Sports Illustrated's May 17th Cover with Shaquille O'Neal. SI feature story written by Chris Ballard.

The cover story of this week’s Sports Illustrated. SI Senior Writer Chris Ballard focuses on the changed persona and player that came to Cleveland during the off-season. I had the chance to interview Chris about his article and the interview was played on May 15th’s DSS. Below is a look into the article if you haven’t read it yet.

Ballard looks at a couple of the factors that have gone in to Shaq’s metamorphosis since arriving in Cleveland. Once regarded by his critics as lazy and not living up to his potential, Shaq is losing weight.

Ballard writes: “You stare at the plastic bottle. That couldn’t be…could it? ‘Yup, V8,’ O’Neal says, his voice in a low rumble. Really? V8? This is not the drink of the Baddest Man on the Planet, an icon with championships to win and nightclubs to plunder and a world to cradle in his wrinkled brown palms. Yet here he is, a man who used to dine on 48-ounce steaks and wash them down with 24-ounce steaks, cradling this tiny vessel of vegetable pulp.”

Furthermore, Ballard describes how O’Neal has been used relatively infrequently during the playoffs and has looked either 28 or48 during his playing time. But, through all of this, O’Neal has not lost sight of his original goal when coming to Cleveland: provide the King with a Ring.

Chris and I also discussed LeBron James and his awful performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. Also discussed Shaq’s future, his time in Cleveland, where LeBron might end up next year, and also other NBA news.