News
Pujols-Shaq derby set for Thursday
Cardinals slugger, NBA star to face off for reality show
By B.J. Rains / MLB.com
08/12/09 8:11 PM ET
ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols was given a free pass when he didn't win the State Farm Home Run Derby during the 2009 All-Star Game festivities last month at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals' home ballpark.But, as he knows, things will be different if he loses again on Thursday night.
Pujols, who will face off against NBA star Shaquille O'Neal in a home run derby as part of O'Neal's reality TV show, "Shaq VS," which debuts this fall, doesn't plan to take it easy on the Big Aristotle.
"This is a competition, you don't take it easy," Pujols said. "If he beats me, I will hear it the whole year. So I'm going to do my best. I'm not going to take it easy, for sure."
The two-time NL MVP stands a far greater chance to beat O'Neal than he did the All-Stars at the Midsummer Classic. The competition, which will take place at T.R. Hughes Ballpark, an Independent League stadium in O'Fallon, Mo., will be the culmination of three days of filming in St. Louis for the television show.
O'Neal watched the Cardinals take batting practice and threw out the first pitch before Tuesday's game against the Reds, and he and Pujols held a press conference on Wednesday morning to preview their contest.
"Usually I try to get into the mind of my opponent," O'Neal said Wednesday. "But I don't think it's wise to talk smack to a guy that always has a bat in his hand. So I will have to use a different approach with the great Albert Pujols."
Pujols, who leads the Major Leagues with 38 home runs, gave O'Neal a tour of the Cardinals clubhouse on Tuesday and offered some pointers before he stepped into the indoor cage.
"One thing that I told him was, 'Don't try to hit the ball too hard, just relax and see the ball and put a good swing on it,'" Pujols said. "I mean look at his body, he's amazing. He doesn't have to overpower the ball to hit it out. I'll bet you that he surprises a lot of people and hits the ball pretty far."
O'Neal was doing some betting of his own, guaranteeing that he would defeat the slugger in the contest.
"If Albert beats me, I'll go in the stadium by myself, with Albert and a few of his friends, and I will wear some pink small shorts and run the bases," O'Neal said. "I like to motivate the opponents to be at the top of their game, and I think that will motivate him, seeing me run around the bases in little pink, tight shorts, two sizes too small, with 'SHAQ' written on the rear."
The TV series will feature one-hour shows in which O'Neal challenges a different sports star each night. He will box against Oscar De La Hoya, swim against Michael Phelps and race with cyclist Lance Armstrong, among others.
The idea for the show, O'Neal says, came because, "Even though I represent the athletes, I also represent the male, couch-potato bravado type guy, too."
"You know me, I'm an athlete and I talk a lot of trash," O'Neal said. "I said OK, [Phelps] is great, but if he has to go down and back and I only have to go down, I bet you I could beat him. Lance Armstrong, we race 10 miles, he gives me a four-mile head start, I can beat him."
But on Thursday, the four-time NBA champion will put his baseball skills to the test against one of the game's greatest.
"I was a T-ball All-Star back in the early '80s," O'Neal said. "I played a little first base in high school, but I had the world's biggest strike zone, so of course my average was terrible. But baseball is a fabulous sport, it's America's pastime.
"I know I'm up here having a good time right now, but believe it or not, I'm a kid in a candy store. For me to be able to sit up here with one of the world's greatest players, this is actually a true story, that I can go home and tell my children, 'Hey, one time I got to mess around with Albert Pujols.' I'm having a good time up here today."
Pujols downplayed any concern with his surgically repaired elbow after the star struggled for several weeks following his participation in the Home Run Derby. With the Cardinals enjoying a rare off-day as they gear up for a final push toward the playoffs, some would argue that Pujols would be best served to take the rest instead of participating on the show.
"Obviously, as you guys know, the last couple of rounds of my BP, I play around and it's a home run derby every day," Pujols said. "I did the Home Run Derby in the All-Star Game, and everybody was concerned about it, but I think you know your approach. You know what you need to do.
"I think people try to figure out how I'm slumping and got in a slump after the Home Run Derby, and I don't think it's that. In your mind, you need to know what to do to have yourself ready for the game. I've done it in the past and like I said, I'm really excited to be a part of this with Shaq."
But regardless of the outcome of Thursday's competition, Pujols doesn't expect to be challenging O'Neal to a basketball contest anytime soon.
"I love basketball, I was a point guard in high school, but I don't think I am going to challenge him in that," Pujols said. "Maybe a three-pointer, we can do something like that, but I don't know. He's been doing this for 17 years, and so many people try to hit him, and he's still blocking and dunking all over people's faces. I don't want to be part of that."
The always quotable O'Neal, known for giving himself nicknames over the years, was asked if he had one for the competition on Thursday.
"When I was little, I was known as 'Shaq-ie Robinson,'" O'Neal said. "So that's the name I am going with tomorrow. I hope it doesn't scare you, Albert. Shaq-ie Robinson."
B.J. Rains is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
