Close Ad

Neighbors Call Police on Boys for Playing "Too Loudly - Shaquille ONeal Finds Out and Shows Up to Do This
Shaquille O’Neal Plays Basketball With Kids After Neighbors Called the Police on Them
Uplifting News

Neighbors Call Police on Boys for Playing "Too Loudly - Shaquille ONeal Finds Out and Shows Up to Do This

These kids had the game of a lifetime.

Kids can get into all kinds of trouble. They’re learning and exploring their limits, after all.

But when one neighbor called the police over a group of kids playing basketball in Florida too loudly, the Gainesville Police Department decided on a very community-centric approach.


Well, that approach didn’t just go viral and capture the hearts of thousands. It also resulted in a visit from a very famous basketball star.

Responding to the Call

kids playing basketball
Photo by RDNE Stock project

Police Officer Bobby White was the officer who responded to a neighborhood noise complaint one day. The caller complained that a group of kids were playing basketball too “loudly” in the streets. When White arrived, he decided it wasn’t in anyone’s interest to break up the game or scold the children. Instead, he decided to join the game and spend some time with the kids.

In a dashcam video shared by the department, you can see the officer shooting hoops and encouraging the kids to participate in the game. When the game ends, the officer promises to return soon for another round.

“We’re going to let kids be kids. We are going to focus on the ones that commit crimes. #HoopsNotCrime,” the department wrote in an accompanying Facebook post, as per CNN.

The video quickly went viral, with many praising the department for the way it handled the situation. Shaquille O’Neal was one of them.  

Playing Some Hoops

A few weeks later, White returned to visit the kids, but this time he brought several other police vehicles. They pulled up for their game as the kids watched.

“Told you I was going to bring some backup, right?” White said. “You guys ready? Look at these big guys I brought. You sure you can take them?”

The kids cheered, but nothing could have prepared them for the man who climbed out of an SUV. As Shaq himself emerged, the kids were stunned. “Oh my God, you’re huge!” one of them said of the 7-foot-1 NBA superstar.

In a follow-up video posted by the department, you can see Shaq playing with the kids and offering them tips. Later, he told every kid if they could make a shot, he’d give them $100. If someone didn’t make it on the first try, he gave them another shot.

Sage Life Advice

In addition to playing with the group of kids and helping them to make memories they’ll never forget, Shaq shared some life advice. He told the kids how he has earned millions by doing three important things: respecting his peers, listening to his parents, and going to school.

He said it was important to stay out of trouble but also to be true to themselves. And above all, respect their elders — especially their parents.

“This is a day those kids will never forget,” the department shared in the video. “The day when Shaq rolled up to their neighborhood to play ball. All because Gainesville Police Officer Bobby White decided to handle a complaint like thousands of police officers do daily around the country.”

Letting Kids Be Kids

This story hits home for so many reasons: The officer who realized these kids weren’t doing anything wrong, they were just being kids. An NBA superstar giving back. A police community coming together to give a group of children a special day. It’s also a fantastic reminder that kids can and should be kids.

Sure, sometimes they can be loud, energetic, or potentially disruptive to the peace on a quiet neighborhood street. But the kids in this story were doing something positive with their time: playing a game that promotes physical and mental health while also learning about sportsmanship, teamwork, winning, and losing.

The officer could have broken up the game that day, but then what would the kids have done? Gotten into trouble? Who knows?

It’s a reminder that sometimes it is important to let kids be kids and encourage them when they’re doing something positive rather than redirecting them. Sure, sometimes it will inconvenience you, but also consider the alternative. So let kids play on your street without complaint, or better yet, join them.

There are a million other worse things they could be doing instead.

More from Goalcast:

Hot Stories

Leonardo DiCaprio Told Kate Winslet To “Let The Fat Girl Thing Go”
Leo Dicaprio Told Kate Winslet To “Let The Fat Girl Thing Go” …

Forced to feel ashamed for her weight and appearance, Kate Winslet struggled with her body image for years. The media loved to tease her for being “the fat girl,” but there was ONE PERSON who saw the real her. What did Leo see in Kate? And what important message does Kate have for young women everywhere?


Keep ReadingShow less
Videos
single mom struggling to pay off student loans reacts after a bank wipes out all her debt
ABC News

We've all heard it: if you work hard and go to school, you will get a good-paying job and be able to afford decent things in life. In reality, many people invest in continuing education and are then stuck paying off student loans for a large chunk of their lives.

That’s what happened to Jasmin Ford, a nurse in Chicago. She was dealing with a large debt and struggling to pay it off by working two jobs. Then, something incredible happened to her – the debt vanished. Here's how it all went down.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uplifting News
Woman at a restaurant's window and two teen employees.

Teens Applauded For the Way They Handled This Angry Customer

Instagram/ @kekessnowballs

Working in customer service can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with rude and demanding clients. That’s particularly true for some teens, who work these jobs for part-time money and are often bullied by adults. Perhaps that’s why people are applauding these teen girls for the way they expertly handled an over-the-top customer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uplifting News