NBA all-star Shaquille O’Neal was completely tattoo-less in 1992 his rookie season. Nineteen years later, his body looks as if Cherokee Indians used it as a stone wall for their art. Other athletes, however, are getting tattoos in a quicker matter of time. Denver Nuggets’ Chris Andersen looks as if kids colored in a Scooby-Doo coloring book on his body.

The popularity of tattoos has increased over the last 70 years in America. According to Life magazine, 6 percent of the population had a tattoo in 1936. In 2008, according to Harris Polls, 14 percent of the population had a tattoo, 36 percent of that from ages 18 to 25. Although only 15 out of 212 people at KHS have a tattoo, 115 people out of 227 plan to get at least one sometime in their life.
Stefan Moore, senior and varsity basketball player, has eight tattoos. He always wanted a tattoo because he thought it would be cool. He got his first one in eighth grade.
“I just think they are cool looking,” Moore said. “They are fun to show off.”
Moore decided to have his first tattoo of his grandmother’s name, Linda, in cursive on his right shoulder, after she passed away.
“She was my favorite person to be around,” Moore said. “She was a real inspiration, and I think she would appreciate my tattoo.”
Lawrence Williams, senior and varsity basketball player, got a cross tattoo on his right bicep last year.
“I love God, so I felt like I needed to have a tattoo about him,” Williams said. “That was my first priority.”
After getting his tattoo, Williams immediately felt like he was different from everyone else around him.
“I like being different,” Williams said. “I’m being my own person. I’m expressing myself in a different way with tattoos, and no one can ever have the same tattoo.”

Clark Randall, junior and varsity basketball player, thought about getting a tattoo for a year. The tattoo would be the design of a front gate of his great, great grandparents’ house in Michigan with the address number 317. He eventually got the tattoo on his inner bicep.
“I was worried about the pain, the needles if they were clean or not and it did hurt,” Randall said. “But it was worth it. I thought about it a lot, and I felt like it was a good thing to do.”
Randall, Williams and Moore believe their tattoos intimidate opponents. Although they have seen opponents with tattoos, all three players still think tattoos play a role in their games.
“Tattoos don’t play a huge factor, but [they] do throw in a loop for some competitors,” Williams said. “It might distract them into thinking that we can play ball, and we’re tough.”
While they enjoy being intimidating, Williams and Moore do not want to go overboard with tattoos since they need jobs when they are older.
“When someone sees you with a tattoo below your elbow or on your neck, they might not hire you,” Moore said. “I will never get any tattoos in those areas of my body. Only in places where they are hidden.”
Even though he thinks employers judge people with tattoos, Williams believes people should get tattoos if they really want them.
“It’s up to them,” Williams said. “If they respect themselves enough and have a good reason to get one, then they should go for it.”
Randall advises people who want a tattoo to really think about what is at stake when they permanently put ink inside their skin.
“I know people who have tattoos, and they say they don’t like it after awhile,” Randall said. “Once you get it, you can’t take it back. Think of something with significant meaning.”
Williams thinks athletes like Andersen are crazy with  tattoos.
“That’s way too much,” Williams said. “I don’t think he thought them out. A neck tattoo? Come on.”
Andersen’s tattoos are interesting, however, according to Randall because they are colorful.
“I wouldn’t get that much, but they are fun to look at,” Randall said.
If Randall gets another tattoo, it will again have meaning.
“Tattoos are addicting,” Randall said. “I want another one, but I don’t know yet.”
Williams believes that when he  gets another tattoo, it will be related to himself or his family. He might get wings on his back or a family member’s name on his chest.
“I won’t just get tattoos for fun,” Williams said. “No crazy stuff. Nothing like today’s athletes are doing.”