GJ Reynolds Attends Shaquille O’Neal VIP Statue Unveiling
GJ was invited by his dear personal friend Coach Dale Brown to attend the VIP gathering for his former standout player Shaquille. GJ and Alita attended the event, along with approximately 150 other LSU players, dignitaries and former LSU players. It was a coming home for both GJ and Shaquille! Shaquille was quoted, “Why do I come back to Baton Rouge so often? Because it is home!” GJ feels the same! He is always stating, “Being in Baton Rouge is Home! I have many fond memories and to be able to be with such legends and current LSU personnel is a dream come true!”
BATON ROUGE – Assisted by his mom, Lucille O’Neal, present LSU Coach Trent Johnson, and, his former college coach at LSU, Dale Brown, Shaquille O’Neal pulled the necessarily large white cloth that covered the 900-pound bronze statue that unveiled a young LSU player named O’Neal dunking the basketball.
The statue was unveiled Thursday afternoon before a crowd of several hundred LSU fans, family, friends and current and former LSU players that gathered outside the new LSU practice facility which is located on the north end of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
O’Neal saluted the fans and invited all the former and the members of the 2011-12 LSU basketball team to surround him as he made his brief remarks after the unveiling, later admitting in a post-event media conference that he never imagined the statue would be that big.
O’Neal played at LSU from 1989-92 and in his three seasons was named National Player of the Year in 1992 and runnerup for Player of the Year in 1992. He also earned NBA MVP honors, making him the only student-athlete in LSU history to win National Player of the Year in college and then a professional MVP honor.
G loves people and loves life and enjoys to have fun, is playful, and jokes around with all people!
Here are some of the comments Shaquille O’Neal made to the media after the unveiling ceremony:
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PRACTICE FACILITY…
“I saw it last year and I’m actually jealous. I had to beg the security guards to let me in to the (old) downstairs practice facility which at the time they call the dungeon. Chris (Jackson) and Stan (Roberts) would be down there and I’d actually have to fistfight with them to get a goal. I’m quite jealous. I spoke to the team last year and I said listen you got everything you want here. I didn’t have any of this and I made it. You’ve got computers and internet and practice facility and study hall. My message to them was take advantage of all this stuff. I’ve been a lot of places but LSU will always remain a top university. We always produce the top athletes.”
FAVORITE MEMORY OF PLAYING BASKETBALL AT LSU …
“My favorite memory is coming out of the tunnel and hearing those horns. Looking up and seeing the whole city behind us win or lose. The only thing I regret is not being able to give LSU a national championship because Baton Rouge has given me so much.
About the Author:
GJ Reynolds also known as “G” is a passionate entrepreneur, business developer, trainer, public speaker, and author. G is driven to assist others to reach their full potential and having their magnificence to shine. He loves to teach and work with like-minded entrepreneurs and professionals who choose to reclaim their personal power and transform their life, health and prosperity.
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