THE MASH-UP: Tug on Superman's cape
I t’s polite to wait your turn. But sometimes you have to take your turn.
The trick is figuring out which time is which.
Climbing
•Dwight Howard: Seems as if Howard, the 22-year-old Orlando All-Star center, decided this was his moment for the taking.
Howard’s Superman slam in the dunk contest last Saturday had people jumping out of their seats as if there were a mouse on the floor at New Orleans Arena.
But for about 15 years, Shaquille O’Neal’s obsession with Clark Kent’s alter-ego has been well-documented. O’Neal has an “S” logo and the words “Man of Steel” tattooed on his arm, and he was the star of the movie “Steel.”
And Big Shaq — the Phoenix center who is a 14-time All-Star and three-time NBA finals MVP — wasn’t consulted before Howard put on the blue and red.
“I hope Shaq is not mad at me,” Howard said earlier this week. “Nobody will ever be able to replace Shaq.”
But Howard isn’t ready to give back the tights.
“I’ll be taking the cape with me. I might be flying next to the plane,” he said.
Shaq said earlier this week he wasn’t bothered.
“No, not at all. Because it’s not my identity; it’s Warner Bros. identity,” O’Neal said. “I’ve almost been sued a numerous amount of times, so if he wants to take those lawsuits off my hands, go right ahead.”
Howard made a bold move. But when the big dog’s out for a walk and you sneak in his bowl and steal his bone, you’d better be ready for a fight when the big dog comes back home. I can’t be the only one who thinks Howard is lucky that the Suns and the Magic won’t play again this season unless it’s in the finals. Shaq is still the man until he tells us otherwise.
But if Howard gets the best of their next matchup and goes on to a great career, history will remember that dunk contest as the moment when the torch wasn’t passed — it was taken.
•Glass cleaners with ads that promise a streak-free shine: Astros outfielder Hunter Pence is out because of injuries he suffered when he walked through a closed sliding glass door on Monday. Ouch. Pence said the accident happened like this: He was in a hot tub, got out to use the bathroom and crashed into the door because he didn’t know a friend had closed it.
That’ll put a stop to a good time. Anyway, get well soon, Hunter. And please allow me to pass along this bit of advice my mother gave me when I was about 2: When you feel the urge, get up and go. Don’t sit there and hold it, that’s how accidents happen.
•Jason Taylor: The Miami defensive end is going to become the first active NFL player on “Dancing with the Stars.” This show does for a celebrity’s Q-rating what flubber does for a basketball player’s vertical leap.
Slipping
•Greg Oden: Mohawks need to go away.
•Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson: Rumors are they’re getting married. Bet this means she’s got an album coming out.
