Shaquille O’Neal embodies integrity in his promises, a trait that stood tall on Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship game night.
Facing off against fellow “Inside the NBA” panelist Ernie Johnson, O’Neal wagered against Johnson’s alma mater, the Georgia Bulldogs, predicting they wouldn’t triumph over the Texas Christian University’s Horned Frogs (TCU).
The stakes were set: the NBA Hall of Famer would consume frog legs live on national TV if his prediction faltered.
Unfortunately for O’Neal, the Horned Frogs suffered a resounding 65-7 defeat, handing Georgia its second consecutive College Football Playoff title.
Come Thursday’s NBA coverage on TNT, it was time for O’Neal to honor his bet. Johnson, sporting a Bulldogs helmet, ceremoniously presented a silver platter covered with a lid.
Beneath it lay frog legs, which O’Neal cheerfully partook in. “I’m a man of my word,” O’Neal affirmed between bites.
While O’Neal relished his unique snack, his fellow panelists had mixed reactions. Kenny Smith, a vegetarian, expressed his discomfort with the meal. On the other hand, Charles Barkley declared, “Frog legs are good, I’m not gonna lie.”
With remnants of the meal still visible, O’Neal delivered his verdict: “I just wanna let y’all know, these frog legs are good. They’re the best frog legs I’ve ever had.”
Wrapping up his impromptu dining experience on live TV, the 2000 NBA MVP humorously acknowledged the skepticism: “You didn’t think I was gonna do it, did you?”
Looking ahead, let’s hope future matchups include teams like the Colorado Buffaloes or the South Carolina Gamecocks in the College Football Playoff National Championship game, sparing Shaq from another culinary adventure.