Shaquille O’Neal, “The Big Mortgage Lender”?
It doesn’t quite have the same ring as the ‘Big Aristotle’, but for some home owners in Orlando it certainly is starting to sound good.
Shaquille O’Neal announced today that he has plans to help people in the Orlando, Florida area through the mortgage crisis.
His plan? To buy the mortgages from people who are about to lose their home due to foreclosure. In exchange O’Neal will sell the homes back to the people at a lower rate with the intent to make a small profit.
“I want to come in not to kick them out, but to work with them and save them so they can stay in their homes” O’Neal said.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, O’Neal has experience in real estate. He formed a real estate group in 2006 called The O’Neal Group. According to the companies records Shaq at that point already owned $50 million in real estate.
Also in the works are possible plans to turn the project into a reality show called “Shaq’s Big Save”.
It’s an interesting concept and if any athlete could pull it off without it looking like a giant publicity stunt, it’s O’Neal.
At least Robert Sarver’s $20 million a year is going to good use. Maybe it’s time to start calling him “The Big Entrepreneur”
[Hat Tip: OrlandoSentinel.com]
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anti-spam word = amare…hmmm
Anyway, about this:
“if any athlete could pull it off without it looking like a giant publicity stunt, it’s O’Neal.”
I disagree. I think this is an awesome idea but seriously…this will be a media zoo when it happens.
While I agree that the media will be all over it I think that Shaq is doing it for the right reasons and not just to get noticed. He seems to really want to make a difference and doesn’t really need it to boost his image.
[…] but not least is Big Aristotle. Shaquille O’Neal is doing some great things for the community down in Orlando, Florida. He’s planning on buying homes from people whose houses are about to be foreclosed on, and […]