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Sports Writer Demands $5 Million for 'Shaq Vs.'

Posted Oct 6th 2009 8:04PM by TMZ Staff

ShaqHere's a shocker -- the most powerful talent agency on the planet refused to negotiate with a man who accused them of stealing his TV show idea and giving it to Shaquille O'Neal ... so now that dude has filed a lawsuit.

It's all over the show "Shaq Vs." A sports writer named Todd Gallagher claims the William Morris Endeavor Agency stole his idea about a show in which he competes against pro athletes in different sports -- and turned it into "Shaq Vs". ... a show featuring Shaq competing against pro athletes in different sports.

Todd had fired off a letter to the agents back in August in hopes of a settlement, but they refused ... so today he filed a $5,000,000 lawsuit in L.A. County Superior Court.

For the record -- Shaq has stated publicly that he came up with the idea all by himself.



Tags: lawsuit, Shaq, Shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, sports writer, SportsWriter, todd gallagher, ToddGallagher

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1. FIRST !!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 8:34PM on Oct 6th 2009 by keith

2. I probably believe shaq stole the idea. He is notoriously known for being a huge douchebag around LA, so don't believe his charity work hype.

Posted at 8:34PM on Oct 6th 2009 by john

3. people that comment on here are stupid

Posted at 8:35PM on Oct 6th 2009 by D

4. just took a big doo doo. it looks like Shaq

Posted at 8:48PM on Oct 6th 2009 by OhNo

5. Mr. Gallagher's book came out two years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/Andy-Roddick-Beat-Frying-Pan/dp/0307352803/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254877699&sr=8-1

Shaq and WMEndeavor completely ripped him off.

Posted at 9:10PM on Oct 6th 2009 by Liliana

6. Big Shaqqqqq

THERNBSTARZ.NET

Posted at 1:36AM on Oct 7th 2009 by Mr.Starr

7. Shaq ripped the idea from Steve Nash. That is why Steve Nash is labeled as a Executive Producer for Shaq's show.

Posted at 10:07PM on Oct 6th 2009 by Jay

8. HI, BOYS AND GIRLS. THE KOOKSTER HERE. IF YOU MISSED HARVEY AND
CHARLES DISCUSSING TEAM KOOKY YESTERDAY, HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE
IT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRvqqpWRdV0

Posted at 10:28PM on Oct 6th 2009 by KRAZY KOOKY KLOWN

9. I thought that Shaq lifted the idea from Steve Nash.

Posted at 2:52AM on Oct 7th 2009 by The Search for Truth

10. The concept writer can get some money BUT the cedits and real money goes to the screen writers.Most concept writer fire off concept after concept but never see the productions to the market.You can`t copy right a ideal but you can sell it or get a fee for giving them to the studios.I`ve written so many concepts that I can`t rememeber if a production is based on my concept untill I see the movie or tela play.WHO cares who invented it just like the wheel? or endless invention or re-invention.Star VS pro or non pro is nothing NEW and has been done many many times before.But they know the studio will give them a little mooka just to keep them off thier back.

Posted at 6:11AM on Oct 7th 2009 by Concept writer

11. WILL BE A MOVIE but who owns that?

Posted at 6:29AM on Oct 7th 2009 by Tsunami surfer

12. This guy is confusing Shaq's show with "pro's vs joes". It sounds like he should be going after that production company instead. There idea is closer to his than a pro takeing on other pros.

Posted at 7:25AM on Oct 7th 2009 by Tony

13. He totally stole this idea. He paid off Nash already, who was set to do a similar tv show, by making him EP. But the real idea genesis emerged from Gallagher's book. Shaq seems to find trouble annually. Word on the street in LA is he has a bad management team around him - which explains constant trouble/pr nightmares. Time to go away Shaq

Posted at 9:41AM on Oct 7th 2009 by Adam

14. Screw that story... free Romain.

Posted at 12:12PM on Oct 7th 2009 by Romans raiders

15. I'm with Tony...this guy needs to go after Pros v. Joes...cuz no Joe would even bother with Shaq's dumb ass

Posted at 2:05PM on Oct 7th 2009 by Jen

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