Shaq adds MBA to his NBA title

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0625shaqmba,0,326919.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

 

Good for Shaq

Good for Shaq... Not many athletes think long term and after the game... While I am not a huge fan of Shaq, I salute him for his accomplishment!!

 

Re: Good for Shaq

Wow! The Shaq!

That said, it's always good when pro sports figures serve as good role models to the kids! I hope he spreads the good news of the value of an education to his young fans! This, of course, shows that there are some guys who have both brains and brawn. At least this NBA MBA is thinking about his future after basketball, which too many of the athletes I knew in college didn't think about. Welcome to the MBA Club, Shaq!

 

I was thinking the same thing about role models -- we can never have enough high-profile role models in education! So thanks Shaq! Oh, and congrats to Shaq on that MBA.

 

Re: Good for Shaq

He has this humility about him.

I think he can be rolmodel to other players.

Good job Shaq and UoP.

Learner

 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/la-sp-simers26jun26,1,7816380.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba

"I started going to class every Thursday, four to five hours, and I didn't miss a class," Shaq said. "Of course, when the trade went down I had to do everything else online.

"A couple of times I felt I couldn't get it done, but I just stuck through it … [my family] told me, go get all the knowledge you can get, go get all the degrees you can get and after this day I'm going to get another Master's. Then I'll be working on my doctorate — so pretty soon you will address me as Dr. O'Neal and Dr. O'Neal only."

Somehow I think the future Dr. O'Neal will reach his goal.

 

Dr. O'Neal only, eh? Does he mean that Dr. The Shaq is unacceptable?

 

Shaq is well-noted for his sarcasm.

On another note, I have to think UoP is just thrilled with the publicity it is receiving about this.

 

Good For Him!

I am not the biggest Shaq fan; however, when I saw him get his degree on stage on Fox News, I was proud. It is about time we have some positive aspects come out of sports these days. If he wants to pursue his PhD, then more power to him. The title of Dr. Shaq will be well deserved. The power of education is endless and these kids need a good role model to follow.

Congrats the the Shaq!!!

 

This might also change a lot of HR and other business people's perceptions about DL degrees in general for the better.

 

Personally, I'd love to hear the conversation he has with Mr. Gates and Mr. Trump.

 

I'm not at all a fan of professional basketball anymore, in large part because the "gangsta" culture is glorified and promoted by a lot of the players.

It's very refreshing to see someone like Shaq that not only talks about the importance of education, but leads by example.

Congratulations, Shaq!

 

My fear is that his degree may just do the opposite. I suspect the general public perception is that professional athletes are not at the top of the intelectual totem pole. Therefore, awarding a MBA to a professional athlete may devalue that degree and make it appear to be easy.

I'm sure everyone on this board is confident Shaq put in the time and earned the degree. However, public perception may be skewed if they link a MBA from a particular school (or delivery mode such as DL) to someone that may have a perceived lack of intellect.

To Quote C.F. Thomas, "That which is perceived as real is real in its consequences."

 

It will continue well into next year's NBA season. We will probably hear about it from the commentators as filler material in virtually every game.

 

Good for Shaq! I think it puts a positive spin on DL regardless of public perception of athletes. At least he earned his MBA from an accredited institution.

The article goes on to state:

But O'Neal likes to be in charge. He previously took courses at a police academy and said he'll aim for another degree, in criminal justice. He hopes to eventually work as a sheriff or police chief and said he met some people in those top positions with advanced degrees.

Craig N.,

Keep an eye out for this future applicant...it looks like he may be vying for your position someday!

 

Good PR for UoP

Last year Lisa Leslie of the WNBA also graduated from the University of Phoenix with an MBA. Her accomplishment was noted by the WNBA. She was also on the cover of the 2004 Fall issue of the UoP alumni magazine Future.

As a UoP alumnus I think that these success stories are of value to both the university and their graduates.

 

Shaq has always articulated an interest in a law enforcement career after basketball. Interestingly enough one of my officers knows Shaq and stays in touch with him. I was actually considering offering him a position. Ummm... until now.

This is great news for Shaq, DL and the University of Phoenix.

 

I'd like to hear him speak, at length, at a time when he isn't dripping with sweat, before I make up my mind.
Jack

 

Congratulations Shaq! I don't want to diminish his accomplishment but I am a bit suspect of the fact he graduated from UOP, only because he could have chosen just about any MBA program in the world(Let's face it George W. Bush graduated from Harvard Business school and if you saw his Yale transcripts, you know that it was only because of family influence). I realize that not all MBA programs are DL but he could have just as easily could have done a Duke,Penn State,and many many more. It's not like money was an issue!

-Just my opinion

 

He's not the only one.

It's quite possible that he didn't have the necessary GPA or other academic qualifications to get into one of the "name" schools.