Taahirah O'Neal. 34 was retired by the LA Lakers in 2013 and No. With it, his fathers impact on his discipline, success, and values as a player and as a person truly hit home. By the time he was knee-deep in criticism, six months had gone by. Shaquille O'Neal was one of the most dominant players during his era. Harrison then a sergeant in the U.S. Army, brought up O'Neal at military bases all over the world, including Germany and Texas, where he became a legendary prep. NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal despised his biological father, Joseph Toney, for the longest time. Phillip Harrison forbade those efforts, and it remained that way until his death. O'Neal's No. Shaq's biological father Joseph Toney who is an ex-convict that served time for multiple felonies that involved drug charges and felonies related to the forging of checks was not a very big part of his childhood. The show provides the most comprehensive forum on mental health issues in the history of television. He had some tears in his eye. Shareef O'Neal said Wednesday that after butting heads with his father, basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, over his decision to enter the NBA draft, his dad is now on his side. According to reports, there was a time when Toney sighted ONeal at a high school game and tried to meet him, but Harrison forbade it. Although O'Neal had every reason to be mad with his biological father, he chose to see things differently. In fact, there has been no shortage of superstars, especially when it comes to the talent at the big man positions. As O'Neal's father sought to get him on the right path, he convinced him to do better in school by enticing him with tickets to a basketball game. Yao Ming not only accepted Shaquille O'Neal's apology, he even went a step further by chalking it up to cultural differences. Yeah. Who Is Mikal Bridges Girlfriend Grainger Rosati? O'Neal's No. After Shaquille O'Neal's father ripped into him for being disrespectful towards Yao Ming, Shaq apologized for potentially offending everyone. Lets have a look at it who he is. Shaq grew up to become one of the greatest big men of all time. My message to him was, I dont hate you. ONeal was a two-time All-American at LSU, as well as a two-time SEC Player of the Year and Adolph Rupp Trophy winner in 1991; he was also named college player of the year by AP and UPI. It is noteworthy that Harrison was not O'Neal's biological father, but rather, an adoptive parent. Shaq had inked a new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers at that time. Shareef O'Neal participated in a pre-draft workout with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, but the eldest son of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal revealed that his father "didn't want" his. Phillip Harrison, Shaq's military-member father, crossed the line from raising a tough child to abuse, according to Jackie MacMullan, who wrote the book with Shaq. Before Dwight Howard was the best man in Orlando it was Shaq who was doing all the heavy lifting for that squad. Joe Toney is best known as the father of Shaquille O'Neal, who is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players and centers of all time. O'Neal was a toddler when his birth father, Joseph Toney, was arrested for drug possession and forging checks. Shaquille O'Neal says that his father threatened to kill him if he ever did drugs after a close friend of his, passed away due to overdose. America's Favorites . He became the driver of a delivery truck that would supply food and other necessities to homeless shelters. O'Neal and his ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal share four children together: sons Shareef and Shaqir and daughters Amirah and. Dr. Phil makes regular appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and The Late Late Show with James Corden. He finished his career averaging 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over 1,207 games. Strict as he was, its clear that Shaqs father left a legacy that will live on. Helping Trying to Bring a Championship to the Knicks. He is one of the greatest of all time and no one can take that away from him. In 1994, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal released a rap song publicly taking a dig at his biological father, Joseph Toney, who tried mending fences with the former Magic center. His stepfather taught him about hardwork. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. As it happened, all three of them walked down the aisle with their mother. Shaquille ONeal was troubled upon receiving the news. Also Read: There is no loyalty in sports!: Shaquille ONeal had put the New England Patriots on blast after letting Tom Brady walk. Shaq said that this helped him focus throughout his career. He passed away on Sept. 10, 2013. Harrison was a real man through and through. Joe Toney is a great role model for fathers everywhere. Be the first one to comment on this story. He reportedly attempted a six-hour drive from Atlanta to Florida instantly. Shaquille ONeal always credits his stepfather for making him who he is. Harrison later married. Popcreep is news website that will keep you updated with all the latest happenings from entertainment industry. years now. Harrison saw potential in O'Neal and was a guiding force throughout his basketball career. In an interview with Esquire, O'Neal recalled when his father had a less than ideal reaction to a Reebok executive pitching O'Neal a deal worth $10 million: Shaquille O'Neal's father had a great influence early in his career and was crucial in O'Neal becoming the most dominant player in league history. Joe Toney, Shaquille ONeals father, is a very supportive father. Phillip Harrison was Jamaican, born in 1947 and grew up leading a disciplinarian life. Please logout and login again. The man could do everything from dunk at will to back down the opponent till he got to the basket. Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal was born on March 6, 1972 . Shaquille O'Neal retired as a four-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, 2000 MVP, 15-time All-Star and 14-time All-NBA honoree. As a self-confessed bully who frequently found himself in . Joseph Toney spent around six years in prison after abandoning his family. Shaq would later meet his biological father, a relationship he recently started working on. The 70 center was an absolute beast in the paint and perhaps the most dominant force the NBA has ever seen. By delivering on his dads dying wishes, NBA star Shaquille ONeal reminds us all that the most valuable thing we pass on to our kids is priceless. It was his stepfather who recognized the talent he possessed and nurtured him into becoming a four-time champion, MVP, and perennial All-NBA and All-Star player. Shaq has said multiple times that his kids should get their own degrees, and not dream about taking a part of his wealth without achieving something. For O'Neal, she's beginning to hit her stride on the floor. My brothers and sisters family. He says that this stemmed from losing a friend to drug addiction. Shaq says that these two incidents motivated him to stay on course and helped to reach the NBA. She was awesome. From that moment forward, the ONeal family franchise was in good hands. Theres no doubt that Shaq has made his father proud. Also Read: Shaquille O'Neal, who missed over 5,000 free throws, disses himself while trying to flip a bottle It's clear that Shaq had a special bond with his father. starting off in the year 2012. Shaq was rocked by tragedy when his father passed away. Once he was out of jail, Toney reportedly tried to lead a reformed life. Duringthat time, the family traveled and lived in different parts of the world on military bases. Furious. But Shaq could have ended up on an entirely different path if he hadnt listened to one of his loved ones. Shaquille O'Neal and his biological father Joseph Toney. When Shaq got all C's, Sgt. His friends had a few beers to drink, and they took the car, which resulted in them getting into an accident and losing their lives. Harrison died in 2013. He is known for being a very strict father. Also Read: Shaquille ONeal, who missed over 5,000 free throws, disses himself while trying to flip a bottle. It was a jarring blow even for the man nicknamed Superman.. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Shaquille O'Neal On Meeting His Biological Father: 'I Don't Judge Him' Dr. Phil 6.18M subscribers Subscribe 1.7M views 3 years ago #DrPhilShow #DrPhil #PhilMcGraw Basketball legend. My job is to just love him as much as I can nowand that is exactly what he has been doing all these years. . Dr. Phil has also done crossovers with 90 Day Fianc and Inside Edition.Do you want to be on the show? Be the first one to comment on this story. During a recent appearance on "Hot Ones," O'Neal revealed that his father, Sgt. Kyrie Irving Wrote a Message on His Shoes in His First Game for the Dallas Mavericks Despite Losing $11 Million Nike Deal. Having previously worked as a WWE content writer, Nithin now writes about the NBA, being a supporter of the Miami Heat and basketball as a sport. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The Big Diesel achieved all of this despite his tough upbringing. She married Shaquille's father, Army drill sergeant Phillip Harrison, when their firstborn was 2 years old. https://bit.ly/BeOnDrPhilShowhttps://www.drphil.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphilshowTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/drphilInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphilTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drphil#DrPhil #PhilMcGraw #DrPhilShow However, he didnt even know that his stepfather wasnt even his biological father until he was 11 years old. Shaq says that this tragic story helped him get to where he is. Thanks to his stepfather, though, Shaq fell in love with the game and decided to follow in idols' footsteps. Born July 19, 1996, Taahirah O'Neal is the oldest of the O'Neal children. Joe Toney, who played high school basketball and was offered a basketball scholarship to play at Seton Hall. O'Neal has often talked about his father, Philip A. Harrison, being a massive influence in his life. He has since met Joseph Toney, his real father who bailed out on him when Shaq was an infant. This is what Shaq had to say when he was asked to comment on it. However, he didnt even know they were not related till he was 11! But it has definitely started moving in a positive direction lately. Free shipping for many products! Speaking with TNT, ONeal recalls his drill sergeant dad using a stern hand to keep him out of trouble. During an interview with the LA Times in the wake of Shaq's apology, Ming said: As it turns out, O'Neal's on-air apology wasn't the only one. ONeal said he plans to meet his other half of the family one day, and with his father being 70 years old now he can take the time to put together the other parts of his life. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. In the wake of the entire affair, O'Neal and Yao became pretty good friends. Who Is Bryn Forbes Girlfriend and What Does She Do? He is currently pursuing his MBA in Sports Management and as such has attempted to immerse himself in a variety of professional sports and sports leagues like the Premier League, NBA, and NFL. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Philip Arthur Harrison took him to a New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers game, where he saw Dr. J drive baseline and dunk the ball. Harrison passed away in 2013 but is credited by ONeal for being the man whom he has become in life. (Suggested Reading: Stephen A Smith says Kyrie Irving deserves $50 million a year). According to the four-time NBA champion, whenever he's in China, he makes sure to hit up the Chinese superstar. He showed him. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. His efforts won him an offer for a basketball scholarship at Seton Hall, but little else is known about his basketball career. Shaquille ONeal was one of the most dominant players during his era. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) It proves that the most priceless thing you can leave your children are values that enrich others. The director and star also told IndieWire about the importance of ASL to the father-daughter . O'Neal often tells a story that has led to some of the most ferocious dunks the NBA has ever seen. 32 . At the end of the day, they have earned their father a fortune. 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Also read: "Charles Barkley and I Went Out For Dinner After Fighting": Shaquille O'Neal Revealed Unexpected Aftermath of Infamous Event Your login session has expired. Harrison was more than successful in doing so. One of Shaq's oldest endorsements came when Reebok signed Shaq and released O'Neal's signature shoe, "Shaq Attaq.". To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. From then on, O'Neal knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. Please logout and login again. NBA Trade Rumors: Insider Believes Rift Between Anthony Davis and LeBron James Could Leave to DallasMavericksMove. He is a 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) and 325-pound (147 kg) center who played for six teams over his 19-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is a four-time NBA champion. Shaquille ONeal could not grow up around his biological father as he was sentenced to prison for drug possession. Given that Ming openly looked up to Shaq, Big Diesel's father made sure an apology was in order. "The real story is that when my . Harrison envisioned a style of play for ONeal, which utilized his gifts as a big man. His presence in Shaqs life was so massive that he actually had no idea that Harrison wasnt his real father till he turned 11 years old. Rich Fury/Getty Since his playing days in the league as well as retirement in 2011, the four-time NBA champion has touted many endorsement deals and sponsorships. Shaquille ONeal is a very successful businessman. Phillip Harrison succumbed to a series of health issues at 66, passing away in 2013. He has several ventures that have catapulted his net worth to millions. Shaquille ONeal is one of the best players in NBA History and he is arguably the most dominant one. WATCH THIS STORY: Shaquille O'Neal's bizarre pre-game ritual from his magic days. Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury Update: Will Giannis Play in the All-Star Game? As a self-confessed bully who frequently found himself in hot water, O'Neal credits his father's influence with guiding him in the right direction. NBA Legend Shaquille ONeal was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this week, and many stories about his career were retold and explained long after he had been gone from the game. However, three years after Phillip Harrisons death, ONeal was open to the idea of meeting his biological father after some persuasion from his mother. Like his father and his siblings, Shaqir plays. Shareef O'Neal is looking to follow in his superstar father's footsteps, but it seems as though Shaquille O'Neal has different aspirations for his 22-year-old son. And while many weren't sold on Shaq's remorse, the incident didn't seem to phase Yao Ming as much as everyone expected. Shaq has said that while Harrison was not his real father, he doesn't believe in such things and has always perceived him to be his real father. Dr. Phil is the top-rated daytime talk show attracting millions of viewers every day alongside other talk shows, including The Ellen Show with Ellen DeGeneres, The Dr. Oz Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Steve Wilkos Show. My father taught me not to really cry and be sad, so when he passed away I really let it go, because I didnt get to tell him thank you enough. One of the accountsONeal has been more vocal about lately isthe reconciliation with his biological father Joe Toney. He went on Dr.Phil and spoke about meeting his biological father at 44. 50 explained that he holds himself responsible for the breakdown of his marriage to Shaunie in 2009, who departed Shaq in 2009 after marrying him in 2002. Lately,. Not only did O'Neal become the most dominant player in NBA history, he is widely considered to be one of the 10 best players to have ever played. Now, two decades away from his playing days in the yellow and purple, O'Neal thinks it would be a joke if the team made the postseason. The NBA had just entered the Yao Era back then, with a massive seven-foot-six center cementing his place in the league with the Houston Rockets. Shaq met Toney at Vondas Kitchen in Newark, New Jersey. Harrison later married O'Neal's mother, Lucille O'Neal. You have entered an incorrect email address! By the Hall of Famer's own admission, he was a pretty troubled child. 32 by the Miami Heat in 2016. She really was. However, it would take one tragic event to show just how strong and magical his fathers impact actually was. Shaquille O'Neal meets children at the Henry County Boys and Girls Club in July 2022 after donating $1 million to the program. However, he didn't even know that his stepfather wasn't even his biological father until he was 11 years old. Here are a few things you may not know about this American icon. pic.twitter.com/HSkuYkf5Fi, (@PLAY_1950) October 24, 2020. BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 27: Shaquille O'Neal reacts during the first half of a game between the LSU Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November . Shaquille O'Neal never grew up around his biological father, Joseph Toney, as he relinquished his parenting duties to the late Phillip A. Harrison, who raised O'Neal as a child. Holder of a Bachelor's Ill kill you. US Army sergeant Phillip Harrison raised Shaq. Shaq talks about his stepfather.. I respect the guy that works hard from cheque to cheque and would do whatever it takes