UPDATED 9/15/2010 02:00 AM:
Shaq and Hoopz are engaged as confirmed by Hoopz on her Twitter page. A person with the screen name @Mr_Manadier asks if she and "the big man are really engaged." She responds, "Of course I am," and goes on to ask why Mr_Manadier wants to know.
Say the name Shaq, and you’d be hard pressed to find a person on the planet who doesn’t know who this mega basketball star is. According to published reports, Shaq proposed to his girlfriend, Hoopz, of Flavor of Love and I Love Money fame on Monday, September 13, 2010. The couple has been dating for only a few months, but apparently the relationship is serious enough to take the next step.
How Shaq Proposed to Hoopz
Reports suggest that Shaq proposed to Hoopz on Monday, September 13, 2010 over dinner at the Sahara Mediterranean Cuisine and Hookah Lounge in Bridgeton, TN. According to St. Louis Today, the club owner, Sam David, stated that he felt Shaq may have proposed to Hoopz after dinner at his establishment. He goes on to recount how Shaq pulled a chair into the middle of the dance floor and slipped a ring on her finger.
Shaq’s Divorce Battle with Shaunie O’Neal
If Shaq and Hoopz get married, this won’t be his first. He was married to Shaunie O’Neal in 2002. This marriage ended in divorce late in 2009. Shaunie is currently the producer of the new reality show Basketball Wives, which gained much attention in its first season. Recent reports state that their divorce battle may not be completely over, as Shaunie is now requesting additional money in the divorce settlement on the basis of alleged extramarital affairs the basketball star had with Vanessa Lopez.
Hoopz’s Rise to Reality Stardom
Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander burst onto the reality TV scene as a contestant on Flava Flav’s Flava of Love show on VH1. She went on to win the show, but love with Flava Flav proved short-lived. She went on to compete in another VH1 show, I Love Money, where she took away the top prize. Hoopz has been romantically linked to rapper T.I. and basketball star Dwayne Wade. She also suffered a sex tape scandal when one of her ex-boyfriends leaked the tape to an adult entertainment company.
Could this Mean a Happy Ending for Shaq and Hoopz?
Given how much money Shaq had to give up in the divorce settlement, one might think he’d be gun shy when it comes to marrying again. At a minimum, let’s hope that he plans to protect his assets with a prenuptial agreement.
Despite the fact that both Shaq and Hoopz have been unlucky in love, perhaps this time will be different. Reports have surfaced that Hoopz and Shaq share a home in her Tennessee hometown, where he is reported to have spent most of the summer. Good luck to them both!
Source:
CBS News. “Shaquille O'Neal Engaged To Nicole 'Hoopz' Alexander?” (accessed 9/14/2010)
St. Louis Today. “Shaq may have proposed at a Mediterranean spot in Bridgeton, club owner says “(accessed 9/14/2010)
Cheri Pearson - Cheri Pearson is a seasoned freelance journalist who holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of ...
