Former Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal has done a lot of things since joining the league that would make him a household name three decades ago.
He’s become an NBA champion and MVP; a successful rap artist and disc jockey; appeared in films and television; earned a doctorate in education and worked as a reserve officer with the Los Angeles police.
He’s conducted the Boston Pops in concert (and gave fellow Celtic alumni Tacko Fall advice on how to do the same), tried his hand at pro wrestling and been a character in multiple video games.
He’s built a business empire apart from basketball, and even produced public service announcements to promote voting with rising Celtics star Jayson Tatum.
But at 48 years old, until this election, he’d never voted — not even once.
Speaking on a recent episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” the former Boston big came clean.
“You know I always like being honest on my podcast. I’ve never voted before, America,” O’Neal related. “But, now I’m doing all these voting campaigns, and you know one thing I never like to do is be a hypocrite. In other words, America, I voted for the first time, and it feels good.”
Citing the Electoral College — and Hillary Clinton losing the election despite winning the popular vote — as an example of why he hadn’t previously cast a vote, Shaq explained it wasn’t a valid excuse nonetheless.
Celtics Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum feature in new NBPA voting PSA https://t.co/Cg6pYh1d2d
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 9, 2020
Helping to get Fani Willis elected district attorney for Atlanta, Georgia and getting involved in races for sheriff for several friends helped change O’Neal’s feelings about the electoral process.
Regardless of our individual political beliefs, free and fair elections with safe and secure access are our best tool for building a future that represents us all.
So, be sure to make your voice heard along with Shaq’s and the rest of your fellow citizens in this November’s election.
[jwplayer adztpkQZ]
[lawrence-related id=42148,42012,41882,41239]