Shaq delivers The Big Goodbye

ORLANDO—Shaquille O’Neal threw himself a retirement party on Friday, the NBA legend saying farewell with a smile after a 19-year career with a bash complete with a throne and one last nickname.

O’Neal, who ranks fifth on the NBA all-time scoring list, has dubbed himself “The Big Aristotle”, “Shaq-Fu”, “The Big Shamrock”, “The Big Shaqtus”, “Shaq Diesel” and “Superman” in a career that also spanned movies and rap music.

“From now on, you guys can call me “The Big AARP – Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons,” O’Neal said.

In a home gymnasium at the private Windemere development, O’Neal began with a serious note.
“I never thought this day would come,” O’Neal said. “Father Time has finally caught up with Shaquille O’Neal.”

Then he accepted a cell phone, pretending to take a call from James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks, who announced hours earlier that Donnie Walsh would not be retained as general manager and president of the club.

“You want me to come up there and apply for the New York Knicks general manager job? Sure I will be up right after the press conference,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal vowed he would be around the entertain off the court as much as he has on the court in winning four NBA titles, three in a row with the Los Angeles Lakers and another in 2006 with Miami.

But at the moment, O’Neal is “The Big Unemployed” and listening for offers as a television commentator, ironic for a big man who often barely raised his voice above a whisper when dealing with questions or questioners he did not like.

“Whoever wants to hire me, my offices open up on Monday. Give me a call,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal, 39, said he would miss the challenge of competition and the camaraderie of other players, then poked fun at his poor free throw shooting.

“I’m really going to miss the free throws,” he said.

“Shaq” said he felt like the NBA was left in good hands with such stars as his former teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, now playing for the Miami Heat against Dallas in the NBA Finals.

And he predicted big things for Orlando center Dwight Howard, who will be a free agent after next season.

“There’s only one dominant center left and that’s Dwight Howard,” O’Neal said. “If he doesn’t win three or four championships I’ll be disappointed.”

O’Neal, the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year, also addressed his departure from the Lakers in 2004 after having joined Kobe Bryant in leading the club to NBA crowns from 2000-2002.

“I pushed Kobe’s buttons. Kobe pushed my buttons,” O’Neal said. “And we were able to win three championships.”

But nagging injuries, the latest an Achilles tendon, slowed the big man in the final years of his career. He might need surgery to fix the problem.

“I’ve got to get that right before I go into the next chapter,” O’Neal said.

That will not be a reversal of his retirement decision, O’Neal vowed, saying he will not make a comeback as a player and would coach only his sons.

“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” O’Neal said.