| LOS ANGELES TIMES
As he samples different sports for an upcoming ABC reality show, the basketball star says he's using the opportunity to get into peak form for what may be his last season. Shaquille O'Neal spent Sunday afternoon at Hermosa Beach playing volleyball against a pair of Olympic gold medalists. It was for his ABC reality show, "Shaq vs.," and the deal was, if O'Neal and gold medalist Todd Rogers lost to Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, the NBA center would dash down the beach in a pink Speedo. Aside from learning volleyball, this off-season has provided some interesting cross-training for the 37-year-old O'Neal, whose show debuts Aug. 18. But in an interview with The Times, he said the cross-training is also part of his plan to get in the best shape of his career for what is perhaps his final year in the NBA.
The show each week will put the 15-time All-Star center up against the best in sports other than basketball.
"I like to think about my career as a book," O'Neal told The Times. "Imagine this book: We do a show, it gets great ratings, I'm in great shape, we win a championship, period! Shut the book, seal it, sell it. That's the goal. That's how I always look at it.
"Train with these people, come in the best shape . . . start trouble, run it, be an MVP candidate, win the whole thing, dominate, da-da-da, win the championship, go out with a bang, see ya later. That was good. I had fun. Love you. I'm out."
O'Neal, who has won four NBA championships, including three in a row with the Lakers, was acquired in late June by the Cleveland Cavaliers and has one year left on his five-year deal. He had said previously that he has "three years left in my career."
Yet he said that this off-season training is part of his "legacy thought process."
"This is my last year, contractually, so I want to come in the best shape of my life."
When asked if he was trying to end his career in style, by getting in top shape while working out with premier athletes, O'Neal replied, "Exactly. You said it, brother." |