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Message: [QUOTE="Deepster, post: 5308047, member: 25"] I don't want to assume everyone knows this one, but here's a good story about him walking away from a 40m deal with Reebok. "In a world where sports legends often turn into brands, signing massive deals to promote luxury sneakers, it’s rare to see a celebrity prioritize fans over profit. But that’s exactly what Shaquille O’Neal did. In 1998, O’Neal had a memorable encounter with the mother of a young fan who was upset that the [URL='https://www.good.is/a-nine-year-old-girl-asked-steph-curry-why-his-shoes-arent-available-in-girls-sizes-and-his-response-was-surprising']Reebok sneakers[/URL] he endorsed were priced at $100—a figure out of reach for many families. Already known for his [URL='https://www.good.is/shaquille-o-neal-once-tipped-a-waitress-4-000-simply-because-she-asked']generous tipping[/URL], Shaq took his commitment to affordability even further by cutting ties with Reebok, sacrificing a $40 million deal on the spot. Believing that fans shouldn’t have to break the bank to own his merchandise, Shaq went on to create his own line of affordable shoes with Walmart. “That day, I cut ties with Reebok,” he explained on [URL='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnaxjPugBwM']the Full Send Podcast[/URL]. After hearing the mom’s frustration, he not only rejected the lucrative Reebok deal but also offered her $2,000, which she declined. Instead, she asked him a pointed question: “Why do you [URL='https://www.good.is/teacher-forced-to-sell-her-shoes-to-raise-money-for-grandpas-funeral-then-j-j-watt-reached-out']make shoes[/URL] that kids can’t even afford?” That moment reshaped his perspective. “I said keep the money… this ain’t right,” Shaq recalled. Determined to make a difference, he launched the Shaq brand, partnered with Walmart, and rolled out an affordable line that’s remained popular ever since." [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.good.is/shaq-once-rejected-40-m-deal-after-being-confronted-by-a-fans-mom-he-than-made-affordable-shoes-for-all[/URL] He also partnered with The General auto insurance because they treated him well when he was a teenager and needed insurance. [/QUOTE]

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