WARD - Gareth Bale CLEMENT SAYS: I worked with G

Springfield, Mass. -- The dream his stepfather had long ago becomes reality Friday night at the Springfield Symphony Hall as the LSU and NBA icon, Shaquille ONeal, is inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.And if Shaq has his way, Sgt. Phillip Harrisons memory will be front and center at the Symphony Hall.And I will probably make one of my relatives move, ONeal said Wednesday night on NBA-TV. And leave an empty seat for Phillip Harrison. I ordered my tickets the other day but I will probably have to make a painful call to one of my cousins, hey I need your seat. Ill make it up to you, because I want that seat to be empty. If he was still alive, I know he would be there and be so happy.The enshrinement event begins at 5:30 p.m. CT and will be covered live on NBA-TV and NBA.com.What remains to be seen is will we see the fun-loving Shaq in his acceptance speech or will he be emotional when he talks about his mom Lucille ONeal and his stepdad Sgt. Phillip Harrison.It was the fun-loving side of Shaq that came out a few years ago after Coach Dale Brown introduced him in Natchitoches (as he dubbed it Shaqitoches) at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. At the College Basketball Hall of Fame induction in 2014 when both Shaq and Dale went in, it was a night of one upsmanship in storytelling.But there is something magical about the pinnacle of the sport in Springfield. When Hall of Famers (and Shaquille will have Julius Erving, Bill Russell, Alonzo Mourning and Isiah Thomas escort him to the stage for is his acceptance speech. Thats the moment when it seems to hit the inductees the most and emotional flow. So who knows what the moment will bring out in ONeal?At the Thursday press conference at the Hall, which is also opened to a paid crowd at the museum, ONeal was at his best, strutting the stage like a fashion model with his new Hall of Fame jacket and later bringing a young girl on stage with a Michigan State sweatshirt to take a picture with him and fellow inductee Coach Tom Izzo of Michigan State. Then inductee Sheryl Swoopes got up and told the story that ONeal offered a million dollars if she would take a pratfall walking up to the stage. Swoopes said only if ONeal could show her the money!Wednesday night on NBATV, ONeal sat down with TNT colleague Ernie Johnson for a one-hour chat billed as The Big Conversation and to me, as someone who has watched him since his days at LSU from 1989-92 and beyond, this was one of the most articulate and in many ways comprehensive interviews Shaq as given on a national stage. Johnson may need to get some of the credit for that because of his demeanor and style, but ONeal also took the opportunity to open up on many subjects that many times included his parents.Some highlights:I asked my mother a long time ago why did you name me Shaquille ONeal. She said because my grandmother told me that you would somebody that will always be remembered. Thats what she told me. Because all my other kids and cousins are Brian, Tony, Jerome ... Why did you name me that crazy name? My mother told me that you are going to be world renown. That name Shaquille ONeal will ring bells.My dream was to make $8 million for 10 years and I already had it set. I had a little house. I was going to get a Blazer and a Mercedes-Benz. Johnson goes: So youve exceeded your expectations? Yes I did. I really did. laughed ONeal.(Talking about Kobe when he first came to the Lakers) You know how they always say how a guy is in the gym a couple of hours before or a couple hours after practice? That was Kobe Bryant. Im a veteran. Practice is at 10. Im arriving at 9:45. He was always there.(On the relationship with Kobe now). Were cool ... The NBA stands for Nothing But Actors. So the beef that we had there will never spill over into real life.(On Pat Riley and his LSU Coach Dale Brown) ... (Riley) and Dale Brown when they tell stories before a game, you just want to go out and kill people. Pat Riley and Dale Brown are similar guys. They teach never give up. Thats what took me to the next level. Not training. Not going out in the gym three hours. Conversations.Dale Brown had a rule that if you miss class you are going to run. Im a junior. Im an All-American ... I might be going pro at the end of this year. I might not. I miss class one day. Im sleeping and I wake up and there is this hand on my chest ... I actually think Im dead. God? There is this white hand on my chest (Coach Browns hand). The crazy thing is I got three locks on my door. How the hell did this guy get in my room? ... I ran about 15 laps (at Bernie Moore track) ... I never missed class again. It took that disciplinarian father-like figure to get me to perform at the next level.A guy asked me the other day are you happy about the hall of fame and I said yea. He said you dont have a smile on your face. This was (Phillip Harrisons) dream as well as my dream. Hes my stepfather ... But when he started teaching me basketball he always preached three names - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He told me everything about those guys. He kept saying if you listen to me I can make you as good as those guys. I wanted to be Dr. J, but once I became seven-foot, I got to be like those guys. He would just preach their name all the time. When I heard people say that Shaq is similar to those guys, all that stuff he was telling me was correct.One of the more amazing and poignant moments came in the shows final minutes when Johnson slowly and deliberately asked ONeal about his biological father and any chance of a relationship. Its a clip worth watching on NBATV as Shaq appears to wipe away a tear from under his eye as he tells the story of meeting with the man after this past basketball season.The show is a very amazing look at the life of a sports icon that really in a short time takes you through more than Xs and Os and championships and broken backboards. Shaquille ONeal is what he is because of his basketball ability at LSU and the NBA. But he has also become an iconic figure in sports. One that has transcended the game into business dealings, television and made a wonderful life for himself and his family.Friday night, is just another chance for people to recognize the talent and yes the personality that we know as Shaq. Its going to be quite a night.Frankly its quite a class with him as well: ABA superstar Zelmo Beaty, 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson, 11-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, two-time NABC Coach of the Year Tom Izzo, the first African-American coach in a professional league John McLendon, early African American Pioneer Cumberland Posey, iconic Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, four-time WNBA Champion Sheryl Swoopes and global ambassador of the game Yao Ming.I just have a feeling that Shaq may just own the night.Vans Scarpe Uomo Scontate . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Vans Scarpe In Offerta . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. http://www.vansscarpescontate.it/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Vans Scarpe Saldi . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Vans Outlet Italia . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory.Paul Clement has worked with some of the best players of recent years - so we challenged him to pick his dream team.On the Fantasy Football Club, Max Rushden and Paul Merson asked the former Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid coach to name the best XI of players he has coached.Heres Clements selection, based on their form when he coached them - and its quite a side! GOALKEEPER - Petr Cech CLEMENT SAYS: He could do everything; crosses, shot-stopper, tactically good and good with his feet as well. He had great leadership and he was a very serious professional.RIGHT-BACK - Sergio Ramos CLEMENT SAYS: He has the versatility to play right-back. He is one of my favourite players Ive worked with. He had incredible talent, but also fantastic personality and charisma as well.CENTRE-BACK - Thiago Silva CLEMENT SAYS: He is a player, in my opinion, who could have played for any of the big clubs in the world at this time in that position. Tactically, he is excellent and he has that Brazilian flair about him.CENTRE-BACK - John Terry CLEMENT SAYS: It was a pleasure to work with John. He was one of a rare breed who came through the ranks at the club. When hes not there at Chelsea or suspended or injured for a game, its just not Chelsea. Along with Tony Adams, he is the best central defender to have played in the Premier League. The Fantasy FC Podcast - 21st April LEFT-BACK - Ashley Cole CLEMENT SAYS: He was a fantastic player for both Arsenal and Chelsea. He could do both sides of the game brilliantly well. He was a ferocious defender, but also a real talent going forward.MIDFIELD - Xabi Alonso CLEMENT SAYS:: He revolutionised this position.dddddddddddd He was a playmaker, a quarter-back if you like in the way he was so crisp with his passing. Because he was not very strong, he made up for it in other ways. If you are quick in the brain and have technique you can play at the highest level.MIDFIELD - Luka Modric CLEMENT SAYS: Luka made the transition from Tottenham to Real Madrid fantastically. He is loved by the fans there, not only because he is a great footballer, but because of the physical effort he puts in.MIDFIELD - Frank Lampard CLEMENT SAYS: He was so consistent. For five or six years at Chelsea, he scored 20 a year. He was getting more goals than the strikers. He had a fantastic ability to arrive in the box at the right time.FORWARD - Gareth Bale CLEMENT SAYS: I worked with Gareth when he moved from Tottenham to Madrid. It wasnt easy coming from England to Spain with the language and Id like to think I helped him. He surprised me with how good he was.FORWARD - Zlatan Ibrahimovic CLEMENT SAYS: One day, he asked me: What am I like compared to Drogba? I was trying to be political and say he was great with his back to goal, but youve got other strengths. He looked at me and said: Im the best youve ever worked with.FORWARD - Cristiano Ronaldo CLEMENT SAYS: I think Ive left the best to last. He is outstanding. Of all the players I have worked with, he was at the very top of his game. A Ballon dOr winner with 50+ goals season after season after season. A wonderful professional and great guy. Ive worked with one of the best ever.Tune in to see more from Paul Clement on The Fantasy Football Club, 6pm, Friday, Sky Sports 1.Also See:More from The FantasyFCMichael ONeills #One2ElevenMerse: Martinez must show bottleIan Holloway: In The Picture ' ' '