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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 137
BY SENATOR LONG
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Shaquille O'Neal for being named to the 2013 Louisiana
Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Shaquille O'Neal for being named to the 2013 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame2
Induction Class.3
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, Louisiana was4
accepted in the state museum system in the 2003 Regular Legislative Session, setting the5
stage for Louisiana and the city of Natchitoches to collaborate with the Louisiana Sports6
Writers Association; and7
WHEREAS, born in Newark, New Jersey, and following his college career at8
Louisiana State University (LSU), Shaquille O'Neal was drafted in 1992 by the National9
Basketball Association (NBA) Orlando Magic as a first overall draft pick; and10
WHEREAS, known as one of the heaviest professional basketball players at three11
hundred and twenty-five pounds, he quickly became one of the top centers in the league,12
winning Rookie of the Year in 1992 -1993, and later leading his team to the 1995 NBA13
Finals; and14
WHEREAS, over his nineteen year professional career, he won three consecutive15
championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 with the Orlando Magic, and after being traded to16
the Miami Heat, he won his fourth championship in 2004 and fifth in 2006; and17
WHEREAS, midway through his 2007-2008 season he was traded to the Phoenix18 SR NO. 137
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Suns, and thereafter played with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2009-2010 season, and the1
Boston Celtics in the 2010-2011 season before retiring; and2
WHEREAS, Mr. O'Neal's individual accolades include the 1999-2000 MVP award,3
the 1992-1993 NBA Rookie of the Year award, fifteen All-State game selections, three All-4
State Game MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, two scoring titles, fourteen All-NBA5
team selections, and three NBA All-Defensive Team selections; and6
WHEREAS, he is one of only three players, along with Michael Jordan and Willis7
Reed, to win NBA MVP, All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP awards in 2000, and ranks8
sixth all-time in points scored, fifth in field goals, thirteenth in rebounds, and seventh in9
blocks; and10
WHEREAS, along with an extraordinary NBA career, Mr. O'Neal has released four11
rap albums, with his first, Shag Diesel, going platinum, has appeared in numerous films, and12
has starred in his own reality shows, Shaq's Big Challenge and Shaq Vs.; and13
WHEREAS, as a retired NBA player, Shaquille O'Neal is an LSU graduate, a former14
rapper, and a current analyst on the television program, Inside the NBA.15
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana16
does hereby commend Shaquille O'Neal for being named one of the nine 2013 Louisiana17
Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to19
Shaquille O'Neal and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.20
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
Long SR No. 137
Commends Shaquille O'Neal for being named to the 2013 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
Induction Class.