Re: O'Neal

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

They test for steroids in the NBA.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kestutis Kveraga" <Kestutis.Kveraga@dartmouth.edu>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: O'Neal


> --- You wrote:
> I was struck by a comment by Bill Walton that when Shaq was with Orlando
> he weighed 275.  Now, I understand that he weighs over 350, but runs the
> floor extremely well for such a big man.  I don't know anything about
> steroids or growth hormones.   I don't know if anyone else here does or
> not either.  But, the thought that went through my head was, "Is Shaq
> truly human, or is he enhanced by chemicals?"  Now, this question may
> sound like sour grapes or something, but I am really wondering about how
> a human can weigh what he does, have the coordination he does, run like
> he does, etc.  Maybe I am just jealous cause he doesn't wear green, or
> maybe it is just too much Ken Camenti for my brain?
> --- end of quote ---
>
> Well, he's much fatter than he used to be in Orlando (I seem to recall
they
> claimed 5% BF for him, which is probably half of what he actually was, but
> still). He's also more muscular, which may or may not be due to steroids
> (people who know seem to think GH doesn't do a helluva lot for a mature
> athlete). When a 5-7 dude goes from 160 to 275 ripped, there can be no
other
> explanation, but Shaq *is* over 7 feet tall, and he's matured over a
number of
> years and gotten fatter, too. So, who knows. He's probably so gifted, he
can
> put on muscle if he looks at it hard. But I suspect not a few other NBA
> players, especially forwards, are chemically enhanced. It makes a lot of
sense,
> not just from the size and strength standpoint, but for recovery reasons.
> Kestas