Race.  Horse.

Shaquille O'Neal has always been an arrogant buffoon.  That doesn't mean I don't enjoy his schtick from time to time, but he is what he is.  And since he's a Phoenix Sun now, that means I have to put up with it more often than when he was a Laker or a Heat (How exactly does that work in the singular?  He was a degree?  A calorie? A joule?  Anyone?).

So he got all juvenile and freestyled some silliness about Kobe Bryant's tongue exploring his massive buttocks.  And he cursed a bit.  And he dropped an N-bomb.  And it ended up on TMZ.  And, now, he's lost his badge.

Yup, Sheriff Joe is asking his greatest PR ploy since pink underwear to turn in his badge due to his "racial conduct."  Now I will certainly not argue that this was conduct unbecoming of a deputy sheriff (volunteer or not), but can this truly be construed as "racial conduct?" 

I don't mean to re-ignite a race or language war here, but I don't see how a black guy using the N-word to refer to himself in a rap, um, "song" is racial misconduct.  Sure, some people may find the word offensive, but it seems a bit of a stretch to claim that Shaq is demonstrating any sort of bias or racist sentiment. 

Unless of course, by racial conduct, he meant Shaq was conducting himself as a wannabe rapper of color.  In which case, instead of revoking his badge because of his use of the N-word, he should really be revoking it due to Shaq's abuse of meter and rhyme.  "I'm a horse; Kobe ratted me out, so now I'm divorced."  Wait, what?  You're a horse?  But you rode one in a commercial.  How can this be?  Not only am I confused, sir, but if you are indeed a horse, do me a favor and either win this team a race or go out to pasture and take your cap-killing contract with you.

I'm not saying that Sheriff Arpaio is racist or unfair or shouldn't be reacting the way he is.  I just think that, like Shaq, he could have chosen his words with a little more care.