Jahmel Binion 
 
 A Warren man afflicted with a rare disease sued a trio of celebrities, including Shaquille O’Neal, who ridiculed him over his appearance on social media. 
 
 Jahmel Binion, 23 at the time of the incident, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against O’Neal, Trey Burke and the rapper known as Waka Flocka Flame in Macomb County Circuit Court. He claims defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and general negligence for the incidents earlier this year. 
 
 “The defendants mocked and ridiculed the plaintiff, a person completely unknown to themselves in public forums where their activity would be widely disseminated,?the lawsuit says. “The defendants?communications clearly implied that the plaintiff was an appropriate object of mockery, ridicule and shame?and “had the effect of lowering the plaintiff’s reputation in the eyes of those who respected the views and opinion of the defendants.?/p> 
 
 O’Neal, a former NBA superstar, in April obtained a selfie photo that Binion posted on social media and took a picture of himself, making a face, and posted it adjacent to Binion on Instagram and Twitter. It was accompanied by the words, “Smile today.?Others joined in the online teasing, including former University of Michigan and current Utah Jazz basketball player Burke and rapper Waka Flocka Flame. 
 
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 Binion has hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, a rare disorder characterized by a reduced ability to sweat, sparse hair growth, missing teeth and facial deformities. 
 
 Upon learning about Binion’s condition, O’Neal and Burke apologized and called Binion. 
 
 But Binion, who attended Madison High School in Madison Heights, told The Oakland Press in May that the apology came several days after the celebrities were criticized nationally by several media sources. 
 
 “When they said sorry, I felt like they were saying it to get the pressure off of them for being considered ‘bad people,’” Binion said. “Even though I accept their apology, I still hope that they donate to my cause or other organizations that connect with ectodermal dysplasia.?/p> 
 
 In the lawsuit, Binion’s attorney, John Henke III, says the mocking photos “constituted a public disclosure of embarrassing private facts about the plaintiff?and “placed plaintiff in a false light in the public eye.?/p> 
 
 The ridiculing was done “with reckless disregard to the harm that might be caused?to Binion, the complaint says. 
 
 The “offensive communications?were relayed to 8.4 million people, including many in Macomb County, the lawsuit says. 
 
 Binion, who was diagnosed with the disorder shortly after birth, said he has had trouble maintaining employment; he can’t work in hot conditions. He has lived beyond his life expectancy of five years upon diagnosis. 
 
 Binion has turned the turn of events into positive actions. 
 
 He started the Facebook group “Hug Don’t Judge.?/p> 
 
 A few weeks after the incident, well-known boxing manager Jackie Kallen arranged to have Binion and his cousin, Maxine Montgomery, picked up in a limousine and taken to a Dearborn Civic Center for her fighter Ray Edwards?boxing match, where he was treated like a celebrity. 
 
 The lawsuit doesn’t name a damage figure but seeks more than $25,000. 
 
 O’Neal resides in Windermere, Fla., and has a residence in Massachusetts, the lawsuit says. Burke, whose legal first name is Alphonso Clark Burke III, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, while Waka Flocka Flame, whose legal name is Juaquin Malphurs, resides in McDonough, Ga. ||||| Jahmel Binion’s “selfie” on social media was mocked by NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, former Michigan star and Utah Jazz rookie Trey Burke and rapper Waka Flocka. 
 
 Now, the Warren man — who has a rare genetic disorder that affects his facial features — is suing them. 
 
 Binion‘s story went national earlier this year. On Wednesday, he filed a lawsuit in Macomb County Circuit Court seeking more than $25,000 in damages. 
 
 Binion took a picture of himself last summer and it was later mocked on social media. Binion then created an antibullying campaign Hug Dont Judge and a Facebook group page that took off. 
 
 Binion said O’Neal and Burke later called him to apologize and the trio posted apologies on Twitter. 
 
 Binion’s condition, called ectodermal dysplasia, can affect a person’s appearance and cause health problems. In Binion’s case, he does not sweat, and the condition has affected his hair and teeth. If he gets overheated and can’t cool himself down, he said, he could faint or suffer heat stroke. 
 
 According to the lawsuit, the “offensive communications” were communicated nationally and globally to more than 8.4 million recipients, including those in Macomb County. 
 
 The lawsuit alleges invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and general negligence. 
 
 It states that publication of the photos, mocking Binion, publicly disclosed embarrassing private facts about Binion, was widely regarded as “extreme and outrageous conduct,” and caused him severe emotional distress. 
 
 “The defendants’ communications clearly implied that the plaintiff was an appropriate object of mockery, ridicule and shame. The defendants’ communications had the effect of lowering the plaintiff’s reputation in the eyes of those who respected the views and opinions of the defendants,” according to the lawsuit. “The defendants’ communications were false because the plaintiff’s medical condition is not an appropriate reason for mockery, ridicule and shame.” 
 
 Neither Binion nor his attorney could be immediately reached for comment. ||||| ORLANDO, Fla. -- Shaquille O'Neal, the man with four rings, 28,596 career points and scores of nicknames, has finally decided to call it quits, ending one of the most colorful careers in NBA history that will surely culminate with a Hall of Fame induction. 
 
 "I'm going to miss the competition. I'm going to miss, you know, the chase for the ring. You know, I'm actually going to miss everything," O'Neal said on "SportsCenter" on Wednesday. 
 
 He added: "Father Time has caught up with Shaquille O'Neal." 
 
 O'Neal, 39, revealed his retirement earlier Wednesday using the new social media tool Tout, a real-time video messaging service, to announce to fans: 
 
 "We did it. Nineteen years baby. I want to thank you very much, that's why I'm telling you first, I'm about to retire. Love you, talk to you soon." 
 
 "Once a businesman, always a businessman," O'Neal said with a smile later Wednesday. "I am the emperor of the social media network." 
 
 An inveterate prankster who gave himself a new nickname -- or several -- in each of his six NBA cities, O'Neal said he wasn't prepared yet to reminisce about his long and prolific career, which produced three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. "Let's save that for the press conference on Friday," said O'Neal, who will hold that media event at his Isleworth home. 
 
 Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss says that O'Neal has not notified the team of his plans. 
 
 "It was a pleasure to play with the Big Fella," Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett through a statement released by his management company. "It was most definitely a life experience. My big brother from a different mother. It's love all day and I wish him nothing but the best. The game's gonna miss you. Look out world, here comes Shaq." 
 
 "He's a giant," commissioner David Stern said Wednesday at the NBA Finals in Miami. "He's physically imposing; he has an imposing smile. In the game, he imposed his will, and he has done it for quite a long time. It's been a great run here, and we're going to miss him greatly. We hope we can find ways to keep him involved in the game." 
 
 Stern added later in a statement: "On behalf of the NBA, its teams, and his millions of fans around the world, I want to thank Shaq for everything he has meant to the league and to the sport of basketball, both on and off the court. We wish him and his family all the best." 
 
 O'Neal retires fifth all-time with 28,596 points, 12th with 13,099 rebounds and second only to Artis Gilmore among players with more than 2,000 baskets with a .582 field goal percentage. 
 
 "I'm a little bit sad," said Pat Riley, the Heat president who was also the coach in 2006 when O'Neal won a title in Miami. "It's the end of an absolute 20-year career. Great, great player. ... The league's going to miss Shaq. I'm sure Shaq will do something big and beyond." 
 
 LeBron James tweeted: "What a career for Shaq Diesel!! The most dominating force to ever play the game. Great person to be around as well. Comedy all the time!!" 
 
 O'Neal, who's a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, said he isn't sure which team he'll enter under. 
 
 "I'm a humble and modest person so hopefully I get inducted. Let's just start there first," O'Neal said on "SportsCenter." He added, "We'll just have to wait 'til that happens, and then I'll make that decision." 
 
 At each stop, he endeared himself to the fans and his new teammates with his effervescent smile and playful attitude, including the habit of adopting a new nickname he felt embodied his role with his new team. In Phoenix he was the "Big Shaqtus"; in Boston, the "Big Shamroq." 
 
 O'Neal signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics last summer but a persistent Achilles injury will prevent him from fulfilling the terms of the deal. O'Neal first injured his right Achilles on Christmas Day and was able to play in only two of the final 35 games of the regular season. 
 
 On April 3 against Detroit, O'Neal returned to the court after a two-month absence and scored six points in a spirited 5 minutes and 29 seconds before coming up lame and limping off the floor. Although his injury was listed as a strained calf, O'Neal said it was the Achilles flaring up again. 
 
 "I felt like someone had shot me in the back of my leg," he said. 
 
 Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant celebrate the Lakers' third consecutive title in 2002. Matt Campbell/AFP/Getty Images 
 
 O'Neal did not play again in the regular season. He sat out the first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, then tried to return in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against his old team, the Heat. O'Neal logged 8½ minutes in the 97-81 victory but woke up in considerable pain the next morning. His final game was two days later, when he toiled for three minutes of Game 4 before Celtics coach Doc Rivers pulled him for good. 
 
 In the final weeks of the the playoffs, O'Neal, over the objections of team physician Brian McKeon, had "more than five" cortisone shots in his Achilles in an attempt to play against the Heat. 
 
 "Doc (McKeon) kept telling me, 'No, no,' but I wanted to play so badly," O'Neal said. "My feeling was, 'If it ruptures, it ruptures.' The Celtics were so good to me I wanted to do everything I could to get back on the court for them." 
 
 Throughout his time on the sideline, O'Neal said, he continued to do rehab as well as work on the treadmill and the exercise bike. He swam each evening at the Thoreau Club in Concord and shot a number of late-night free throws at the Lincoln-Sudbury High School gymnasium across the street from his rented Sudbury home. He lost 35 pounds and was "feeling great everywhere except for that one little spot behind my heel." 
 
 O'Neal said McKeon recommended surgery that would "clean up" the area around the Achilles, but O'Neal said the recovery time would be close to nine months. 
 
 "I really, really thought about coming back," he said, "but this Achilles is very damaged and if I had it done the recovery would be so long we'd have same outcome as this last year -- everyone sitting around and waiting for me. 
 
 "I didn't want to let people down two years in a row. I didn't want to hold Boston hostage again. 
 
 "I'm letting everybody know now so Danny (Ainge) and the organization can try to get younger talent. I would love to come back, but they say once the Achilles is damaged it's never the same. I don't want to take that chance." 
 
 O'Neal said his final months in Boston included some of the darkest days of his career because "I just hated to let the city of Boston down. I really grew to love the place. Everyone was so welcoming to me and treated me so great. They believed in me and they took care of me, especially the great people of Sudbury. I love that town." 
 
 O'Neal also had effusive praise for Rivers, whom he said was "one of the best I ever played for." 
 
 "I thought Doc was fabulous," O'Neal said. "He stressed 'team' all the time, never wavered on that. He kept everyone together. He's an amazing coach. I want to congratulate him on his five years (contract extension). 
 
 "He deserves it. He loves the organization, loves the players, and we all love him back." 
 
 O'Neal is acutely aware the Celtics posted a record of 21-4 when he was able to play 20 or more minutes this season. The chemistry he shared with the Big Three (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen) and Rondo, O'Neal said, will be an enduring memory, leaving him to wonder what would have happened had he stayed healthy. 
 
 "We were supposed to win this year but 'supposed' doesn't count," he said. "The path was there for us. All the so-called superpowers were gone -- L.A. (Lakers), San Antonio. I really feel if I was on the court we would have done it, but I don't believe in 'ifs.'" 
 
 O'Neal will be remembered as one of the most dominant, recognizable and controversial figures in the game, whose body of work included rap records, movies, a lengthy business portfolio and an even lengthier history of philanthropic deeds. 
 
 O'Neal embraced social networking, amassing more than 3.8 million followers on his Twitter account and keeping them informed on his "random acts of Shaqness" -- like sitting in Harvard Square, pretending to be a statue, or going out in drag on Halloween. 
 
 "I tried to make people happy," O'Neal said, "and I tried to have fun. I think I did both." 
 
 O'Neal was a franchise-saver when the Orlando Magic made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft. He took them from the lottery to the playoffs in two years, and then led them to the NBA Finals in his third year before they were swept by the Houston Rockets. 
 
 O'Neal then signed with the Lakers in 1996 and had his greatest success there, winning three titles alongside Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson. But amid tension between O'Neal and Bryant over credit for the team's success, O'Neal was traded to the Heat in the summer of 2004, fresh off a loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals. 
 
 "Shaq had a long and amazing career, with a huge impact both on and off the court," Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss said in a statement released by the team. "His contributions were significant to the entire NBA, but we specifically appreciate what he did with and what he meant to the Lakers during his eight years with us. We have three championships that we wouldn't have won without him, and we will forever be grateful for his significant contributions to those teams." 
 
 After 3½ years in Miami, a tenure that included his fourth NBA championship, O'Neal became a veteran-for-hire, moving to Phoenix and then Cleveland and finally Boston. But he couldn't deliver another title for Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire with the Suns, with James with the Cavaliers or with the Celtics.
– A Michigan man with a rare genetic disorder is seeking more than $25,000 in damages from Shaquille O'Neal, NBA player Trey Burke, and rapper Waka Flocka for making fun of his pic on social media, reports the Detroit Free Press. Jahmel Binion has ectodermal dysplasia, a condition that can cause facial deformities and an inability to regulate body temperature, among other symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health. Shaq did apologize with a repentant tweet and phone call, according to TMZ, but Binion isn't buying the good-guy act. "When they said sorry, I felt like they were saying it to get the pressure off of them for being considered ‘bad people,'" he tells the Macomb Daily.