The night air in downtown Kansas City was crisp, streetlights casting gentle halos along the quiet sidewalks. Shaquille O’Neal walked alone, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. Even as a celebrated athlete and beloved public figure, Shaquille cherished these quiet moments away from the spotlight.
Turning onto a dimly lit street, he heard muffled voices and harsh laughter echoing from a nearby alley. Instinctively, Shaquille paused, his gaze narrowing as he stepped closer. There, illuminated by faint streetlight, he saw four teenagers crowding around an elderly Black man.
The man was frail, dressed in a worn coat, his cracked glasses barely clinging to his face. A cane lay discarded nearby. His dignity, however, remained intact, despite the obvious discomfort. Shaquille’s heart tightened as anger surged within him.
“Hey!” Shaquille called out, his voice firm yet calm. The teens spun around, startled. Recognition flickered across their faces.
“Yo—is that Shaquille O’Neal?” one whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.
Shaquille stepped forward, unwavering. “Does bullying make you feel strong? Because real strength is protecting others—not hurting them.”
The leader hesitated, bravado faltering. Shaquille stepped between the elderly man and the teens, picking up the fallen cane and gently handing it back. “You alright, sir?” he asked softly.
The elderly man nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. “I’ve been through worse, young man.”
The teens muttered excuses before quickly dispersing, their arrogance replaced by embarrassment. Shaquille turned to the elderly gentleman, “Let me walk you home.”
“You don’t need to do that,” the man protested softly, pride evident in his voice. Shaquille smiled gently, “Even the strongest of us need support sometimes.”
They walked together in silence, a comforting quiet between two strangers who felt oddly connected. Finally, Shaquille spoke, “What’s your name?”
“James Holloway,” the elderly man replied, his voice deep with years of wisdom and hardship.
“Nice to meet you, James. I’m Shaquille.”
James chuckled softly. “Believe me, son, I know who you are.”
When they arrived at James’s modest apartment, Shaquille noticed its worn appearance. Inside, photographs lined the walls—memories of a lifetime, including one of James and a woman whose smile radiated warmth.
“Your wife?” Shaquille asked quietly.
James nodded gently. “Margaret. Lost her ten years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Shaquille said, feeling a pang of shared loss.
James sighed deeply, his gaze distant. “Life has its way of giving and taking. Margaret was my anchor. Since she passed, it’s just been me.”
Shaquille’s mind raced with thoughts of loneliness, recalling his own experiences with loss. He spoke softly, “James, you shouldn’t face hardships like tonight alone.”
James smiled faintly. “Life doesn’t always offer choices, son.”
“Maybe,” Shaquille replied thoughtfully. “But people do. And tonight, I’m choosing to help.”
Over the next few days, Shaquille made it his mission to visit James regularly. They shared meals, stories, and slowly built a genuine friendship. James gradually opened up, revealing dreams he’d buried long ago—dreams of a peaceful home, a garden filled with Margaret’s favorite roses, and quiet evenings free from fear.
Moved by James’s resilience, Shaquille decided to act. Without fanfare, he arranged a comfortable, peaceful house for James in a safer neighborhood. It wasn’t lavish, but it was warm, welcoming, and held the promise of peace.
The day James first saw the house, his eyes widened in disbelief. He stood silently in the cozy living room, emotion thickening his voice, “Why are you doing all this?”
Shaquille met his gaze earnestly, “Because kindness shouldn’t be extraordinary—it should be ordinary. Everyone deserves to feel safe and valued.”
James finally nodded, accepting Shaquille’s generosity not as charity but as an act of genuine friendship. “Alright then,” he said, eyes glistening. “I’ll accept—but I insist on paying rent.”
Shaquille smiled, recognizing James’s need to maintain dignity. “Deal.”
Days later, James settled into his new home. He planted roses for Margaret in the garden, the scent of fresh blooms soon filling the air. Life felt hopeful again.
But the story didn’t end there. Weeks later, Shaquille visited and noticed a familiar group approaching—the same teenagers from that alley. Shaquille stood protectively, but James raised his hand gently, signaling patience.
Surprisingly, the group’s leader stepped forward, eyes downcast. “Mr. Holloway, we came to apologize,” he admitted quietly. “We were wrong.”
James studied them carefully, seeing sincerity beneath their shame. “Apology accepted,” he replied softly. “But true strength comes from helping others. Think you boys could do that?”
The teens nodded earnestly. Soon, they were kneeling in the garden beside James, their hands covered in soil, helping plant flowers and building something beautiful from their mistakes.
Shaquille watched proudly from the porch, marveling at how a single act of kindness could ripple outward, transforming not just one life but many. James looked up, eyes twinkling with newfound happiness, “You’ve done something amazing here, Shaquille.”
Shaquille shook his head gently, smiling, “No, James—you did.”
As dusk painted the sky in gentle purples and golds, James knew his life had shifted profoundly. Loneliness had given way to friendship, bitterness transformed into hope.
Shaquille O’Neal, famed athlete and humble man, had reminded him—and everyone involved—that compassion changes lives. Kindness was contagious, its echoes felt long after the initial gesture.
James leaned back comfortably, breathing deeply, “Thank you, Shaquille.”
Shaquille smiled warmly, his voice filled with sincerity, “Thank you, James—for teaching me about true strength.”
3-year-old Shaquille O’Neal’s Great Grandmother Attacked Stepfather Phillip Harrison with a Shoe For Bullying the Baby: “Leave That Boy Alone”
Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal before game one of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the greats, and that is partly due to his tough childhood. His stepfather, Sgt. Phillip Harrison raised him to become one from a young age. This often included strict disciplinary actions such as scoldings and beatings. However, Shaq’s great-grandmother was not a big fan of this “training.”
In fact, she wasn’t a big fan of Harrison, period. And, as revealed in his book Shaq Talks Back, she once attacked the army man for shouting at a baby Diesel, when Shaq was just 3 years old! Her choice of weapon? A shoe that left his stepfather stunned, and him marveling at just how tough of a woman she really is.
Shaquille O’Neal’s great-grandmother once clocked his stepfather Phillip Harrison in the head for shouting at him
Growing up, Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t exactly a model of discipline. In fact, he often found himself in a lot of trouble, which in turn resulted in strict disciplinary action. Disciplinary action that came at the hands of his stepfather, Sgt. Phillip Harrison. A man who terrified a young Shaq.
Sgt. Harrison started disciplining The Big Aristotle at a young age, as early as the age of three. He was insistent on making a man out of his stepson. And, this often included a lot of beatings and a fair bit of shouting. Something that obviously terrified the future Hall of Famer. However, one person who was at his side in his early years was his great-grandmother, whom he affectionately refers to as “Muma.”
Muma wasn’t the biggest fan of Sgt. Harrison’s antics, and often did whatever she could to ease Shaq’s pain. Like, give him a bottle of milk at bedtime. Well, one night, Phillip was so mad he snatched the bottle and began yelling at him. This infuriated Muma who proceeded to hit the military man on the head with a shoe.
“When I was about three years old and my father was trying to make me hard and not be a baby, Muma used to sneak me a milk bottle at bedtime. She had a little stash of them for me hid in her bedroom. So one time my father snatched me and snatched the bottle and started yelling at me. “Leave that boy alone!” Muma said. And then she took her shoe and hit him in his head. Just popped him, right in the head. Yeah, Muma was tough. Still is.”
It certainly must have been a hilarious scene to bare witness to. However, it is a bit harsh. After all, it was never Harrison’s intention to abuse Shaq. But, much rather, build him up to become the superstar he knew he could be.
Phillip Harrison disciplined Shaq in order to make him a better man
Sgt. Phillip Harrison’s decision to discipline Shaquille O’Neal in the most violent ways possible is often looked upon with distaste. After all, it just seemed cruel in most cases. However, his true intentions were to use the beatings and violence to turn Shaq into a better man. And, for the most part, it worked.
In fact, O’Neal has gone on record several times praising his stepfather for his discipline and thanking him for making him into the man he is today.
At the end of the day, there can be no denying that Sarge’s actions were well-intentioned. And, while they were a tad bit physical, it’s hard to imagine what Shaq would’ve been like if it weren’t for him.
