A Stepfather’s Story – Sergeant Philip Harrison
An All-State guard in high school, James Toney, was offered a basketball scholarship to play at Seton Hall. James struggled with drug addiction. In 1973, he was jailed for drug possession while his son was still a baby. When he was released, James agreed to give up his parental visitation rights to his son’s stepfather, Philip A. Harrison, and his mother, Lucille.
At 21, his stepson wrote: “When my mother needed someone 21 years ago, Philip Harrison was the man … My father joined the army when I was two so that he could live better and also to get us out of the neighborhood. I was born two years before my parents got married. ” In an interview, he said: “The fact that you bring a child into the world does not make you a father.”
Sergeant (sergeant) Harrison saw his stepson leave the house for his first day of school. He was the one who admired his elementary school artwork on the refrigerator. Sergeant Harrison was the one who disciplined his stepson. He saw his first basketball dunk. Sergeant Harrison eventually transferred his family to Wildlflecken, Bavaria, Germany, where he was posted as an exercise instructor. Even after entering your stepson’s life, your stepson had a habit of misbehaving and getting into trouble.
His stepson’s life was difficult, but finally Sergeant Harrison was able to help his stepson reverse his course. While living in Germany, he continued to rebel (getting into fights, hitting teachers, breaking into cars, etc.) in the hope that he would be sent back to the US Sergeant Harrison ended that dream by telling his stepson: ” Look, son, now it matters. What you do, I’m not going to let them give you back. And if you don’t listen to me, I’m going to beat you up. Every … just … day. “
Sergeant Harrison’s stepson went on to play basketball in college and the NBA. These are just a few of your child’s career achievements and awards:
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1993)
- 4x NBA Champion (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006)
- 3x NBA Finals MVP (2000-2002)
- NBA MVP (2000)
- Gold Medal Olympics (Atlanta 1996)
During his days as a gamer, he received many nicknames: Superman, The Big Cactus, The Diesel or The Big Shamrock. Now retired from basketball, Shaquille O’Neal or Shaq is best known as one of the most dominant players in NBA history. In addition to his basketball career, Shaquille O’Neal has released four rap albums, and his first platinum record. He also appeared in various movies and starred in his own reality shows. Shaquille is currently an analyst for the television show “Inside the NBA.”
As a result of his stepfather’s influence and his military background, Shaquille O’Neal has made public service a priority in his life. His service ranges from donations to charities and organizations across the country to working as a reserve police officer in Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix. Regarding his career in law enforcement, “I am not a hero. My [step]my father was my hero growing up. “