Shaquille O'Neal suspended
 

Shaq suspended; Lakers fall to Pacers

The NBA suspended Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal for one game without pay Monday, one day after he criticized the officials and used obscene language during a TV interview.

The suspension was announced after O'Neal issued a statement apologizing for the comments he made in the wake of the Lakers' victory Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. He sat out the team's 85-72 loss to the Indiana Pacers and forfeited $295,000 in salary.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson called the punishment ''rather severe and childish in some ways.'' He said he thought that a fine would have been appropriate and that the fans would be penalized by not being able to see O'Neal in the Lakers' lone trip to Indianapolis.

O'Neal scored 36 points against the Raptors, but he was angered by the officiating. He made that clear by using two profanities in a live interview after the game. When he was reminded he was on live TV, O'Neal responded with another vulgarity.

''My comments were made out of frustration in the heat of the moment,'' O'Neal said in the statement. ''But I realize that my choice of words was inappropriate, and I would like to apologize.''

forfeited $295,000 in salary

oh what a loss :mad:

hes back now,he sat out of last nights loss in indy

At least he sat out for suspension rather than being hurt again.

Karreem Rush is hurt now as well.

Even the backups are falling.

Suprisingly even with all the injuries..

A lineup of

Payton
Fisher
Fox
Medvedenko
Shaq

Is still not ALL that bad.

Its these cracka ass cracka officials hatin on the brotha because it's Black History Month. Haters!

what did he say ?

he dropped an F bomb while ripping the refs (which is usually enough for an NBA fine), and when the reporter reminded Shaq that they were live, he said he didn't give a shit.

that was funny as HELL!!! :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

oh cry me a river! He gets suspended for that?

I bet he would have been fine if exposed Janet's titty!

lol Shaq RULES!

:1orglaugh

Good news for the Pacers. :1orglaugh

Funny thing is, it is worth it for him and the Lakers.

Those refs will give him a few more calls per game because of it.

Iverson is known for this tactic during post-season play.

shaq should be allowed to curse