K945, The Hit Music Channel logo
Get our free mobile app

Shaquille O'Neal is a name that is synonymous with Louisiana.  Shaq may have played high school basketball in San Antonio - but he really made waves when he became a Louisiana State University standout.  This 7ft-1in, 325lb monster of a center terrorized his opponents (and the backboards) so much that he was named the #1 draft pick in the NBA in 1992.  Since retiring from the game, Shaq has kept himself busy as a celebrated club DJ, an actor, sports commentator, and more.  Now, he has added restauranteur to his resume.

Loyola Marymount University Lions vs Louisiana State University Fighting Tigers
Photo by Allsport/Getty Images
loading...

According to KSAT, Shaq Diesel has announced that his Big Chicken chain of restaurants would add 50 new locations in the next two years in Texas.  By 2024, the massive former pro basketball player and chicken aficionado says that Big Chicken locations in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin will be open and ready to serve up Shaq's signature sandwiches, tenders, salads and more.

Via Big Chicken
Via Big Chicken
loading...

While I am sure that Shaq's Big Chicken is delicious (just look at the "Shaq Attack" pictured above), and that the venture will be a successful one, I am a little upset after hearing the news.  It's not that the great state of Texas doesn't deserve some well-prepared yard bird, it's the fact that Louisiana got left out of Shaq's plans for chicken dominance.  We love fried chicken, and we love Shaq!  Did the destroyer of backboards forget where he came from?  More to the point: Why isn't Shreveport getting a Big Chicken?

2019 NBA Awards Presented By Kia On TNT - Inside
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports
loading...

To be fair, there is a Big Chicken location slated for Louisiana.  According to a report from August 21st of last year, the Advocate claims that it will be built inside the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge as part of their massive renovation.  The restaurant will reportedly take the place of Celebrity Grill.  Big Chicken currently has locations in Glendale, CA, Las Vegas, NV, a ghost kitchen in Rochester, NY, inside the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, inside the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY, and on select Carnival Cruise line ships.

Carnival Cruise Line's NYC Cruise Into Summer Event To Celebrate The Arrival Of Mardi Gras In 2020
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Carnival Cruise Line
loading...

If you don't want to travel or wait to try Shaq's Big Chicken, there is another option.  Thanks to a partnership with delivery experts Gold Belly, you can actually have it shipped directly to your home!

The 13 Best Fried-Chicken Joints in Shreveport/Bossier

Anybody with half a brain can fry chicken, but that's not what we're interested in here - we're looking for the best! These are the masters of southern-style yard-bird in our neck of the woods.

The Best Wings in Shreveport-Bossier

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Guy Needs to Try in Shreveport-Bossier

Here are the restaurants that Guy Fieri needs to visit in Shreveport-Bossier for his "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"

More From K945, The Hit Music Channel