Former Sheriff Shaq

At an event in a NYC nightclub, Phoenix Suns Center, Shaquille O'Neal spit a freestyle that included the now oft-quoted line "Kobe, tell me how my ass taste". The free-style diss was directed towards LA Lakers star and NBA MVP Kobe Bryant. As a result of this, Shaquille O'Neal has had his sheriff status in Maricopa county revoked. The sheriff, Joe Arpaio, who describes himself as America's toughest sheriff, explains that if any of his other deputies were to use that type of language, the same would have happened to them. But I cannot help but see the hypocrisy in this. The Sheriff who criticizes Shaq's behavior, is known for feeding his inmates green bologna and clothing them in pink underwear. Granted they are prisoners and have been convicted of some crime, to place them at a health risk with spoiled food and to humiliate them is morally wrong. Who is this guy to try an impose some values onto Shaquille O'Neal? Where is the government in looking into the way these prisoners are treated? It seems the detainees at Gitmo have more rights than the inmates in Maricopa County. While Shaq's freestyle has sent shockwaves, it is decidedly whack with minor pithy lines and it is worth nowhere near the attention that it is getting. Besides, its overshadowing Shaq's platinum (who knew) album, that was also decidedly horrible, Shaq Diesel.