Blocked From White House, Shaq Loses Bet

Guessed he could get in just by turning up

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 28, 2009 6:39 AM CDT

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Blocked From White House, Shaq Loses Bet — FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2007, file photo, Shaquille O'Neal, right, of the Miami Heat, and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) dance together during NBA All-Star basketball practice in Las Vegas. The Cleveland Cavaliers completed a blockbuster trade on Thursday, June 25, 2009, bringing superstar... (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

Shaquille O’Neal bet a friend he’d be let in the White House if he simply showed up—and he lost the wager, the Washington Post reports. “The rule was I couldn't use any of my political connections," Shaq said. "Couldn't show a badge. I couldn't call anybody. They took my phone away, I jumped in a cab, went up there, and the guy wouldn't let me in."

“They were nice. They said, 'Shaq, we can't do it.' I said, 'I understand.' Understood.” But O'Neal was less stoic on his Twitter feed, where he posted: “The white house wouldn't let me in, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.”
(Read more White House stories.)

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