Shaquille O’Neal strolled through the bustling airport terminal, his thoughts fixed on the film set waiting for him. The hum of hurried travelers and the rolling of luggage filled the air, blending into a chaotic yet familiar sound. But amidst the chaos, a small figure caught his attention. A young girl, no more than six, stood alone, clutching a worn teddy bear. Her wide, fearful eyes scanned the crowd, searching desperately.
Shaquille paused. His heart tugged at the sight of her tangled hair and scruffy clothes—clear signs that she had been through hours of distress. People rushed past her, absorbed in their own lives, too busy to notice her silent plea for help. Shaquille’s protective instincts kicked in as he stepped closer to the girl.
Kneeling down, Shaquille met her gaze. “Hey there, are you okay?” he asked gently, his voice soft yet reassuring.
The girl’s lips trembled as she whispered, “I can’t find my mom.”
Shaquille’s chest tightened. The vulnerability in her voice was undeniable. He glanced around, searching for a frantic parent, but saw no one. His instincts told him something was wrong. He could sense it. “Don’t worry,” he reassured her, standing tall. “We’ll find her.”
Just then, a woman approached, her smile tight and somewhat forced. “I’ve been looking everywhere for her,” she insisted, her voice shaky but trying to sound confident.
Shaquille studied her carefully. There was something in her demeanor that felt off. “Are you sure you’re her guardian?” he asked, his voice calm but probing.
The girl flinched as the woman’s grip tightened on her arm. The woman’s smile wavered for a brief moment. “Yes,” she said quickly, her voice firm, though it lacked certainty. “There’s no need to involve anyone else. I’ll take care of her.”
Shaquille’s suspicion grew. The girl’s trembling hands and her wide, frightened eyes told a different story. He knelt down again, looking into the girl’s eyes. “Is she your guardian?” he asked softly.
The girl’s lips quivered. She glanced away, clutching her teddy bear even tighter. That moment confirmed it. Something was wrong.
Turning to the woman, Shaquille said firmly, “We should get some help from security.”
“There’s no need for that!” the woman snapped, her voice rising in panic. “She’s fine! She’s just scared. I’ll take care of her.”
Shaquille stood his ground, his eyes steady on the woman. The situation felt too off, and his protective instincts told him that he had to act. Just then, a security guard approached, drawn by the commotion.
“Everything okay here?” the guard asked, looking between Shaquille, the woman, and the girl.
Shaquille nodded toward the girl. “She’s lost, and this woman says she’s her guardian, but I’m not convinced,” he said.
The woman’s composure started to crack. She tensed, her grip on the girl’s arm tightening. “I’m her guardian,” she insisted, her voice growing more defensive. “Don’t make a scene.”
The security guard raised an eyebrow. “Do you have any ID on you?” he asked.
The woman hesitated, her hand trembling slightly. “I… I don’t have it on me. It’s in my luggage,” she stammered.
Shaquille watched her closely, his suspicion rising. The girl’s fear was undeniable. It wasn’t just because she was lost—it was something deeper, something darker. He turned back to the security guard. “Let’s take her to the information desk,” he suggested, his voice calm but insistent.
Before they could move, another voice interrupted them. A woman in a business suit stepped forward. “I’m her guardian,” she said, her tone sharp and defensive.
Shaquille’s instincts flared. Something didn’t feel right. The woman in the suit seemed rattled by the security guard’s presence, and her confidence was fading. The security guard, sensing the tension, asked, “Miss, do you have any identification?”
The woman hesitated, her eyes darting nervously around. “I… I don’t have it on me,” she stammered.
Shaquille’s suspicion deepened. There was no reason for the woman to act like this if she were truly the girl’s guardian. The girl’s wide eyes darted to Shaquille, silently pleading for help. It was clear now that she was not in safe hands.
“Let’s head to the security office and sort this out,” the guard said firmly.
The woman’s calm façade crumbled. “There’s no need for that,” she snapped. Her voice was shaky, no longer sure of herself.
Shaquille knelt beside the girl once more, his tone gentle. “What’s your name, sweetheart?” he asked softly.
“Mia,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know her. I lost my mom.”
The woman’s eyes widened, and she quickly tightened her grip on Mia’s arm. “She’s just confused,” the woman said quickly. “She’s scared.”
The security guard motioned for backup, and the tension in the air grew thick. Shaquille stood protectively beside Mia, determined to get to the bottom of the situation.
The officers arrived shortly after, and they took over, assessing the situation. The woman’s composure had all but vanished. One officer addressed Mia gently. “Sweetheart, can you tell us what happened?”
Mia clung to her teddy bear, her voice trembling. “I got lost. I can’t find my mom.”
Shaquille’s jaw tightened. The officers exchanged a look, their suspicions mounting. The woman’s story was falling apart. “Can you prove you’re her guardian?” one of the officers asked.
The woman faltered, her eyes darting around in panic. “I’ve already explained. She’s just confused.”
Shaquille stepped forward. “Something doesn’t feel right. This girl is terrified, and it’s not just because she’s lost.”
The officers exchanged a glance, and the woman’s excuses became more erratic. She was clearly unraveling. One officer spoke firmly. “Ma’am, we need you to step aside for some questions.”
The woman hesitated, her grip on Mia’s arm now desperate. “You don’t understand!” she hissed. “She’s mine to protect!”
Shaquille stepped closer, his voice calm but insistent. “Protect her from what?” he asked.
The woman’s eyes flickered between Shaquille and the officers. Her demeanor had completely changed. She was no longer confident but visibly panicked.
“Please,” she murmured, “you wouldn’t understand.”
The officers motioned for her to follow them, but Mia’s mother arrived just in time. “Mia!” she cried, her voice frantic. Mia froze, then her face crumpled as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “Mom!” she sobbed, running into her mother’s arms.
The officers watched the emotional reunion, their suspicions about the woman in the suit solidifying. One officer addressed Mia’s mother. “Can you show us identification?”
Mia’s mother quickly pulled out her ID and a recent photo of Mia, proving her identity. The officers nodded, their expressions softening.
The woman in the suit, now fully agitated, protested, “This is a mistake! You don’t know what’s really going on!”
Shaquille stepped forward, his voice gentle. “You’ve got her now,” he said, his eyes focused on Mia’s mother. “That’s what matters.”
Mia’s mother looked up at him, tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
The woman in the suit was led away by officers, her protests growing louder. The investigation revealed that she had no connection to Mia or her family. Her story was fabricated. She had followed Mia and her mother from the park, convinced that she could provide better care.
Shaquille stood silently as the woman was taken away. He watched as Mia, once so frightened, clung to her mother, the fear in her eyes finally giving way to relief.
“You’re safe now,” Shaquille said softly to Mia.
Mia’s mother nodded, her voice trembling. “Thank you for helping her,” she said, her voice full of emotion. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t stepped in.”
Shaquille smiled faintly. “Anyone would have done the same.”
As Mia and her mother left the airport, Shaquille knew this moment would stay with him forever. He had witnessed the power of connection and compassion, a simple act of kindness that had changed a life.
The airport terminal, once so loud and chaotic, now felt quieter as Shaquille boarded his flight. He leaned back in his seat, reflecting on the events of the day. He had helped a lost child, and in doing so, he had reminded himself of the importance of noticing those in need. Even the smallest actions could make a monumental difference.
As the plane ascended, Shaquille promised himself that he would never overlook an opportunity to help again. Because sometimes, all it takes is a simple moment of compassion to change a life.
Shaquille O’Neal Felt ‘Embarrassed’ He Couldn’t Help His Son Write a Resumé: ‘I Never Had a Real Job’
Shaquille O’Neal walks on the grid before the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2021 in Austin, Texas.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal recently opened up about a moment with his son that left the athlete feeling “embarrassed.”
While speaking with Australia’s Sunrise News, the 50-year-old NBA icon said, “I am grateful, because I realize that the position I am in, in life, is a lucky position. I never had a real job in my life.”
The father-of-five continued, “When I was trying to help my son fill out a resume, I had to call somebody … I couldn’t do it … I was embarrassed.”
O’Neal and his ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal share four kids together — Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir and Me’arah — while Shaunie has a son, Myles, from a previous relationship, and O’Neal has a daughter, Taahirah, with his former girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh.
Shareef O’Neal (L) poses with Shaquille O’Neal (C) and Shaunie O’Neal (R) as he celebrates 18th birthday party at West Coast Customs on January 13, 2018 in Burbank, California
Sunrise News host David Koch countered O’Neal’s comments, telling the Hall of Famer, “You’ve never had a real job, but you’re almost as comfortable in business as you are on the basketball court … you’ve got an MBA.” According to ESPN, O’Neal earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix online.
The four-time NBA champion, who has been the face of major brands like Pepsi, Icy Hot, and Reebok, explained that while he is heavily involved with every project he works on, he’s confident with the team he has in place to manage the business side of his brand.
O’Neal explained, “The reason why I did that is because I always like to be in charge, but I let other people speak for me, my agents … they think I’m just this dumb jock who has no inclination of what business is. It would just drive me crazy.”
In addition to his various investments, O’Neal is getting ready to return as an analyst for NBA on TNT this season. In fact, the Laker legend revealed he’d be interested in purchasing the NBA team that drafted him in 1992.
“This message go out to the DeVos family, if you’re ready to sell Orlando Magic, sell it to somebody who’s gonna take it to the next level, that’s us,” O’Neal, 50, said on The Big Podcast in June. “Listen, we still run that franchise [Magic]. If they wanna sell it to us, DeVos family, we’re ready to go right now,” he said, speaking on behalf of himself and former Magic player Dennis Scott, who also appeared on the podcast episode.
Orlando’s NBA team is currently owned by the DeVos family, who bought it in 1991 for $85 million, according to Sporting News. The family patriarch, Richard DeVos, transferred the ownership to his children, which include the husband of former secretary of education Betsy DeVos, before his death in 2018.
The DeVos family has not indicated any interest in selling the team, but O’Neal said he’s ready if the call comes in. “We got the money, you ain’t got to worry about that,” he said.
