Shaquille O'Neal

A judge has thrown out the case against seven gang members accused of kidnapping in order to retrieve a sex tape involving Shaquille O'Neal.

You could say it was a slam dunk ... or something.

Robert Ross, the alleged victim, claimed he had a sex tape showing Shaq with multiple women while he was still married to Shaunie O'Neal.

Ross claimed seven gang members kidnapped him at the direction of Shaq and tried to beat him into submission so he would cough up the sex video.

Today in court, in the middle of the preliminary hearing, prosecutors shocked the courtroom when they stated they no longer had confidence in Ross.

The fact that he admitted lying about the sex tape didn't help.

Based on testimony and his actions outside of court, the D.A. lost confidence it could make a case. Lawyers for the defendants filed for a dismissal.

That's exactly what the judge did. Score one for the Legal Diesel. The Shaq sex tape saga has been put to rest ... at least for the time being.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Robert Ross is suing Shaquille O'Neal for allegedly masterminding a plot to kidnap him over a sex tape Ross supposedly possessed that depicted the former NBA star and a mistress. It's a complicated case and you can read more about it HERE.

Now, in new court documents obtained by TMZ, Ross includes even more damning accusations against Shaq: he says O'Neal hired him to murder multiple people, including a gang member, a record producer, and a woman Shaq knocked up.

Ross is a former gang member and acquaintance of O'Neal's, who had falling out with the athlete over a record deal. The lawsuit reads:

"For many years O'Neal requested and directed [Ross] to perform many personal favors and directed him to perform various tasks including, but not limited to: ordering [Ross] to kill a member of the Downtown Gangster Crips who had disrespected O'Neal in front of his wife Shaunie."

Did a Shaquille O'Neal sex tape at one time exist? And did Robert Ross get beaten by kidnappers over its existence?

Such questions are in the news these days because seven gang members were arrested this month and charged with robbing Ross - a music producer and a former acquaintance of the basketball star's - over his alleged possession of a tape that depicted Shaq cheating on his then-wife, Shaunie.

A rep for Shaunie now confirms she was offered the videotape.

It supposedly depicts the NBA legend with another woman and was reportedly filmed at Ross' house, via security camera, when Shaq and Shaunie were married.

Through her rep, Shaunie says she never saw any footage, but claims she turned Ross' offer down because she "wanted nothing to do with it." She also denies ever having any romantic relationship with Ross and refers to him as a "liar."

In court last week, for a preliminary hearing involving the individuals accused of beating him, Ross said the tape was erased years ago.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Shaquille O'Neal retired from the NBA this month. Considering the superstar's charisma and love of attention, anyone who has followed his career can't help but wonder: What will he do next?

Now, however, we find ourselves asking: What the heck did he do before? Specifically, on the night of February 11, 2008?

TMZ has broken what could be a mammoth story, detailing the arrest of seven gang members who are accused of kidnapping a man named Robert Ross on that date.

Law enforcement officials report that Ladell Rowles - a member of the Main Street Mafia Crip and a friend of O'Neal's - led the group, drawing guns on Ross outside a convenience store, ordering him to drive them to Rowles' house and then pistol whipping him until he turned over a sex tape of Shaquille and a mistress, allegedly filmed when O'Neal was married.

Shaquille O'Neal is retiring from basketball.

After 19 years in the NBA, the Diesel made the announcement on a video he posted through his Twitter page. The ginormous center said the following:

"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. Thank you, talk to you soon."

Shaquille O'Neal Retirement Speech

Shaq won three titles with the Lakers and another with the Heat. He began his career with the Magic and also played with the Cavs, Suns and Celtics.

His sense of humor and personality have become as gregarious as O'Neal's physical presence, earning him legions of fans on Twitter and beyond.

O'Neal retires with the highest field goal percentage all-time, the seventh-most points, a lot of missed free throws and one computer hacking scandal.

Shaquille O'Neal's estranged wife, Shaunie O'Neal, tried to meet with his mistress, Vanessa Lopez, to convince her to go public with her affair with the Diesel.

That way, she could derail their prenup, according to a report.

Shawn Darling, the man suing Shaq for hacking his computer, is writing a tell-all book in which he plans to expose Shaunie's plan to score all Shaq's cash.

As a result, "Shaunie is freaking out," a source told Radar Online. "She'll probably be deposed in his case and does not want this information to come out."

According to the source, when Shaunie discovered that Shaq was having an affair with Vanessa Lopez, she devised a plan to expose Shaq as an adulterer.

"She reached out to Vanessa last October through Shawn, who was working for the family at the time," the source revealed. "Shawn called Vanessa and told her Shaunie wanted to meet her in the food court at her local mall in Orlando."

Shaunie O'Neal and Vanessa Lopez were to discuss "an incentive." Diabolical.

Shaquille O'Neal is involved in some weird ass stories.

The Big Shamrock may or may not be engaged to Hoopz, may or may not have had an affair with Vanessa Lopez, and may or may not have hacked an employee's computer and attempted to frame him by planting child porn on that piece.

Shawn Darling is suing Shaq for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and civil R.I.C.O. (a racketeering charge) in Miami, Florida.

Some of Shawn's explosive allegations:

• O'Neal conspired with active law enforcement to frame Darling for a criminal offense and destroy any evidence that Darling had against O'Neal.
• Shaq hacked the voicemails of Darling and Vanessa Lopez, who is currently suing O'Neal, deleting Lopez's messages and changed her password.
• O'Neal used law enforcement contacts to obtain restricted information about another mistresses, Alexis Miller, while he was legally fighting her.
• Shaq physically disposed of a personal computer holding evidence of many transgressions while married to Shaunie O'Neal in a lake behind his home.

Darling worked for O'Neal from 2007-2009 as his personal IT guy and claims he was originally hired to work on "different O'Neal family projects."

We didn't think it could get any better than a video of Justin Bieber singing a duet with Miley Cyrus.

We were wrong.

In the following clip from Shaq Vs., basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal challenges everyone's favorite teenager to a dance-off. An easy victory for the Biebs? Not so fast, readers. Watch and be amazed by the big man's moves below:

Bieber vs. Shaq!

The stars of a recent THG Caption Contest, Bieber and Shaq clearly get along well. But they're pitted against each other now, as we ask fans:

Who is a better dancer?

Friday's edition of The Hollywood Gossip Caption Contest tasked readers with writing the best caption for this photo of Shaq and the Biebs ballin'.

Our winner is allison. Congratulations!

The selected caption, which is probably not stretching the truth that much given what we know of Justin Bieber fans, and hilariously references one of the worst films of all time, appears below. Thanks to all for playing THG's Caption Contest!

"Careful Shaq, your hand gets any closer and my fans will be after you faster than you can say Kazaam."

Welcome to another edition of The Hollywood Gossip Caption Contest!

It's easy and fun to play: Just come up with the best caption(s) for the photo below! Our subject this week: Shaquille O'Neal ballin' ... with Justin Bieber!

One of these dudes may or may not be engaged to Hoopz. The other may or may not take over the entire world soon. What could they be saying/thinking?

You tell us. Leave a comment. Leave 10 comments. We'll announce a winner Monday ...