After the, shall we say, “disappointing” boxing match featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, the idea of a series of matches featuring popular sports figures and other celebrities is gaining ground.
Of course our man Shaq is in the middle of it! In case you missed it, while the rest of the world was tuned in for the Tyson / Paul fight that night, O’Neal casually dropped a bombshell on Netflix’s live broadcast. Did you see it? There were some technical issues that night for the big show, and you might have missed it.
Shaq and his buddy, longtime NFL star Rob Gronkowski are considering a match of their own. But more than that, O’Neal foresees a full series of boxing matches featuring NBA legends squaring off against NFL titans in a multi-sport, no-holds-barred showdown.
It’s not just about boxing, either. Shaq described it best: “Me and Gronk gonna put together NBA vs. NFL. Coming soon. I’m talking boxing, fighting, football, basketball.”
The BIG Podcast with SHAQ
Yeah, you read that right. Shaq’s vision includes players from both leagues duking it out, tossing balls (or fists), and basically creating sports-entertainment chaos.
Gronk has questions: “Are we talking current players vs. retired players or active players vs. active players?” Shaq was open to either option, but definitely wants to start with his own matchup against “his friend” Gronk.
Gronk’s response? Classic sports trash-talk: “I’m not really your friend. I’m ready to fight your ass.” Honestly Gronk, we might be a little careful with our words here! Do you really want to step into the ring with a 7’1” Hall of Famer? Good luck landing a punch when the man can palm your head like a basketball.
Impossible dream or coming to a streaming service near you soon? As we know, Shaq has a way of turning the impossible into reality. If anyone can make an NBA vs. NFL event happen, it’s the man who’s built a post-basketball empire on larger-than-life entertainment.
From DJ Diesel rocking massive music festivals to Shaq-a-Claus spreading holiday cheer, Shaq’s resume proves that “boring” isn’t in his vocabulary. Throw in Gronk’s energy, and we’re looking at a crossover event that would very likely break the internet.
A few other details on the Tyson / Paul fight, now that there’s been time to allow things to settle a bit. Turns out Shaq took quite the personal interest in the bout, telling Dan Patrick on his show that he wagered a cool, confident $1 million on Tyson.
That didn’t work out so well for Shaq or Tyson. The former champ came out swinging in the early rounds, but age and endurance eventually caught up with the boxing legend.
So…what’s next for Shaq and Gronk? Whether or not this NBA vs. NFL showdown becomes a reality, one thing’s for sure: Shaq and Gronk teaming up is a recipe for absolute mayhem. And that’s exactly what sports fans want and need.
So, Netflix, the ball’s in your court. Let’s get this crossover event rolling. We’ll bring the popcorn—and maybe a referee or two.