Big Shaq Encounters a Young Entrepreneur: A Heartwarming Tale
On a warm afternoon in downtown Los Angeles, the sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the bustling streets. The city was alive with the sounds of honking cars, laughter, and the chatter of people hurrying about their day. Among the crowd, a towering figure moved with surprising ease—Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA legend known for his larger-than-life personality and heart.
As Shaq strolled past street vendors and performers, he blended into the lively atmosphere, his presence drawing the occasional glance but not disrupting the flow of pedestrians. He was enjoying the day, taking in the sights and sounds, when something caught his eye. Near a busy park corner, a young boy, no older than twelve, stood behind a folding table filled with an array of candy bars, bags of chips, and small bottles of water. The boy wore an oversized shirt, his sneakers scuffed from wear, and his face was set with determination.
“Candy for sale! Just a dollar! Help support my school fundraiser!” the boy called out, his voice rising above the noise of the crowd. Shaq slowed his pace, intrigued by the boy’s earnestness. Most people walked past without a second glance, too preoccupied with their own lives. A few stopped briefly, offering polite smiles but no purchases, leaving the boy undeterred.
Shaq felt a pang of admiration for the young entrepreneur. He decided to approach, curiosity and compassion guiding his steps. “Hey, big man,” Shaq said, his deep voice kind yet commanding enough to catch the boy’s attention.
The boy looked up, his eyes widening in disbelief. “You’re… you’re Shaquille O’Neal!” he stammered, a mix of shock and excitement evident in his voice.
Shaq grinned and crouched slightly to meet the boy’s eye level. “That’s me! What’s your name?”
“Marcus,” the boy replied, still staring in awe.
“Nice to meet you, Marcus,” Shaq said, shaking the boy’s hand. “Now tell me, what’s this fundraiser about?”
Marcus’s face lit up as he explained, “I’m trying to raise money for my school’s basketball program. We need new jerseys and equipment. I thought if I sold enough candy, I could help out.”
Shaq nodded thoughtfully, impressed by the boy’s initiative. “That’s a big responsibility,” he said. “Why are you doing this all by yourself?”
Marcus hesitated, glancing down at the table. “Well, not everyone on the team can help,” he admitted. “Some of them don’t have the money to buy the candy and resell it. I wanted to make sure we still had a chance to get what we need.”
Shaq felt a mix of admiration and sadness. He knew what it was like to grow up with limited resources and the weight of responsibility at a young age. “How much are you trying to raise?” he asked.
Marcus shrugged. “As much as I can,” he said. “Every little bit helps. I’ve been out here all day, but I’ve only sold a few things.”
Shaq looked at the table, noting the nearly full inventory of candy and snacks. He could see the effort Marcus had put into this, from the way everything was arranged to the determination in his voice. “You’ve been working hard, haven’t you?” Shaq said, his tone warm.
“Yeah, but it’s worth it. I just want my team to have what we need to play,” Marcus replied, his eyes shining with passion.
Shaq stood up, towering over the boy as he surveyed the bustling street. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp $100 bill, placing it on the table. “I’ll take everything,” he said, his voice firm but kind.
Marcus’s jaw dropped. “Everything?” he repeated, barely able to believe what he was hearing.
“Everything,” Shaq confirmed with a smile. “You pack it up, and I’ll take it all.”
For a moment, Marcus was speechless. Then his face broke into the widest grin Shaq had ever seen. “Thank you! Thank you so, so much!” he exclaimed, excitement overflowing as he began packing the candy into bags.
As Marcus worked, Shaq knelt down again, his tone turning serious but encouraging. “Listen, Marcus,” he said, “you remind me of myself when I was your age—working hard, trying to help your team, and not giving up even when it’s tough. That’s what makes you a leader.”
“Really?” Marcus asked, his eyes shining with pride.
“Really,” Shaq affirmed. “And leaders don’t just work hard; they inspire others to do the same. Keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll go far.”
Once Marcus finished packing, Shaq handed him another $100 bill. “This is for you,” he said.
“For me?” Marcus asked, his voice filled with awe.
“For you,” Shaq confirmed. “Use it however you need—whether it’s for your family, your school, or even just to treat yourself to something nice. You’ve earned it.”
Tears welled up in Marcus’s eyes as he clutched the money. “Thank you, Mr. Shaq,” he said, his voice trembling. “I’ll never forget this.”
Shaq stood, holding the bags of candy with ease. “You take care, Marcus,” he said. “And remember, hard work always pays off.”
As Shaq walked away, he turned back to see Marcus waving enthusiastically, his smile brighter than ever. A few passersby who had witnessed the exchange stopped to congratulate Marcus or offer him kind words.
But Shaq didn’t stop there. He began distributing the candy to people on the street, handing it out to children, families, and even a few nearby street vendors. Each person who received a treat left with a smile, their day made a little brighter by Shaq’s generous gesture.
That night, as Marcus returned home, he excitedly told his family the incredible story of how Shaquille O’Neal had bought all his candy and encouraged him to keep pursuing his dreams. His parents, moved by the story, promised to support him in any way they could, inspired by Shaq’s kindness.
For Shaq, it was just another example of how small acts of generosity could ripple outward, creating a chain reaction of positivity and hope. He knew that while he couldn’t change the world in one day, moments like these had the power to inspire millions to do the same.
Shaq makes surprise visit at Big Chicken
Shaquille O’Neal is interviewed by the media during a surprise visit to the Big Chicken Valencia store in Valencia on Saturday, 080523. Dan Watson/The Signal
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal stopped by his Big Chicken restaurant in Valencia on Saturday.
O’Neal took photos with hundreds of fans and his Big Chicken employees but still had time to talk about life, his business ventures and his efforts to give back to the community.
“We just like to make people happy and make people smile,” O’Neal said. “We’ve always done a lot in the community, seen or unseen, but we just want to continue to give back.”
Shaquille O’Neal is interviewed by the media during a surprise visit to the Big Chicken Valencia store in Valencia on Saturday, 080523. Dan Watson/The Signal
O’Neal’s Saturday is a typically hectic one, with multiple events planned before the DJ takes the stage at Hard Summer, a music festival in Los Angeles.
“Oh, today is busy,” O’Neal said. “I gotta do this, something else later then I got a show tonight. It’s good to be back home in L.A. and just come hang out with the people.”
O’Neal quickly took photos with fans who waited in a line that stretched nearly half a mile outside the restaurant. One fan waiting was Valencia Vikings forward Bryce Bedgood, who was pulled up by the former Laker for a quick chat.
Shaquille O’Neal greets Valencia High School basketball player Bryce Bedgood, center, and his father coach Bill Bedgood during a surprise visit by O’Neal to the Big Chicken Valencia store in Valencia on Saturday, 080523. Dan Watson/The Signal
“He waved me over, first thing he said was, ‘Listen to your dad,’” Bedgood said. “’If he tells you to run 10 laps, run 20.’ He said a lot of motivational stuff and asked about college recruitment.”
Bedgood is entering his senior year at Valencia, already with a CIF and state championship on his resume with father and head coach Bill Bedgood. The two were hoping to just get a photo with the Laker legend but instead got a full conversation with their hero.
Members of the Valencia High Cheer Team take selfies with Shaquille O’Neal during a surprise visit to the Big Chicken store in Valencia on Saturday, 080523. Dan Watson/The Signal
“We were outside talking when he came in and I filmed him,” Bryce said. “As I was filming him, I saw he was trying to shake my hand. I was thinking, ‘I’m about to dap up Shaq.’ That was insane.”
Valencia Big Chicken owners Andy and Christina Giti didn’t get much of a heads up the chain’s founder was coming but made sure to get everything ready on short notice for their community.
“It was very exciting getting the news,” Andy said. “We got it with very short notice. We didn’t know he was coming that long ago so today’s not a big planned event but we are super excited and we just made it happen.”
Owners of Big Chicken Valencia Andy and Christina Giti answer questions from the media inside Big Chicken on 080523. Rylee Holwager/The Signal
The two owners have faced a lot of doubts, saying O’Neal wasn’t coming in any time soon, but held on to hope that the legend could find the time.
“I was just talking to the chamber (of commerce) about this and they said we haven’t had an event like this ever,” Christina said. “Finally the day is here and we’re very excited to be able to bring this to the community. He took time out of his busy schedule to come visit Valencia.”
The surprise visit could very well lead to more business for Big Chicken but the Gitis downplayed the potential rise in customers, stating that Saturday was all about the visit.
Twin brothers, Phineas and Jackson Lutz, 12, join hundreds as they wait in line for a photo with Shaquille O’Neal at the Big Chicken Valencia store in Valencia on Saturday, 080523. Dan Watson/The Signal
“For today, it’s all about Shaquille and the community,” Andy said. “We hope people want to try our food down the road and that our repeat clients will continually support Big Chicken and the local food that we offer.”
O’Neal is known for his hall of fame career on the basketball court but has always been considered one of the most generous celebrities of his time, through his work with the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and other efforts.
“I was going into it hoping to get a picture with him,” Bryce Bedgood said. “But there’s no way I just had a conversation with the guy, it’s unreal. He took time out of his whole thing to talk with me. That’s amazing.”
A group of teenagers celebrate after meeting Shaq at Big Chicken in Valencia on 080523. Rylee Holwager/The Signal
Shaq answers questions from the media inside Big Chicken in Valencia on 080523. Rylee Holwager/The Signal
