{"id":2322681,"date":"2024-08-11T11:34:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-11T15:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-shaq-saved-a-kid-being-bullied-then-that-kid-turned-around-and-saved-shaqs-life\/"},"modified":"2024-08-11T11:39:07","modified_gmt":"2024-08-11T15:39:07","slug":"watch-shaq-saved-a-kid-being-bullied-then-that-kid-turned-around-and-saved-shaqs-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-shaq-saved-a-kid-being-bullied-then-that-kid-turned-around-and-saved-shaqs-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch: Shaq Saved a Kid Being Bullied, Then That Kid Turned Around and Saved Shaq&#8217;s Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwatch-shaq-saved-a-kid-being-bullied-then-that-kid-turned-around-and-saved-shaqs-life%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2322681&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/easter-is-the-worlds-most-historically-verified-holiday\/\" title=\"Easter Is The World\u2019s Most Historically Verified Holiday\">text\u200b discusses<\/a>\u200b the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/8-hollywood-celebrities-who-actually-back-the-blue\/\" title=\"8 Hollywood Celebrities Who Actually Back The Blue\">profound impact<\/a> of\u200d a simple act of kindness highlighted in a 2015 interview with NBA Hall\u2064 of \u200bFamer Shaquille \u200cO&#8217;Neal, also known\u200b as Shaq. Shaq recalls an instance from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/despite-insistence-by-democrat-politicians-and-medical-elites-empirical-evidence-does-not-conclusively-show-that-masks-reduce-the-spread-of-covid\/\" title=\"Despite Insistence by Democrat Politicians and Medical Elites, Empirical Evidence DOES NOT Conclusively Show that Masks Reduce the Spread of COVID\">high school<\/a> when he defended a bullied classmate,\u200c referred to as &#8220;McDougal,&#8221; which ultimately led to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/if-anne-of-green-gables-were-alive-today-shed-be-drugged-out-of-her-personality-in-school\/\" title=\"If Anne Of Green Gables Were Alive Today, She\u2019d Be Drugged Out Of Her Personality In School\">life-changing friendship<\/a>. After O&#8217;Neal defended him, McDougal offered to help Shaq with\u200b his struggles in\u200c Government\u2064 class, providing tutoring that enabled O&#8217;Neal to succeed academically. This support\u200b greatly boosted Shaq&#8217;s self-confidence,\u2062 allowing\u2064 him to excel not only in his\u200d studies but also in subsequent subjects like Algebra \u2063and Chemistry.<\/p>\n<p>The narrative touches on the theme\u200d of bullying, with Shaq reflecting \u2064on a prior violent incident that shaped\u200d his \u200cunderstanding of \u2063power and kindness. As a towering figure \u200dat 7\u20191\u201d and 325 lbs, he stresses\u200c the responsibility that came\u2064 with his strength, which he chose to use to\u2064 protect rather than intimidate.<\/p>\n<p>O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s\u2064 career achievements in basketball are\u200d highlighted, yet the true essence of the story lies in how McDougal&#8217;s friendship \u200dinspired Shaq\u2062 beyond \u200csports, teaching\u200c him the value \u200bof compassion and empowering him through \u200dlearning. The overall message emphasizes\u2064 the\u2064 importance of using one&#8217;s strength for \u200dgood and how seemingly \u200dsmall \u2064gestures can create lasting \u200dimpact.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section>\n<p>Discerning students and adult readers should prefer old books to new ones. After all, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-classical-education-can-liberate-black-america\/\" title=\"How Classical Education Can Liberate Black America\">time-tested wisdom<\/a> always trumps fashionable nonsense.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, older interviews have enduring appeal when they happen to showcase the wisdom and kindness of a gentle giant.<\/p>\n<p>In a YouTube clip of a 2015 interview with journalist Graham Bensinger, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal &mdash; better known as Shaq &mdash; recalled with gratitude an oft-bullied high school &ldquo;geek&rdquo; who, in O&rsquo;Neal&rsquo;s words, &ldquo;saved my life.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everybody&rsquo;s bullying this guy. So I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;You know what,&rsquo; cuz he was cool,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/woman-runs-shaquille-oneal-best-buy-leaves-new-phone-never-planned-getting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">O&rsquo;Neal<\/a> said, though he could not recall the bullied kid&rsquo;s name. He only remembered calling the kid &ldquo;McDougal.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So everybody was messing with him. So I came to his aid. I was like, &lsquo;Listen, y&rsquo;all mess with McDougal, you gotta mess with me,&#8217;&rdquo; O&rsquo;Neal recalled.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>That act of kindness did not go unrewarded.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, O&rsquo;Neal recalled struggling in his high school Government class, earning a 68 on a test right before the state basketball tournament.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was sittin&rsquo;, and then he came to the lunch table, and he was like, &lsquo;Man, appreciate it. I hear you&rsquo;re having some problems in Government. I could help you out,&#8217;&rdquo; O&rsquo;Neal said of McDougal.<\/p>\n<p>From then on, the grateful McDougal tutored <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/shaquille-oneal-served-papers-major-lawsuits-broadcasting-nba-playoff-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">O&rsquo;Neal<\/a> after school.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, the bullied geek gave the basketball star a shot of missing confidence.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And the way he tutored me, I was like, &lsquo;This really is not that bad.&rsquo; It was kinda easy. But because I had self doubts and felt that I wasn&rsquo;t smart, like, I didn&rsquo;t even look at it,&rdquo; O&rsquo;Neal said.<\/p>\n<p>McDougal&rsquo;s tutoring helped O&rsquo;Neal pass the class. Then, the following school year, the grateful McDougal also helped O&rsquo;Neal get through Algebra 2 and Chemistry.<\/p>\n<p>As he explained earlier in the interview, an elementary school fight helped shape O&rsquo;Neal&rsquo;s attitude toward bullying.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So I&rsquo;m beatin&rsquo; this kid up, and I&rsquo;m kickin&rsquo; this kid, and he has an epileptic seizure,&rdquo; O&rsquo;Neal recalled.<\/p>\n<p>That put an end to young his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/entitled-billionairess-gets-face-full-justice-bullying-kind-stranger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bullying<\/a> days.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;After that, I go home. I get disciplined. My mother pulls [me] aside and says, &lsquo;You&rsquo;re too big and too strong. You can&rsquo;t ever do that again.&rsquo; And that kinda stayed with me,&rdquo; he recalled.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ztiivTfE4sI?si=hi5Us3ufkKPM4J_o\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The 52-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/onealsh01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">O&rsquo;Neal<\/a> began his NBA career with the Orlando Magic (1992-96), achieved legendary status by winning three consecutive championships with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-02) and then won his 4th and final league championship with the Miami Heat (2006).<\/p>\n<p>At 7-1, 325 lbs., with an infectious and larger-than-life personality, he earned nicknames like Diesel and The Big Aristotle.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps he can thank McDougal for the latter of those two nicknames.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the best thing about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nba-legend-shaquille-oneal-gives-surprise-every-customer-packed-restaurant-orders-staff-keep-secret-leaves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">O&rsquo;Neal&rsquo;s<\/a> story is that McDougal did not save his life by propelling him to a lucrative basketball career full of on-court achievements. Those probably would have happened anyway.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, McDougal gave the future Hall of Famer the confidence to learn.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So now I&rsquo;m a nerd, and I&rsquo;m a geek,&rdquo; O&rsquo;Neal said.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, there is timeless wisdom in a story that features a gentle giant using his physical power to protect a bullied kid, for the giant never knows when the bullied kid might turn around and repay him with an even greater power.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Astute students and adult readers are likely to favor classic literature over contemporary works, as the wisdom that endures through time is far more valuable than trendy ideas. Similarly, older interviews can be particularly captivating when they highlight the insight and compassion of a remarkable individual. In a YouTube segment from a 2015 interview with journalist Graham Bensinger, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O&#8217;Neal\u2014commonly known as Shaq\u2014expressed his gratitude for a high school &#8220;geek&#8221; who he felt had &#8220;saved my life.&#8221; O&#8217;Neal recounted how he stood up for this often-bullied student, whom he referred to as &#8220;McDougal,&#8221; saying, \u201cEveryone was picking on him, so I decided to help him out.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>This act of kindness did not go unnoticed. O&#8217;Neal remembered struggling in his Government class and receiving a low score just before the state basketball tournament. He shared how McDougal approached him at lunch and offered assistance with his studies: \u201cI hear you\u2019re having some problems in Government. I could help you out.\u201d From that moment on, McDougal tutored O&#8217;Neal after school.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, it was this bullied student who helped boost the basketball star&#8217;s confidence. O\u2019Neal reflected on how McDougal\u2019s tutoring made learning feel manageable: \u201cIt really isn\u2019t that bad; it was kind of easy.\u201d Despite his self-doubt about being smart enough to succeed academically, McDougal\u2019s support enabled O\u2019Neal to pass Government class\u2014and later helped him with Algebra 2 and Chemistry.<\/p>\n<p>O\u2019Neal also shared an experience from elementary school that shaped his views on bullying: after physically confronting another child who then suffered an epileptic seizure, he learned an important lesson about using strength responsibly. His mother emphasized this point by telling him he was too big and strong to behave that way again.<\/p>\n<p>Now 52 years old, O\u2019Neal began his NBA journey with the Orlando Magic (1992-96), achieved legendary status by winning three consecutive championships with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-02), and secured his fourth title with the Miami Heat (2006). Standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 325 pounds\u2014with an exuberant personality\u2014he earned nicknames like Diesel and The Big Aristotle; perhaps he owes part of that last nickname to McDougal.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, what makes O\u2019Neal\u2019s story truly remarkable is not just how McDougal influenced his successful basketball career but rather how he instilled in him the confidence needed for academic growth. As Shaq humorously noted about himself now being seen as a nerd or geek: there lies timeless wisdom in tales where those who possess great strength use it protectively towards others because one never knows when those they uplift may return such kindness in unexpected ways<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2322682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Shaq.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[17409,6176,37821,37819,37820],"class_list":["post-2322681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bullying","tag-heroism","tag-inspirational-moments","tag-shaquille-oneal","tag-uplifting-stories"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Shaq.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2322681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2322681"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2322681\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2322682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2322681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2322681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2322681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}