Helicopter plucks Shaquille O’Neal off Adirondack RR train

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

An August. 27 article in the Press-Republican newspaper:

Quote:

LAKE PLACID — A helicopter hovers over a train on the Adirondack Railroad then snatches up two adventurous passengers, giving them a lift into the sky.

One of the men is basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal; the other, the survivalist host from the reality show “Running Wild with Bear Grylls.”

The episode featuring Shaq in the wilds of the Adirondacks will air at 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29.

Here is the description from simkl.com:

“After being plucked from a freight train via helicopter, Bear and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal battle dense forest, bloodsucking leeches and 200-foot sheer rock faces in the remote Adirondacks in search of their extraction point.

Here's the link to the full article:
Shaq braves Adirondacks on reality show - CBS: Basketball legend brings "infectious energy" to "Running Wild with Bear Grylls"

The filming took place on the section of the line that NY State wants to scrap.

Randy Gustafson · **Posted:** Tue Sep 06, 2016 9:07 am

Saw the episode and it was most certainly manufactured drama.

I just hope the railroad was adequately compensated, because it was never mentioned once by name, got any credit, etc. Shaq appeared to be the only person on the train other than the film crew. I recognized the open car before I was able to catch a glimpse of the railroad name on the letterboards.

Shaq fully admitted to not working out at all post-retirement, it was rather apparent not only was he doing primarily couch exercises, but he had never spent much time in the woods either. Watching him struggling in the Adirondack woods was at least mildly entertaining.

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:50 pm

Wonder if they needed a Chinook to pick him up? He's a big guy.