Just like to note that Shaq hasn’t gotten any better on Inside the NBA and I love that Bill Simmons brought this fact up again in his preview of NBA playoff story lines:

Hate to keep belaboring this … but can TNT trade Shaq before the playoffs so we can enjoyInside the NBA in peace? Can they send him to the NBC Sports Network for Mike Milbury? What about Shaq to ESPN along with two no. 1 picks, $2 million, and the rights to Season 4 of Franklin & Bash for Stephen A. Smith? Can they just amnesty him? Did TNT get an amnesty clause in the new labor agreement? Why isn’t this a bigger deal? IT’S THE PLAYOFFS! I NEED ME SOME CHUCK AND I NEED ME SOME KENNY! WE WERE DOING FINE! WE WERE DOING FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s the thing, Shaq admitted he’s not good months ago. He has promised to try to get better. But I don’t know that he can. Think about all the many things Shaq has tried to do that he hasn’t gotten noticeably better at — rapping, acting, staying faithful to his wife…I don’t even think he had a huge jump in ability in basketball. He was pretty much elite from day 1 up until he got old, fat and hobbled. I just have no proof that he has the ability to go from zero to 60. It seems to me that either Shaq is good at something or he’s not. And he’s not good at broadcast television.

Bigger point: It’s a shame that media execs don’t understand that broadcasting is about more than just being a “fun person.” This was the mistake that they made with Shaq. Over the years he’s had lots of fun moments and showed that he has a sense of humor. But he’s not engaging and I have no idea what he’s saying half the time.

When Shaq talks this is what I hear: *ogre voice* superman…superman…I’m superman…