As you read along with the posts here on the ShaqFu Radio blog, you’ve no doubt seen many stories of the big man’s adventures in business, with helping people and communities, all of it.
In NBA playing days, O’Neal was certainly one of the most famous names in hoops history. In business, he continues to make headlines. And as a man and public figure, he works to be humble and principled. Recently, he’s been oh-so-humble and forthright about his romantic relationships and marriages.
In a recent appearance on the “Mo Talk Radio” podcast with Monica, Shaq opened up about what he called his “fumbling” of relationships with his two ex-wives. And while all that’s in the past for him, O’Neal says he’s teaching his sons to avoid the mistakes he feels he made in those relationships.
On the show, Shaq told Monica, “I had two perfect women and I messed it up. My first one was my baby mother, Arnetta [Yardbourgh], and then I met Shaunie [Nelson]. Shaunie was also a perfect woman and I messed it up. Yeah, you know, we were young and always just doing d*mb stuff. But, you know, the good thing about our relationship is that they forgave me and we have a good relationship now. But when you ask me about the perfect woman, I had two perfect women and I messed it up. Just by, you know, being d*mb.”
So now, O’Neal says he’s trying to pass that wisdom on to his young sons, to make sure they don’t experience the same issues. For Shaq, he says he’s telling his sons of what he calls the “big three” things they need to do for their partners.
Shaq: “I tell my sons all the time: ‘A man has three jobs when it comes to a woman. Protect, provide, and love. Some men can only offer two, for whatever reason, but I’ma teach you how to offer all three.’ And that’s what I try to do. Even though I don’t have a relationship with the women that I let get away, I will always PPL: protect, provide, and love.”
One of Shaq’s exes – Shaunie – is remarried. The big man says he’s happy for her, but still has feelings, too. “Shaunie’s married, I’m happy for her. I hope this gentleman treats her the way she’s supposed to be treated, and I’ma still love her. She’s still my wife, I will always protect, provide, and love for her, married or not. No, it’s just how I was raised. You protect, you provide, and you love your woman.”
One thing is certain: the big man learned some big lessons in the way he handled his closest relationships. Now he’s passing that wisdom on to his sons, and that’s another example of his being a good influence on people, especially those closest to him.
