VegasChatter

Here’s what USA Today has to say about Shaq’s second foray into the reality show arena:

Each episode is to include preliminary challenges, banter from news conferences, interaction with needy kids, and O'Neal and his rival negotiating a handicap. The laughs come from "trash talking," but "when it comes to competing, there is no joking," O'Neal says.

Whether there’s any truth to the claim, made public today by TMZ, that the idea for Shaq Vs was “hijacked” from author Todd Gallagher who penned a book titled “Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan” is another matter. In our opinion, it seems like this idea isn’t all that original to begin with. That Gatorade commercial featuring Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm confronting each other over any number of sports (basketball, soccer, tennis, fencing) sort of comes to mind.

So does Throwdown with Bobby Flay, when the ubiquitous TV chef tries to best your hometown’s famous pizza maker or cupcake baker with his own creations. In that show, Flay loses 9 times out of 10. We have a funny feeling, even equipped with a generous handicap, Shaq’s being set up for the same thing.

[Photo: BrettMM]