NBA great turned analyst, actor and celebrity pitchman Shaquille O'Neal made a surprise visit to the Gainesville (Fla.) Police Department, delighting officers and some neighborhood kids the department has forged a special friendship with.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
The part-time Atlantan, who delights in charitable acts like the time he handed out presents and sang Christmas carols at an Atlanta Boys & Girls Club , teamed up with the police department after a video of Gainesville Police Officer Bobby White playing ball with the kids was posted. On Jan. 15, White was dispatched to a call after someone dialed 911 to complain that the youths were making too much noise playing basketball. White rolled up to the scene .. and started shooting hoops with them.
After sinking some lovely shots, White departed with a friendly request: "Obviously I have no problem with you playing basketball. Just, if you can, try not to be too loud. You know what I mean?"
A few days later White was told he'd be receiving a few extra hands to engage his new friends in a rematch. Little did he know who was coming! Shaq rolled up with the officers, played with the kids and gave everyone who sunk a basket $100. Before he left he gave an inspirational speech urging the kids to respect their peers, their parents and authority figures, to stay out of trouble and focus on school.
Here's the video:
And here's the original video of White responding to the call:
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