After Sunday's Lakers-Magic game in Orlando, Lakers C
Shaquille O'Neal arrived in the locker room to find a
crystal piece honoring him as a former Magic player for the
team's 10th anniversary, according to Howard Beck of the
Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM. Lakers G Derek Harper also
received one, but attached to O'Neal's was a hand-written
note from Magic Owner Rich DeVos which said, "I can tell you
still love this city and its franchise, so stop bad-mouthing
us." O'Neal, on his "bashing" of Orlando: "That (stuff)
happened three years ago, 365 times three, that's a lot of
days. There's a lot of (stuff) that happens in three years,
and they're still ticked off and still crying about (O'Neal
leaving). They (screwed) up, the organization (screwed) up"
(PRESS-TELEGRAM, 3/22). O'Neal said before the game: "No
matter what happens, I built that arena. That's why they
call it the O-apostrophe-arena" (PRESS-TELEGRAM, 3/21).
O'Neal was not given his plaque during a mid-court ceremony
along with current Magic players in order "to avoid the
negative reaction from fans" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/22).
