Shaq's Less-Than-Honorable Rap Performance

Who could deny what Shaquille O'Neal did was inappropriate for any police officer? We expect police officers to be non-biased on every account. Who could blame the sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, Joe Arpaio, for taking Shaquille O'Neal's honorary deputy's badge after hearing his less-than-honorable and completely inappropriate rap performance? Not only did this NBA star mock former teammate Kobe Bryant; he also used derogatory words incurring racial bias. Though Shaq was a rap artist and NBA star first, and an honorary deputy second, he is still accountable for his actions. Although, his biggest pitfall in this action was allowing it to be recorded. On TMZ.com, a celebrity gossip web site, a tape of O'Neal's rap performance can be reviewed by the entire world. It is not surprising that Sheriff Arpaio was privy to it (Shaq stripped of Honorary..., 2008).

Some may say that Shaq was performing and with that playing the part of a performance artist. However, police officers are held at a higher standard than regular citizens. O'Neal clearly surpassed his boundaries with his performance whether playing a part or not. O'Neal's sincere interest in law enforcement does not excuse his behavior by any means. If he wanted to be a police officer, he should have acted that part, not the part of a racist and vindictive rapper.

O'Neal was given his honorary badge after he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He worked with the Miami Sheriff's Department during his stint with the Miami Heat where he was sent on a SWAT raid that ended up terrorizing citizens because of a wrong address in October of 2006 as an honorary deputy. The odd thing about this raid, besides the fact that it was unorthodox, is that the Miami Sheriff's Department allowed their honorary deputy to carry a sidearm during this event. Apparently, Shaq's record as an honorary deputy has been soiled in more ways than one (Balko, 2006).