Kevin Garnett has had some interesting interview statements as of late. Most notable of which is his assertion that he could have been an LA Laker after leaving Minnesota but he killed the trade due to a perceived conflict between Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant at the time. Opting instead for a move to Boston that paid dividends and an NBA Championship for the big man. But another interesting tidbit from his recent interview with Dan Patrick was about his softball hitting prowess at Fenway. Garnett claims that he and Rondo both hit the home run wall during an exhibition game, and most surprising that Shaq actually hit one over the green monster!
Personally, I’m going to have to have to call B.S. on Mr. Garnett on this one. For those of you that have played softball you know the ball doesn’t travel as far as a hardball. And combining that with the fact that Shaquille O’Neal took on Albert Pujols (and lost miserably) in a home run derby on his ABC show Shaq Vs. it gives us all the video evidence we need.
Why?
Because in the competition against Pujols, Shaq only had to hit the ball about 2/3 of the distance out into the field to score a ‘home run’ in the match. And he still lost. None of his hits with a hardball in that competition would have been long enough to make it over the Green Monster, let alone doing it with a softball that travels no where near the distance.
Shaq, if you’re reading this, I challenge you to prove Garnett’s claim that you can hit a softball that deep. In fact, I’m willing to bet that I myself could hit a softball further. Blogger vs. Athlete. Let’s do it.
Regardless gotta give a H/T to SB Nation via Ball Don’t Lie for the Garnett tale of Shaq’s hitting prowess.
Garnett recalled a softball game that the Celtics played at Fenway Park. Garnett said he hit one ball off of the Green Monster. He said Rajon Rondo hit two off the Wall and Shaquille O’Neal, of course, knocked one over the Monster.
“Shaq’s the business, man,” Garnett said. “It was truly an honor to play with him. “This year was the most fun I’ve had in the NBA in a long time.”
