Transcript of Shaquille O’Neal shares his perspective on the state of America

All right. While I was here in New Orleans, I got to catch up with an NBA legend, Shaquille O'Neill. We talked about law enforcement, the men and women who put on a line, and the United States of America. How do you feel about America right now?

I think we have a lot of big-time people, and if everyone just does their part. Of course, you're always going to have left and right. You're always going to have on and off. You're always going to have certain things. But me, I try to use the things that I'm popular at and bringing people together.

Shaq, you've been there for law enforcement. You've been there for the military. I mean, you've been there for America.

That's because those people helped me become the character known as Shaq. My father is a military drill I'm not going to fight you for it. When that anthem comes on, stand up and put your hand on your chest. That's what he taught me. People have different beliefs, and that's okay. See, I'm the type that if you have a different belief, I'm not going to try to fight you for it. I think a lot of times, you say this If the suit is blue, I say it's navy, but we're not going to fight about it. You think it's blue, I think it's navy. Okay, we move on. Blue or navy? I think we live in a world where everybody wants to be right, but everybody's going to have their own religion, own opinion, own beliefs. The word I think America needs to focus on is respect. You respect the person, I think. That's why I like doing events like these, because you meet people that are different from you, and we all have one thing in common.

That's why I've always loved sports, man. It brings people that are different together. I I appreciate this, man. I really do. I think it's the first time we've ever met in person. Come on. Is it? It is. It is.

You're freaking beautiful in person. Thank you, brother.

Thank you, buddy. Good to see you, Shaq. Thank you, man. Shaquille O'Neill, a great supporter of America, and someone who also made me feel about five years old as he put his gigantic hand on my shoulder and stood seven feet tall over me..