216cm) NBA legend views himself today. As someone whose body has always been up for public scrutiny as a result of his profession, what is a going-on-50-year-old Shaq’s philosophy on health and wellness? How are his priorities changing? How is someone known for being a big kid grappling with growing older?
As a child, Shaq dreamed about being a basketball star, a successful rapper and DJ, and a TV star. He’s accomplished all this and much more. Today, he isn’t just an analyst on TNT’s . He’s also a DJ known as Diesel (he plays EDM); a sheriff’s deputy hoping to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community; a producer of the animated short film , about anxiety; an owner of various fast-food franchises; and arguably America’s top athlete-turned-pitchman, hawking everything from insurance and pain relief, to printers and pizza. Just how many brands Shaq is endorsing is hard to keep up with – he’s constantly unveiling new partnerships and cashing
