Shaquille O’Neal defends Angel Reese’s taunt, goes after Barstool Sports founder

Shaquille O’Neal was known for smacking down huge blocks on the court, but he can deliver a hit just as well off the court.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 08: Shaquille O'Neal attends the second pre-season NBA game between Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks at Etihad Arena on October 08, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Following LSU’s win over Iowa in the NCAA women’s tournament championship game, the internet has been buzzing about Angel Reese, who is facing backlash for her John Cena “you can’t see me” taunt at Hawkeyes phenom Caitlin Clark.

The New York Post reports Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, called Reese “a classless piece of s – t,” on Twitter, and included a video of her on-court gesture.

Jemele Hill — a contributor for The Atlantic – had no problem picking a fight with Portnoy over the Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark drama.

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Hill, who departed ESPN in 2018 — quote-tweeted Portnoy’s post on Monday, writing: “So I’m going to pick this fight. F – k you.”

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal also replied to Portnoy with: “and so is your mother.”

and so is your mother

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) April 3, 2023

The Barstool personality didn’t back down from his remarks.

“I’m in a pretty big full-fledged internet war,” Portnoy said, adding that he bet on Iowa to win.

“That bet is a major part of probably what transpired and I can explain,” Portnoy said.

“ … I call her ‘a classless piece of s – t’ and off we go … It is classless by the way … If someone does something that I don’t like in a game I’m watching, I tweet.”

Portnoy explained that it wasn’t Reese’s trash talk that he had an issue with.

“I think you’re basically lying if you’re saying what Caitlin Clark did and Angel Reese did are the same thing — they’re not,” Portnoy said.

Angel Reese of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts towards Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the NCAA championship game. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP

“I like trash talking. If you hit a big shot in the moment or you’re talking s – t in the moment, back and forth … I don’t care. That is not what Angel Reese did.”

Portnoy’s argument was that Reese “followed” Clark after the game was over to taunt her.

“Find me one example in any sport, of anybody, after somebody wins a championship, confetti coming down, not in a close game — and find me a player stalking the best player on the other team,” Portnoy said.

“It is not sexist. It does not happen. If a man did that, he would be called ‘classless’ and nobody would be saying anything.”

In a separate tweet, Portnoy denied that the issue, at its core, is about race.

shut your dumb ass up leave angel reese alone.

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) April 3, 2023

O’Neal has been vocal in his defence of Reese, telling former ESPN anchor Keith Olberman to “leave Angel Reese alone”, after Olberman called Reese a “f***ing idiot” for her behaviour.

“Shut your dumb a– up, leave Angel Reese alone,” Shaq wrote in a tweet.

Olberman later apologised, calling his remarks “uninformed”.

On Monday, Stephen A. Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take” that he believes there is a racial component to the situation.

Reese’s “you can’t see me” celebration was the same gesture Clark made in Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Louisville.

Shaquille O'Neal weighed in on the furore. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey said during an appearance on the “Today” show Monday that Reese is not going to apologise — and that trash-talk is part of who she is as a player.

“[Reese] was upset because they [the public] attack her and they didn’t attack Caitlin and things like that,” Mulkey said.

.@stephenasmith shares his thoughts on Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark's celebrations: pic.twitter.com/mOAGtTONyt

— First Take (@FirstTake) April 3, 2023

“Listen, that child is a beast on the boards rebounding. That child just won a national championship. She’s not afraid of social media. That is who Angel is.”

After the win, Reese said she received more criticism than other players because she didn’t fit a “narrative”.

“All year, I was critiqued about who I was. The narrative — I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit the box you all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. You told me that all year,” Reese said.

“But when other people do it — you all don’t say nothing. So, this is for the girls that look like me. That’s going to speak up for what they believe in.

“It’s unapologetically you, and that’s what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. It was bigger than me. Twitter is going to go in a rage every time.

“And, I mean, I’m happy. I feel like I helped grow women’s basketball this year. I’m super happy and excited. I’m looking forward to celebrating and then next season.”

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Shaquille O’Neal defends Angel Reese’s taunt, goes after Barstool Sports founder