'Shaq Life' Episode 4 Review: Staying competitive is the NBA legend's mantra to success in whatever he does
Spoilers for 'Shaq Life' Episode 4 'Shaq Your Age'
"I'm a showman," Shaq says in an episode that shows the competitive streak of the NBA legend while also explaining that age is just a number. After a decorated basketball career, Shaq, at 47, has more time to do the things he wants to, and he wants to be good at it. So with being a showman also comes a sense of competition and that highlights 'Shaq Your Age'.
Mixed Martial Arts can be one of the most brutal contact sports and Shaq has no qualms when it comes to picking it up and being the best at it. That he was into Martial Arts since 2000 is not a secret and now he wants to hit the bag twice as hard. The episode also highlights an improved performance by DJ Diesel after his first show on the summer tour which was a near disaster. However, when he gets the teens at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre to groove to his music, the response is a lot better giving him the much-needed confidence ahead of his European tour.
Each episode of 'Shaq Life' comes with its generous dose of fun, with Samuel L Jackson chipping in with his vibrant narration. "I'm competitive in everything I do because it's all I knew all my life," says Shaq. 'Shaq Life' brings a new side of the star this episode as he explains that he is anything but average. It pretty much reminds us of Gabriel Macht's line in 'Suits' — "Life is this, I like this".
Shaq isn't the man who's happy with claps and cheers for him that last a minute, he wants it to last as long as he's there and being a DJ comes pretty close to it.
If the first few minutes of the episode are all about his DJ Diesel avatar now proving not to be a novelty act, the second part is all about Shaq the martial artist. The UFC Performance Institute is the next destination where we see Shaq rub shoulders with some of the best athletes in the business, and being trained by them.
MMA star Francis Ngannou, his trainer and former UFC fighter Din Thomas and Kayla Harrison the Judo world champion get some screentime as they offer valuable tips and tricks to help Shaq hone his martial arts skills.
'Shaq Your Age' offers a simple piece of advice: Stay competitive. It also serves as an example of the classic cliche, "Age is just a number." If the man can juggle between martial arts, training, DJing, and business, people with maybe half his fame and fortune could still do the same. 'Shaq Life' at the moment has given a sneak peek into the life that's seen him don many hats, and the story is far from over. Thursday nights for sports fans are sorted as long as this docuseries is on air.
Episodes 1 and 2 of 'Shaq Life' airs Thursday at 9 pm ET on TNT.