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Shaq Diesel is headed for divorce court.
According to the New York Daily News, O'Neal's wife, Va'shaundya "Shaunie" O'Neal, cited "irreconcilable differences" in her divorce papers last month. TMZ reported that Shaunie has actually filed for legal separation, the first step toward divorce. It is the second time that the couple has begun the process of divorce. In 2007, they were able to reconcile their differences after Shaq filed in Miami.
"Obviously, this is a difficult time for our family, and we request that the media respect our privacy," Shaq said in a statement. "I will continue to focus on being there for our children and I am confident that Shaunie will do the same."
It's ironic that a few months after consummating a new basketball marriage with Lebron James in Cleveland, Shaq's legal marriage is headed for the history books. (Though some think Shaq's latest basketball marriage won't last either. More on that later.)
According to the Daily News:
In addition to asking for an unspecified amount of money for spousal and child support, Shaunie is also seeking sole custody of the couple's four minor children, ages 3 to 9, with visitation rights for O'Neal. Though the couple lives in Florida, Shaunie claimed she's a resident of California, which has more generous community-property divorce provisions. According to People.com, Shaunie recently flew to Los Angeles and claimed herself a resident of the Golden State on Nov. 8, one day before filing the separation papers. This is the second split for Shaunie and Shaq, who originally filed for divorce in 2007. The couple, who reportedly have a prenuptial agreement, eventually reconciled after a bitter dispute over whether or not he was hiding money from her.
The website Bossip reported that O'Neal had an affair with fellow NBA player Gilbert Arenas' now pregnant fiancee, Laura Govan. It also reported that Govan and Shaunie were good friends. Whatever the reason for the divorce, I'm sad to see any once-happy marriage dissolve.
The downside of Shaq's fame is that what should've been a private matter is exposed for public consumption. I'm sure the pressure of always being in the public spotlight did not help the O'Neals.
It also seems shady that O'Neal's wife is now claiming residency in California, when she and Shaq kept a home in Florida. California is known to have more generous divorce laws. Shaq's lawyers are trying to block her new claim.Between child support and alimony, it seems that Shaunie will be well compensated. Unlike many divorced mothers, she will have the financial resources available to raise their children. Her time now should be spent focusing on the next phase of her life and things that can't be settled with cash, such as fulfillment.
Another issue in their feud was Shaunie's accusation that O'Neal was hiding money from her.
Women and men need to be joint partners in marriage. Even if one partner is a stay-at-home parent or makes less money than the other, that partner should know important details, such as how many bank accounts there are and how much is in them. Even if one partner handles the financial affairs, the other should know how much money is coming in each month, how much money is going out and to whom. Do you know how many credit cards your spouse has?
I hope Shaq and Shaunie can work out their differences. In the meantime, I'm rooting for Shaq's hardwood marriage to culminate in a championship this year so Bron Bron doesn't feel too guilty about divorcing Shaq and bolting to the Knicks next season.
Comments: (170)
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By: Lola on 11/11/2009 10:05AM
Shaunie is a California Resident. She only lived in those other places because of Shaq's basketball career. However, now that they are divorcing she has the right to claim California Residency. Who want's to be stuck in Florida except retiree's.
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By: greg on 11/11/2009 8:47PM
At one point in time she may have been a california state resident but she no longer lives there. She may have had to move to different states because of his profession but she also benefitted greatly from his profession as well. She should stick to the prenup and the agreement they had at the beginning of the marriage instead of trying to seek even more. Sounds to me she is being greedy
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By: jim on 12/04/2009 2:20PM
wake up, that is not why is is saying California is her homw lol
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By: Geri on 12/04/2009 2:40PM
Lola, I live in South Florida and my daughter use to wait on them all the time, locally. She is a resident of South Florida....we see them around town all the time for years!!
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By: Steve on 12/05/2009 7:12PM
Of course anyone would take California over Florida. Share your sun with all the illegal immigrants. The state is broke, but you can always move to San Fran. the gay capital of the world, and learn how to get a medical card to purchase marijuana at a medical clinic. When was the last time a large corporation came to California? Liberals have destroyed California and Obama wants to do the same thing to America that happened in California.
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By: Right on 12/04/2009 5:03PM
How do you know?
I admit I don't know?
There are many legal requirements such as days spend there and where and domicile intention. Its always nice to see how people who know nothing manage to spout on discussion boards.
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By: YoFrankeee on 12/04/2009 11:48PM
Screw you Lola. Florida is not only for retiree's. I've lived here for many years and not once has this state been in fear of falling off the country like California. Shaunie did exactly what's being accused. She even admitted it. When she and Shaq went to Miami, she changed residency from California to Florida. She voted here, filed taxes here, and lived well in this state. The only reason she ran back to California was to try and screw Shaq out of more money. You know he's going to pay through the nose anyway. She just wants an unreasonable share of the money, when all she did was sleep with him, have his kids and tell the nannies to take care of them. Real classy mom there. I'd love to see ONE of these money-hungry women actually get a job and try raising kids on a regular salary. Now, she'll spend the rest of her life living off money HE made...
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By: Eric on 12/04/2009 5:57PM
Yea like California is such a great place to live. Poor air quality, morally and financially bankrupt, and the ground can open up under your feet at anytime.
She is claiming residence in California to get a better divorce settlement. In reality she probably stays as far away from California as she can which is why she resides in Florida.
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By: suz on 12/04/2009 9:08PM
You don't get out much do you lola. Maybe it's all that smog that has clouded your brain.
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By: Angela on 12/05/2009 2:11AM
Lola, you sure got that right!
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