While saying, "It wasn't about money," Shaquille O'Neal
turned down a 7-year, $115M deal from the Magic to sign a 7-year
$121M contract to play in L.A. The ORLANDO SENTINEL's L.C.
Johnson notes the Magic's deal was front-loaded to give O'Neal
$21M for the '96-'97 season, second only to Michael Jordan's $30M
deal, and included an out clause after the fourth season which
allowed the center "to pocket even more up-front money" early in
the deal. Calling his team's bid "a very fair offer," Magic GM
John Gabriel said it may not have mattered what the team offered
O'Neal, who was reportedly "unhappy" in Orlando and "looking for
a change." Gabriel: "In looking back, he may have broken away
from us at the end of last year when he didn't show up for the
team meeting" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/19). ESPN's David Aldridge
said Gabriel told him the Magic was promised it would have the
"last crack" at signing O'Neal. However, that was not the case,
as Shaq's agent, Leonard Armato, left a voice mail message for
Gabriel Thursday afternoon saying the deal was done with the
Lakers. Aldridge: "John Gabriel told me this afternoon if the
word 'tampering' comes up, we're going to look into that"
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/18).
ONE TEAM'S LOSS: In Orlando, Gene Yasuda reports the loss
of O'Neal could put the Magic's "fiscal health in jeopardy." But
analysts feel the team won't be hurt immediately due to secure TV
deals and long waiting lists for tickets, but that the team's
image could suffer, causing sponsors and advertisers to "abandon
the team in droves" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/19).
ANOTHER TEAM'S GAIN: USA TODAY reports "phones were ringing
off the hook, and fax machines were backed up" at Lakers offices
despite the fact the team raised ticket prices for the '96-'97
season. Great Western Forum spokesperson Bob Steiner: "These
ticket prices were going up whether we got Shaquille or not" (USA
TODAY, 7/19). Magic Johnson said O'Neal's signing "definitely
gets me to thinking I can come back" (USA TODAY, 7/19).
AIR RIGHTS: The L.A. TIMES' Larry Stewart sees an increase
in rights fees for Lakers telecasts. It is believed Prime payed
$6M last year for the Lakers. Stewart notes when the Kings
acquired Wayne Gretzky in '88, Prime Sports upped its rights fees
from $2M to $2.8M and sources predict a similar jump with O'Neal
(L.A. TIMES, 7/19).
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY: The WASHINGTON POST's George
Solomon reports when O'Neal was asked if Hollywood was a factor
in his decision, he responded that film-making would only be a
"summer" job (WASHINGTON POST, 7/19). The BOSTON GLOBE's Bob
Ryan writes that if money was not a factor, "then what was it?
He [O'Neal] has said all along that staying in Orlando was his
first option, and the Magic did check in with a seven-year, $115
million offer. How many headphones can a guy buy, anyway?"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 7/19). David Whitley of the TAMPA TRIBUNE: "This
wasn't about basketball or money. It was about Shaq fulfilling
his manifest destiny. Where would you want to live if you were a
24-year-old show-biz sheik?" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 7/19). ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER's Steve Bisheff: "Shaq's impact will be felt
more at the box office than it will in the win-loss column"
(ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/19). WASHINGTON POST's Michael
Wilbon: "Nobody will be at more movie premiers, nobody will be
in People magazine more frequently, nobody will be a bigger
sports superstar" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/19).
