FREE-FALLING: SHAQ OWED HALF MILLION BY FREEINTERNET.COM

          Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal, through his agency
     Management Plus, "is owed $500,000" by Freeinternet.com,
     according to documents in the October 6 Chapter 11 filing of
     the ISP's parent company FreeI Networks, cited by USA
     TODAY's Michael McCarthy.  Management Plus CEO Leonard
     Armato said O'Neal has been "paid the lion's share of what's
     due him for performing" TV ads with Baby Bob, and added, "He
     will receive the rest of his payments."  Armato did not
     disclose the actual amount O'Neal "has already received from
     Freeinternet.com."  Meanwhile, NBC, ABC and the Mariners are
     "among the top 20 creditors with unsecured claims" listed in
     the Chapter 11 filing (USA TODAY, 10/20).
          READY TO WEAR: CBS' Craig Kilborn reported that O'Neal
     modeled his Dunk.net line of apparel at a store in Pasadena
     yesterday.  Kilborn: "Shaq said he decided to start the new
     Dunk line following sluggish sales of his Free-Throw
     apparel" ("Late Late Show," CBS, 10/19).