Shaq Eager to Watch LeBron’s Return

Along with many other people around the country, Shaquille O’Neal is curious as to whether or not LeBron James of the Miami Heat will do his pregame ritual when he returns to Cleveland this Thursday for the first time since his departure.

LeBron throwing white powdered rosin above his head just before tipoff while at the scorer’s table before home and road games has become as much his signature as any powerful dunk.

Shaq –

“I’m a silly fan, I’m anxious to see if he’s going to do that powder thing.”

Reports coming out of Miami say that after today’s practice LeBron seemed a little unsure as to if he was going to do it or not.

James –

“The powder? I probably will. That’s just a ritual for myself, a routine that I’ve always done, I’ve done on the road. I don’t know. We’ll see. I may change. I don’t know.”

O’Neal knows what it’s like to play against his former team for the first time in their home stadium and having to face all of the fans who are still upset at him leaving. He has had to do it twice, once when he left Orlando and then later when he left Los Angeles.

Although Shaq never held a one hour TV special to announce that he was going to leave his former team for greener pastures. Shaq has never had as many fans with so much hate in their hearts mad at him as Lebron does.

Nor can I recall of a game in which there was going to be extra police officers in the arena for Shaq’s return to Orlando or Los Angeles.

Shaq –

“We have bets that he doesn’t do it.”

Dwyane Wade believes that LeBron will stick with his pregame powder ceremony.

Wade –

“I wouldn’t expect him to do anything different.” He’s done it for every game he’s played. So why change it just for one game? If he doesn’t throw it up, I’ll throw it up for him. That’s what he does. You cannot stop doing what you do. More so than anything, that’s his ritual. That’s what gets him ready for the game.”

“No one’s going to know until tip-off. And we’ll be excited to see.”

Personally I feel that if LeBron doesn’t do it then it would be another bad move on his part. If you’re going to be man enough to stick it to your former employer on national TV the way LBJ did. Then you should be man enough to continue to do what you have always done no matter what.