Shaq under fire after joking that Advil can fix concussions
NBA legend and current TNT basketball analyst Shaquille O’Neal found himself in a minor controversy over the weekend after cracking a joke about concussions.
In the pregame show leading up to Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the TNT panel of analysts discussed the potential ramifications of Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love missing Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals due to a concussion.
As they are wont to do on “Inside The NBA,” the panel of O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith were all talking over each other during the segment in question. But a rough transcript goes as follows:
“Ain’t nothing holding me from no Game 7. I’m going straight to Walgreens, getting some Advil,” O’Neal said.
“And some Icy Hot!” Barkley chimed in, referring to the ointment for which O’Neal is a spokesman. “I’m with you on those things. I’m not missing a Game 7.”
“I thought you said you were a doctor,” Johnson joked to O’Neal.
“I am a doctor,” O’Neal responded.
“You’ve got a concussion, take an Advil,” Johnson said.
“That’s right. I’m ready to go to work,” O’Neal said.
At first blush, it seemed like nothing more than the TNT NBA crew joking around. But it didn’t take long for fans who are sensitive to the growing concern over concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy to lambaste O’Neal and Barkley for supposedly “shaming” Love.
Deadspin called out the TNT panel for not taking the issue “seriously” enough.
Glad we all decided to start taking brain injuries seriously pic.twitter.com/xcpDNaO64b
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) May 27, 2018
Another headline reads “Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley ignorantly shame Kevin Love for missing Game 7.”
Fans also jumped in to pile on O’Neal and Barkley.
https://twitter.com/Captainplants/status/1000539277451608064
Awful @SHAQ
— HalifaxDave (@halifaxdave) May 27, 2018
Hooray for brain injuries @NBAonTNT
— Ernie (@ErnieRiv_5) May 27, 2018
In fairness to O’Neal and Barkley, the two have been making tasteless jokes for years. A random crack about taking Advil to fix a concussion is honestly one of the least offensive things the two have discussed.
The politically correct police can occasionally make a good point. This doesn’t seem to be one of those times.
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