Shaq seems to be warming up for his new gig as an analyst at TNT with some trash-talking aimed towards Miami Heat player Chris Bosh and this isn’t the first time he’s slammed Bosh.

In his debut for TNT this week, Shaq said, “The Miami Heat, they’ve got a lot of great players, the ‘Big Two.’ They will be back.”

Big Two?

Looks like Big Daddy is placing Bosh outside the talent circle after the Heat lost the NBA Championship to the Dallas Mavericks and this isn’t the first in-your-face slam dunk Shaq has taken against Bosh off the court.

Back in 2009, Bosh commented to the media how the refs were ignoring calling Shaq for three-second violations which was giving an unfair advantage to O’Neal.

Shaq replied by saying:

“I heard what Chris Bosh said, and that’s strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men. I’m going to do the same thing [in our next game] I did before – make him quit.”

Double bitch slap with a backhander thrown in for good measure!

One for saying he could make Bosh quit back in ’09, two for calling the Heat the Big Two and the killer comparing him to a cross-dressing entertainer.

So how do some of the others measure up with Shaq’s most recent comments?

Skip Bayless on ESPN’s 1^st and 10 nicknamed Bosh “Bosh Spice” after the player went 1-of-18 in a game against the Bulls but on Wednesday on his show said Shaq’s comment: “Was out of bounds”

But that’s the same Skip Clueless who also said the Heat were “clearly the Big Two” in an earlier playoff series so he seems to be flip-flopping like he’s ready to make a bid for a local Congressional seat.

With all the media attention on the Heat throughout the season after LeBron and company predicted “Not one, not two, not three….” NBA Championships, we have to expect some trash talking thrown in their direction but to come from Shaq who has barely clipped on his mic came as a surprise.

But as always…like E. F. Hutton…when Shaq talks, people listen.

James Harrison Men’s Journal interview seems to be raising hell throughout social networks, the media and certainly within the confines of the NFL offices.

In the interview, the controversial Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year said Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is “juiced out of his mind.” He also referred to teammate QB Ben Roethlisberger and the Super Bowl loss against Green Bay, saying Ben should “hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain’t that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does.”

Now he may have a point about Cushing, the 2009 defensive rookie of the year who was suspended for several games at the start the 2010 season for violating NFL policies regarding PEDs but to hit a Pro Bowl QB teammate below the belt after that same guy led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins early in his career, well that may need to be addressed…and it might.

After hearing bits about the interview, Steelers’ president Art Rooney II released a statement to the media saying: “I have not yet seen the article in Men’s Journal nor have I spoken to James Harrison about his comments. We will discuss the situation at the appropriate time, when permitted once the labor situation is resolved.”

Harrison is a guy who pulls no punches on or off the field and after setting a record of over $100,000 in fines levied for violent hits on the field, he seems to have gone on a campaign to smear NFL Commish Roger Goodell and the league for singling him out.

“Up until last year, there was no word of me being dirty until Roger Goodell, who’s a crook and a puppet, said I was the dirtiest player in the league. I hate him and will never respect him.”

Harrison also referred to Goodell as a dictator and a devil and is sure to hear from the league once the lockout is over. If Harrison really wanted to play football on time in September, you would think he would know to avoid getting into the media at this level.

Yeah Harrison may have threatened to retire over the fines and change of attitude by the NLF regarding hard hits, especially to the head, but he should realize that every season, a few new guys come in and can fill his spot imposing fear in running backs and quarterbacks around the league if he does retire. (Google Suh and Cushing).

Harrison also commented on the 2004 AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots, the same year the Pats were later proven to have cheated in “VideoGate”.

“I should have another ring. We were the best team in football in 2004, but the Patriots…stole our signals and picked up 90% of our blitzes. They got busted for it later, but, hey, they’re Goodell’s boys, so he slapped ’em $500,000 and burned the tapes. Was he going to rescind their Super Bowls? Man, hell no!”

So how badass is James Harrison?

When asked about the incident when he grabbed a rattle snake by the tail and heaved him over a fence, Harrison replied:

“Had to. My son was here visiting, so that bitch had to bounce out. ASAP.”

To see the rest of the interview on line at Men’s Journal Magazine here.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Bobby Abreu trotted to first after earning the 1,400th walk of his career, third-most among active players.

No big deal right?

Well it is if you’re counting balls and strikes, something the umpire crew in this game obviously wasn’t doing.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez had a 2-1 count on Abreu and threw the next pitch outside the strike zone. Abreu tossed his bat aside and trotted to first base with no response from home plate umpire Gerry Davis and no argument from the Mariners’ dugout or manager Eric Wedge.

This isn’t calculus, people!

Two plus One equals three and I bet there were a few 1st graders in the stands who even had the count right.

And for the record, this is the second time in just nine days this happened without Mariners’ manager noticing and opposing the incident. In that game against the San Diego Padres, Cameron Maybin took first base after taking three balls and ended up crossing the plate for the winning run in the 1-0 game.

After that blunder, Wedge apologized to the team for missing the count but to do it twice is mindboggling.

Abreu has had a few “firsts” happen this past week. Besides getting his first career three ball walk, he was ejected for the first time in his career in a week that saw the umpires going for a record heave-hos.

When Abreu was asked after the Angels’ 4-2 win about the three-ball walk he said:

“I guess I got confused, too. It’s funny, and it’s weird at the same time. You’ve got the professional umpires that know everything, and it still happened.”

“Umpires that know everything”?

There’s not enough space in this column to debate that topic.

MORE MLB: MLB Ejections Hit Ridiculous Level

Fan Falls to His Death in Texas; Third Fall at This Stadium

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

“The Vest” remains in the news after Ohio State University has announced their 2010 Big Ten championship and 12-1 season will be sacrificed. The biggest hit on the fans may be these wins include a victory over bitter rival Michigan and an Allstate Sugar Bowl win.

Okay, so the dust has already settled from that bullshit since we all know OSU actually won those games regardless what the books will say. What’s more important is the fact Coach Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor are gone and several players are walking around with new tattoos they received as gifts.

Regardless what goes into the record books, the Buckeyes beat the rival Wolverines for a seventh straight time, won its 6^th straight Big Ten title and had a quarterback driving sports cars most college kids could never afford without some outside help.

Along with “sacrificing” the season, the school included two years of self-imposed probation but will that be enough to appease NCAA officials who have been waving a huge stick lately (Google USC).

In case you’ve been in a coma over the past NCAA Football season and are just waking up here’s the brief recap. OSU football players swapped autographs and memorabilia tattoos and cash and after “The Vest” was informed of the activity, the head coach didn’t report it for about nine months and therefore is accused of covering it up.

So will this be enough to ward off the vicious NCAA investigators?

Have to doubt it since the actions by the coach and possibly people higher than him is more inexcusable than the actions of poor kids trying to make a few bucks while playing ball in college.

Smith went on record to explain how his school’s actions and punishment are “significant” but they really aren’t. Taking “FUTURE” bowl games, titles and recruitment rights away is the only legitimate punishment and we should expect that.

When teams impose punishment on themselves by taking past accomplishment away, it’s like saying sorry after you commit the crime and that’s not good enough; some time needs to be served.

Before this self-imposed move by OSU, there were five-game suspensions levied against five players. After that occurred, it was discovered that coach Tressell knew about the infractions almost a year earlier and that produced the mushroom cloud.

Yeah, Tressell is since gone for good but when the school agrees to pay him the last month of his base pay ($54,000) then the situation starts looking like a CEO getting paid leave after blatantly breaking laws or rules.

That said, expect the NCAA hammer to come down and crack the nuts open in Columbus.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Jair Jurrjens name must be echoing off the walls in baseball banter throughout the Detroit area nowadays. The ex-Tiger picked up his league-best 12^th win in a 9-1 win last night against Colorado in what was his final appearance before packing up and traveling to the 2011 All-Star game in Arizona.

The last thing Detroit fans need is a kick in the gut just as they come down from the Matt Millen era but that’s what seeing Jurrjens take the mound in Arizona may equate to, especially if he gets the nod to start. While that buzz around the NL is whether Jurrjens should be the starter in Arizona, fans in Motown must be having recurring nightmares triggered by memories of the team parting with pitcher John Smoltz for the Braves’ Doyle Alexander back in the late 80’s.

After leaving Detroit, Smoltz blossomed into a sure Hall of Famer, posting 213 wins, 154 saves and joining the 3,000 strikeout club. In his inaugural year wearing the ‘D’, Alexander went 9-0 to help the Tigers make the playoffs but then pretty much fizzled out after that.

Seeing J.J. sitting at the top of the league with a 12-3 record and a league-best 1.87 ERA must rub salt in the wounds left in Detroit fans from that infamous Smoltz deal.

Jurrjens, a promising young pitcher from Curacao, was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tigers in 2003 before being shipped to Atlanta on Oct. 29, 2007 for All-Star shortstop, Edgar Renteria.

While still considered a rookie by MLB rules during his first season in Atlanta, Braves manager Bobby Cox referred to J.J. as “the most impressive rookie pitcher the Braves have had in over a decade.”

Donning the ‘A’ that rookie season, Jurrjens started with an 8-3 record and impressive ERA that was near the top of the NL at the time. That start created a buzz that led to his name being included in most NL Rookie of the Year debates. While J.J. was looking like a steal for the Braves, the Tigers would watch Renteria’s batting average drop from .332 to .270 before parting ways with the infielder after just one season.

Renteria would later head west and become a member of San Francisco’s World Series team while Jurrjens is becoming the ace of the Braves starting rotation continuing to improve…..to the point of arguably becoming the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.

MORE MLB:  2011 Homerun Derby Teams – MLB All-Star Game

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

After seeing heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko dominate David Haye for a one-sided unanimous decision in a WBA title fight that was hyped to be a brawl, it reminded me how broken this division really is. The fight was boring from the start with Klitschko establishing his jab in the early rounds and going on to outscore Haye on every card, 118-108, 116-110 and 117-109.

Yeah, Klitschko improved his record to Hall of Fame type numbers at 56-3 with 49KOs and improved to 17-2 in title fights but it was a typical yawner, like all the heavyweight title fights over recent years.

The smaller Haye who earned more attention for his cheesy pre-fight shirt that showed him holding the severed heads of the Klitschko brothers, fell to 25-2 with 23 Kos.

This fight was typical of today’s standards; nothing like many of the classics we saw in the 70’s or Mike Tyson’s run in the 90’s when the weight class lived up to the hype and kept us at the edge of our seats.

During those 70’s I was notorious for skipping out on work, risking jobs when a set of competent heavies were scheduled to go toe-to-toe because I knew these brawls would leave a lifelong memory and they have.

Muhammad Ali, ‘Smoking Joe’ Frazier and ‘Big’ George Foreman climbed through the ropes in many of those fights that lived up to their hype including “Fight of the Century”, “Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila”. From 1968-77 one of those three boxing icons would hold the heavyweight title while the others were obsessed with getting it back.

The torch was later handed off to Larry Holmes who usually struggled to find a worthy opponent until a troubled 20-year-old named “Iron” Mike became the youngest heavyweight champ and one of the most dominating fighters to ever step in the ring. Tyson was billed as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and for good reason. He was chasing Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0 until he ran into a path of self-destruction that landed him in jail and destroyed his reputation.

Since the implosion of Tyson, boxing has been starving for another charismatic character to step in and with that looking impossible at this point there is only one fix to this division.

The only hope for this faltering division would be matching up the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers, champs Vitali 42-2, (39 -KO) and Wladimir 56-3 (49 KO) but the siblings say they the fight will never happen. Like “Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila” this “Fight of the Millennium” would be worthy of having a name.

In the meantime boxing fans will be presented with fights like the Haye vs. Klitschko sleeper while seeing other so-called contenders like “The Nigerian Nightmare” come and go.

And that’s what this division has become…. a nightmare.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Now that the shock of the Vancouver riots of 2011 has settled down, it’s time for a few NHL trades involving some very unlikely players to send tremors down the backs of the league.

Not to be outdone by their rivals in Philly this past week, the Chicago Blackhawks continued dumping key players from their 2010 Stanley Cup championship team. The latest players to fall victim to the Stan Bowman salary cap ax are defenseman Brian Campbell and forward Troy Brouwer.

One thing for sure, anyone who hasn’t attended a game at the United Center since that Stanley Cup team took the ice, better buy a game program to see who’s occupying the roster.

Since hoisting the NHL Holy Grail, GM Stan Bowman sent fan favorite Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg and a slew of other players packing last offseason but after last night, it appears the house-cleaning isn’t quite done.

Campbell agreed to waive his no trade clause in his contract and will pack his bathing suit and head to LeBron country in South Beach to skate with the Florida Panthers. Trading his beachwear for a snow shovel is LW Rostislav Olesz.

In the other trade, Brouwer went to Washington in exchange for the Capitals first-round pick. The Blackhawks who had already traded away a large portion of their offense since that cup win will have another void to fill with Brouwer leaving. The 25-year-old scored 17 goals and added 19 assists in 79 games for Chicago last season after tallying a career-high 22 goals and 40 points in 69 games the year before.

These moves by Chicago came shortly after Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren shocked the NHL by shipping out two of his top players to make room to sign goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year deal worth $51 million.

In those deals, center Jeff Carter will play alongside All-Star Rick Nash in Columbus while team captain Mike Richards will land on the West Coast in L.A. to play for the Kings.

Going to the Flyers was Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek, the eighth overall draft pick in the 2011 NHL Draft and a third rounder tossed in for good measure. Voracek was expected to excel under the Blue Jackets’ new offensive scheme this past season but didn’t meet the expectations, finishing with 14 goals and 32 assists.

In the Richards deal, the Flyers picked up a top prospect from the Kings, Brayden Schenn and forward Wayne Simmonds.

Carter, a fan favorite had 36 goals and 30 assists for 66 points in 80 regular-season games in Philly last season.

You can almost feel the tremors created by the fans starting to rumble in the Windy City and City of Brotherly Love since these deals were announced but hey, it’s the NHL…the league where any player is subject to move (Google Wayne Gretzky or Dominic Hasek).

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Last night, the gorilla jumped off the back of the Mavs and landed on top of the huge gorilla that was already sitting on LeBron James’. In fact, the way this season and NBA Finals played out, there may be an entire family of apes congregating on The King’s back.

LeBron and the Miami Heat gave everyone outside of South Beach a reason to celebrate. A heavy favorite going into the NBA Finals, the team squandered a two games to one series lead and stood by and watched as the visiting Dallas Mavericks hoisted the NBA Championship trophy on their court.

Jason Terry lead all scorers with 27 and Dirk Nowitzki added 21 after a cold start to take Game Six 105-95 and win the first title in Mavericks’ history.

After LeBron labeled himself “The King” in Cleveland then ran off with his “Loyalty” tattoo to South Beach without a title, he later announced he was ready to win “not five, not six, not seven…..” in Miami.

Striking out in his first attempt with All-Stars like Chris Bosh and Dywane Wade by his side will make even more fingers point in his direction. While people like to compare LeBron’s talents and abilities to Michael Jordan, the huge difference is Michael has too many NBA Championship rings to fit on one hand, literally.

We don’t have to beat the dead horse on how and why America hates LeBron and the Heat. What makes sports entertaining is having villains and the Big Three in Miami had become just that.

Most couldn’t have scripted it any better than it played out.

After winning Game One, LeBron’s Heat had a 15-point lead late in Game Two and he was on a run that looked certain to lead to his first NBA Championship. That’s when he and teammate Wade started the chest-bumping and celebrating in front of the Heat fans and Mavericks bench.

That’s when the wheels fell off and the saying “It ain’t over ‘til the Fat Lady sings” came into effect.

The Mavs found the strength to overcome that 15-point deficit on the road and pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in NBA history. After a Game Three loss, they put together a three-game win streak to close out the Heat 4-2 in the series.

To the delight of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and a majority of basketball fans outside of Miami, LeBron was almost  non-existent in the fourth quarter of the entire finals. He did have a solid defensive performance in Game Three, the last game the Heat would win this season.

We discussed prior to the season how there’s only one ball and for three stars like Wade, Bosh and “The King” to keep it in their hands often enough to get into a rhythm would be a greater task than it may have seemed.

Although Wade found his rhythm throughout much of the series and the other members of The Big Three had their moments, when it was all said and done, it was proven that you cannot always “buy” an NBA Championship.

MORE LeBron:

Photo of LeBron James “Loyalty” tattoo – Sports Climax

Cleveland Laughing as LeBron loses – CNN Sports

Dan Gilbert Spanks LeBron – Sports Climax

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Mike Tyson will enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame tomorrow. While some have debated his induction due to issues in and out of the ring, the man has clearly earned a spot at the facility in Canastota, New York.

“Iron Mike” began pursuing his dream to become a boxing champion when he was a troubled 13-year-old teen. Under the watchful eye of mentor and trainer Cus D’Amato, the youngster was later directed on a straight path and was destined to become a respectable champion.

Cus first took Tyson in at his Catskill, N.Y. gym that was near the reform school Tyson had spent time at then actually adopted the fighter after his mother died. Through the following years, both men were dedicated to obtaining the title and shortly after D’Amato’s death, Tyson became the youngest fighter to ever hoist a heavyweight championship belt.

Tyson went on to become known as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and for good reason. Few could last past the first few rounds with the aggressive heavy and one of the most impressive champs in boxing history would go on to compile a 37-0 record.

The road to perfection hit a bump in 1990 when the “unbeatable kid” from Brooklyn lost to Buster Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports. Tyson finished his career with a 50-6 record and 44 KOs, many of those knockouts coming in the early rounds.

While some media may argue a guy with a history of serving time in prison for rape and chomping off a piece of the ear off an opposing fighter (Google: Evander Holyfield) the bottom line is performance in the ring and there were few as dominating as Tyson.

A rough journey that included reform schools, millionaire status, bankruptcy, rape , jail time and an acting role in The Hangover will now end at the IBHOF on Sunday. Among those joining Tyson as inductees Sunday’s are Hollywood film producer Sly Stallone, fighter Julio Cesar Chavez and referee Joe Cortez.

Like Pete Rose belongs in the MLB Hall of Fame in nearby Cooperstown for his performance on the filed, “Iron Mike” deserves his permanent spot in one of boxing’s most prized museums for his performance in the ring.

If you don’t think so, maybe you should ask one of the 44 who fell victim to one of the hardest punchers to ever climb in a ring.

2011 Hall of Fame – Mike Tyson – ESPN

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

After a 16-month layoff that included a controversial self-made video for the internet and arrests in Las Vegas (here’s the mugshot) Floyd Mayweather Jr. will climb into the ring to face WBC welterweight champ Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17.

The 24-year-old Ortiz is coming off a recent impressive win that improved his record to 29-2-2 with 22 KOs. After recently moving up into the welterweight division, the southpaw came out on top of a slugfest with Andre Berto. That fight saw both fighters hit the mat twice but Ortiz got back to his feet and took all three judge’s cards (115-110, 114-111 and 114-112) for the decision.

Shortly after that fight, Berto showed interest in climbing in the ring with Manny Pacquiao or Mayweather for a multi-million dollar night and after winning the recent battle with Berto, that’s officially come to fruition.

Getting back to Mayweather. The controversial champ’s record sits at an impressive 41-0 with 25 KOs but he remains under scrutiny, accused of ducking Pacquiao. Mayweather may be rusty as well since he hasn’t fought since taking on Shane Mosley back in May, 2010.

While the debate on who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world lives on, several analysts and fans have swung to Manny’s camp since Mayweather has appeared to do whatever is necessary to avoid that bout. Mayweather went as far as demanding random blood testing rules that are not required by any boxing organizations or commission anywhere in the world.

ESPN.com reported that Ortiz’s promoter, Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer, said the details of the pay-per-view fight including where it will take place are not yet decided on.

Once that is worked out, let the trash-talking begin.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC