Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal is one of America's most famous basketball stars. He's loved by thousands of fans. He plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Shaq is 2m 16 and has lots of talent! But Shaq wasn't always a star. He was born March 6th, 1972 in New Jersey.

At 16 Shaq was just an ordinary high school student - with a lot of problems. His father was in the army, and the family lived in lots of different places. At first Shaq didn't work hard at school. But he was taught to do the right thing by his parents. When he came home with a bad report, he was told, "No more basketball!"

So Shaq startet to work harder at school and at basketball. Things got better. He went to college and at 20 he became one of the most famous sportsmen in the world.

But Shaq istn't just a basketball star. He has written a book, has been in a movie and has made rap CD's. He has already made millions of dollars. Now he wants to help teenagers. He talks to them about drugs and about the future.

"You can't do it. It's too dangerous," he says. "You'll probably die or go to prison. You need a dream, and then you have to work hard for it."

When he was younger, he was laughed at because he was so tall. But his mother said, "Be proud of youself. You are who you are."

Today Shaq says, "Do you know what? My mother was right!"

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