Shaquille O’Neal is often idolized for what he did on the court during his NBA career. He is arguably the greatest center of all time and one of the best NBA players ever. While Shaq likes to stay humble about his stint in the league, several fans know exactly how much chaos he caused. Ultimately, it all led to him winning multiple accolades and awards. While he is best known for being a former NBA athlete, Shaq also has other talents.
These days, the former Los Angeles Lakers player spends his time hosting Inside the NBA on TNT. He appears alongside former NBA star and MVP Charles Barkley as well as Kenny Smith and Sports Media Hall of Fame, Ernie Johnson. While people were aware of his goofy personality, nobody knew Shaq had a massive heart. O’Neal utilizes his $400 million net worth by making investments in businesses and random strangers.
It is safe to say that Shaquille O’Neal has had a fairly successful life on the court. But he never really had much success in his personal until he grew older. Shaq tried his hand at love multiple times, but one of his only successful relationships ended in a divorce. Otherwise, he has been linked to a few people. The 4x NBA Champion openly admitted that he was crazy about Hollywood icon Halle Berry, who was popular for her role as Cat-Woman.
Shaquille O’Neal botched his only chance to impress Halle Berry
Shaquille O’Neal once revealed he had a major crush on Halle Berry for several years. During an appearance on the It’s Non-Negotiable Podcast, Shaq detailed his connection with his Hollywood dream girl. He explained their relationship to Ernestine Morrison, Sarah Fontenot, and Amber Tai, the hosts of the podcast. Apparently, Shaq was crazy about her since his college days.
He said, “So, in college, Halle Berry is my favorite. I wrote her, and she wrote me back. Forget that she wrote me back, like ‘Oh my god, Halle Berry knows who I am.’” He added, “So, for a kid in college, getting ready to be the first pick, that’s a big thing.” For O’Neal, getting responses from Berry was probably his biggest achievement other than being drafted into the NBA.
However, Shaquille O’Neal fumbled during his only shot at impressing the actress. He met Berry at the Four Seasons Hotel in LA in an elevator, but his nerves got the best of him. “So, I’m in the elevator by myself and doors open up and it’s Halle Berry! This is my shot but my stuttering kicked in.”
Unfortunately, he never got to live his dream entirely. However, he did get a chance to spend some alone time with his celebrity crush. Since then, Shaq has been in the news for allegedly trying to flirt with other women. But it has always been evident that he only has the best intentions in mind.