1 Stepfather’s Tale – Sergeant Philip Harrison

An All-Point out guard in high school, James Toney, was provided a basketball scholarship to engage in at Seton Hall. James struggled with drug habit. In 1973, he was jailed for drug possession when his son was still an infant. When he was released, James agreed to give up his parental visitation rights to his son’s stepfather, Philip A. Harrison, and his mother, Lucille.

At 21 years old, his stepson wrote, “When my mom required anyone 21 several years ago, Philip Harrison was the person…My father joined the Military when I was two so he could make a better residing and also so he could get us out of the ‘hood. I was born two a long time prior to my mom and dad had been married.” In an job interview, he expressed, “Just due to the fact you deliver a little one into the world, it doesn’t make you a father.”

Sergeant (Sgt) Harrison watched his stepson go away the house for his initial working day of college. He was the a person who admired his elementary faculty artwork on the refrigerator. Sgt Harrison was the just one who disciplined his stepson. He observed his first basketball dunk. Sgt Harrison finally moved his family members to Wildlflecken (Bavaria), Germany exactly where he was stationed as a drill instructor. Even immediately after getting into his stepson’s lifestyle, his stepson experienced a pattern of performing out and obtaining into problems.

Daily life for his stepson was tricky, but ultimately Sgt Harrison was ready to enable his stepson reverse his training course. While residing in Germany, he ongoing to rebel (having in fights, hitting academics, breaking into vehicles, and so on.) in hopes he would be sent back again to the U.S. Sgt Harrison ended that dream telling his stepson, ” Seem, son, now make a difference what you do, I am not letting them send you back again. And if you do not hear to me, I am going to beat your butt. Just about every…solitary…working day.”

Sgt Harrison’s stepson went on to perform basketball in faculty and the NBA. Listed here are just a couple of of his son’s career highlights and awards:

• NBA Rookie of the 12 months (1993)
• 4x NBA Winner (2000, 2001, 2002 & 2006)
• 3x NBA Finals MVP (2000-2002)
• NBA Most Valuable Participant (2000)
• Gold Medal Olympic Games (Atlanta 1996)

In the course of his taking part in days, he went by several nicknames: Superman, The Major Cactus, The Diesel, or The Large Shamrock. Now retired from basketball, Shaquille O’Neal or Shaq is greatest regarded as a single of the most dominant gamers in the historical past of the NBA. In addition to his basketball career, Shaquille O’Neal has released four rap albums, with his to start with likely platinum. He is also appeared in many movies and starred in his individual fact exhibits. Shaquille is now an analyst on the television software “Inside of the NBA.”

As a final result of his stepfather’s impact and army background, Shaquille O’Neal has manufactured a public support a precedence in his lifestyle. His services ranges from donations to charities and companies throughout the state to doing the job as a reserve law enforcement officer in Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix. As much as his profession in law enforcement, “I am not a hero. My [step]father was my hero expanding up.”