In case spectators thought Shaq’s involvement with the video game industry couldn’t get any more bizarre, the gargantuan ex-NBA star now sponsors aLeague of Legendssquad.
Let it never be said that Shaquille O’Neal is out of touch with what’s popular these days. After the NBA legend managed tosuccessfully spur gamers into crowdfundingShaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn, Shaq apparently began to set his sights on something that bridged the gap between basketball and video games - the ever-burgeoning world of eSports. More specifically, Shaq and fellow pro athlete and New York Yankees player Alex Rodriguez announced today that both of them would become financial backers for aLeague of Legendsteam.
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Shaq’s excited tweeting aside, however, the most likely reason for his sudden interest inLeague of Legendsis a much tamer, more logical one - he’s already business partners with the owners of NRG. Owners Andy Miller and Mark Mastrov are also part of the group that co-owns the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, a team that Shaq also owns a piece of. Perhaps Shaq will be able to use his newfound position to get in touch with his buddies atESPN to ensure they never make an awkwardLeague of Legendsreference again.
While it’s unclear exactly what Shaq, A-Rod, and Chicago White Sox player Jimmy Rollins' joint investment means for NRG, it doesn’t seem like the sports star’s will be suddenly spending a lot of time with the team’s players or attending most of their events. As it stands right now, it appears that the partnership is purely a financial one, although with a personality as boisterous as Shaq’s, it seems likely that he’ll also take on some other roles for NRG in the future.
Of course, it’s entirely possible Shaq’s just getting involved withLeague of Legendspurely to keep his name in video game headlines prior to therelease ofShaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, whenever that actually will be. We’re just guessing there’s more to it than that, and that Shaq will have more to share with his fans in the next few days.
What do you think about more prominent figures in traditional sports dipping their toes into the eSports waters? How much would you pay to see Shaq captain aLeague of Legendsteam through an entire tournament? Let us know in the comments below.
