That time Shaq came face-to-face with a shark

Speak about massive footwear to fill … NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, all 7-foot-1 of him, tries to beat his concern of sharks in “Shaq Does Shark Week,” airing Sunday (9 p.m.) as a part of Discovery’s annual “Shark Week” programming slate, celebrating its 30th 12 months on the air. “I’m petrified of sharks,” O’Neal informed The Publish. “I’ve watched ‘When Animals Assault’ 1 by way of 10. Bear in mind ‘Jaws’? And I reside in Florida, so all of the shark assaults in Florida…” “Shaq Does Shark Week” is a little totally different from previous “Shark Week” episodes: It’s a “buddy comedy” of types during which O’Neal, 46, is talked into diving with sharks by his pal Kevin Hart (through Skype) — and is then teamed with veteran actor/comic (and former Marine) Rob Riggle, who “trains” Shaq at Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas earlier than O’Neal takes the plunge with sharks within the ocean. “I didn’t wish to do it,” O’Neal says. “I stayed by the steps [in the Atlantis pool] and I observed once I stayed by the steps the sharks have been me … one shark came actually shut however he noticed me and rapidly went away. My concern was that I seemed like a seal.” “It’s dealt with comically,” says Will Packer, one of many episode’s government producers (it’s produced by Will Packer Media and Anomaly Leisure). Packer ought to know: He’s produced big-screen comedies together with “Suppose Like a Man,” “The Wedding ceremony Ringer” and “Trip Alongside.” “Shaq calls Kevin Hart to assist him out and Kevin says, ‘There’s no manner I’m getting within the water with sharks. You’re loopy. Somebody who’s proper for this and is completely certified is Rob Riggle’ — who reveals up and is much less certified than Shaq. Collectively they’re two clueless guys having enjoyable and studying actual info about sharks. “We put them in a number of conditions: One is a contained pool at Atlantis and there’s one other scenario with a seal after which Shaq is out within the ocean with Rob and wild sharks,” Packer says. “Rob principally offers him nonsense recommendation that doesn’t assist anybody. It’s hilarious. Thank god no person obtained harm. He wasn’t very useful when it came to the science of sharks — however we had precise scientists on board for that.” The brazen shark comes nearer to the terrified Shaq.Discovery Channel O’Neal then took his ocean dive in his specifically constructed “Shaq Cage” — Packer says, “There will not be a lot of 7-foot shark divers and he couldn’t match into a regular cage comfortably, so we needed to create a cage” — and spent about an hour underwater. “He was apprehensive at first, however as soon as he noticed the opposite divers and digicam guys out within the water he stated, ‘If these guys can do it, I’ll do it,’ and he went for it,” Packer says. “He stated, ‘Let’s get down there and see what occurs.’ ” “The folks I love within the present are the digicam guys and the fellows on the market defending me,” O’Neal says. “They have been outdoors within the water, throwing chum in and I requested them, ‘You’re not scared?’ And so they stated, ‘Loads of instances when sharks chew folks it’s as a result of they mistake them for meals — and if we’re out right here within the water they usually know we’re not meals they’re not going to trouble us.’ ” Issues took a scary flip when O’Neal was underwater — and a shark truly obtained inside his cage. It’s the primary time this has ever occurred within the present’s 30-year historical past. “The area between the [cage’s] bars was totally different than regular and the shark was in a position to wiggle into the cage,” Packer says. “Shaq hasn’t moved that quick since he was within the NBA.” Share this: https://nypost.com/2018/07/19/that-time-shaq-came-face-to-face-with-a-shark/ The post That time Shaq came face-to-face with a shark appeared first on My style by Kartia.