Just when you thought the war of words between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant had finally been laid to rest, the battle now appears to be back on. In a video released on TMZ.com, O’Neal is shown doing a freestyle rap in a New York City nightclub in which he takes several shots at his former Lakers teammate. “Kobe (expletive), tell me how my a** tastes,” went the chorus, which O’Neal repeatedly encouraged the crowd to sing along with him.

O’Neal also referenced Bryant’s inability to lead the Lakers past the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals: “Last week Kobe couldn’t do without me.”

The Celtics downed the Lakers in six games, keeping Bryant from claiming his first title since L.A. traded O’Neal to the Miami Heat following the 2003-04 season. O’Neal, meanwhile, has won a championship without Bryant, helping the Heat to the 2006 NBA title.

More old wounds resurfaced during the rap, as well. O’Neal appeared to blame Bryant for the breakup of his marriage, singing, “I’m a horse. Kobe ratted me out. That’s why I’m getting divorced.”

During his 2004 rape investigation, Bryant alleged that O’Neal had paid up to $1 million in hush money to various women.

O’Neal attempted to defuse the controversy, releasing a statement to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in which he implored critics not to “make something out of nothing.”

“I was freestyling. That’s all. It was all done in fun. Nothing serious whatsoever. That is what MC’s do. They freestyle when called upon. I’m totally cool with Kobe. No issue at all.”

O’Neal, who has recorded seven albums, also said he is “the difference between first and last place” and even took a jab at former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing’s lack of championship rings.

Posted by Zoov on 24 Jun 2008 07:01 am
Filed Under: Sports |