Diesel Fuel: Shaq Joining Magic, Kareem As Lakers Legends To Have Staples Center Statue

The Lakers have announced plans to honor Shaquille O'Neal with a statue outside of Staples Center. It will be unveiled during the '16-17 season (Lakers). ABC's Jimmy Kimmel made the formal announcement on his late-night show last night, showing O'Neal, who was a guest on the program, a rendering of the monument "they're purring up at the Staples Center." Kimmel said, "This is a surprise to you. ... I'm not kidding at all. That is an artist rendering of the statue that is going to go up” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/27). O'Neal "will join legends Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Chick Hearn as those honored by the Lakers with statues outside the arena" (L.A. TIMES, 1/28). 

TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS: In L.A., Mike Bresnahan noted O'Neal has "tried to cleanse whatever ill will he created during his eight-season Lakers run." O'Neal on Monday "expressed support" for Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss. O'Neal: "I love Jeanie. I love this organization. I love this city. I love this building. We had some great times here. I wish it could have played out where I played here forever, but business is business." He added, "Good thing about the Buss family is the day I got traded, I got a call from Jeanie and Dr. Jerry Buss (saying), 'We love you. ... We want to do things different.' And you can only respect that. Jerry Buss was a genius. Whatever he saw, it always came to fruition" (L.A. TIMES, 1/26).