Shaquille O'Neal announces retirement

BOSTON — He was a prolific producer of rebounds and record albums. And nicknames, too, as if at seven-foot-one and 350 pounds he was too big for the simple "Shaq" that made him an instantly recognizable, one-name star in all of his endeavours.

Shaquille O'Neal had more than 28,000 points and almost four million Twitter followers. He appeared in six NBA finals, three times as the MVP, and seven feature films, twice in a starring role.

A 15-time all-star, four-time champion and the 2000 NBA Most Valuable Player, the 39-year-old O'Neal announced his retirement on Twitter on Wednesday after spending most of his 19th season on the Boston Celtics bench, in street clothes because of leg injuries.

Along with a mid-afternoon tweet saying, "im retiring," O'Neal included a link to a 16-second video of him saying, "We did it; 19 years, baby. Thank you very much. That's why I'm telling you first: I'm about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon."

An inveterate prankster who gave himself a new nickname -- or several -- in each of his six NBA cities, O'Neal did not notify his latest team, leaving it wondering about his plans. He played just 37 games this season, the first of a two-year deal at the veteran's minimum salary, making just three brief appearances after Feb. 1.

"He's a giant," commissioner David Stern said Wednesday at the NBA finals in Miami. "He's physically imposing; he has an imposing smile. In the game, he imposed his will, and he has done it for quite a long time. It's been a great run here, and we're going to miss him greatly. We hope we can find ways to keep him involved in the game."

O'Neal, 39, retires fifth all-time with 28,596 points, 12th with 13,099 rebounds, and a .582 field goal percentage that is second only to Artis Gilmore among players with more than 2,000 baskets. His free throw percentage of .527 -- well, now is not the time to dwell on that.

"I'm a little bit sad," said Heat president Pat Riley, who also coached O'Neal when he won a title in Miami and watched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning when they retired. "It's been an honour to be part of coaching great, great players. And he will go down as one of the greatest of all time."

Appropriately, O'Neal's retirement became the No. 1 trending topic on the social networking site he embraced by early evening, and his former teammates and opponents took to Twitter to wish him luck.

"Shaq not only dominated the game of basketball but also dominated off the court w/ his big personality. Hes 1 of the greatest entertainers," Magic Johnson said. "Thank you Shaq for leading the Lakers to 3 titles. We loved every minute of it!"

O'Neal spent three years at Louisiana State and was the big prize when the Orlando Magic won the 1992 draft lottery and selected him first overall. He took them from the lottery to the playoffs in two years, and then led them to the NBA finals in his third year before they were swept by the Houston Rockets.

O'Neal signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 and had his greatest success there, winning three titles alongside Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson. But amid tension between O'Neal and Bryant after a loss to the Detroit Pistons in the finals, O'Neal was traded to the Heat in the summer of 2004.

"I often wonder how many they would've won if he stayed," said Johnson, the Lakers Hall of Famer.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who decided to break up the tandem and keep Bryant, thanked O'Neal for a "long and amazing career, with a huge impact both on and off the court."

"His contributions were significant to the entire NBA, but we specifically appreciate what he did with and what he meant to the Lakers during his eight years with us," Buss said. "We have three championships that we wouldn't have won without him, and we will forever be grateful for his significant contributions to those teams."

After 3 1/2 years in Miami, a tenure that included his fourth NBA championship, O'Neal became a veteran for hire, moving to Phoenix and then Cleveland and finally Boston. But he couldn't deliver another title for Victoria's Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire with the Suns, with LeBron James with the Cavaliers, or with the Celtics' Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

At each stop, he endeared himself to the fans and his new teammates with his effervescent smile and playful attitude, including the habit of adopting a new nickname he felt embodied his role with his new team. In Phoenix he was the "Big Shaqtus"; in Boston, the "Big Shamroq."

"What a career for Shaq Diesel!!" James wrote on Twitter. "The most dominating force to ever play the game. Great person to be around as well. Comedy all the time!!"

O'Neal embraced social networking, amassing more than 3.8 million followers on his Twitter account and keeping them informed on his "random acts of Shaqness" -- like sitting in Harvard Square, pretending to be a statue, or going out in drag on Halloween.

But O'Neal's off-court persona couldn't disguise the fact he was getting old, and while he showed he could still play with younger opponents, he couldn't manage to stay on the court with them. He missed a week in November with a bruised right knee, a week in December with a calf injury, and another in January with a sore right hip.

He returned for three games -- a total of about 34 minutes -- before missing the next 27 games with what the team called a sore right leg. Although the injury was originally expected to keep him out just a few games, his absence stretched to more than two months.

He returned to play in one more regular-season game, but lasted just five minutes, 29 seconds before reinjuring the leg and limping off the court. He missed Boston's entire first-round series against the New York Knicks and made two appearances against Miami, a total of 12 minutes, and scored two points.

In all, O'Neal averaged just 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 20.3 minutes this season -- all career lows.

"I'm glad that he retired. I think it was time," former guard Tim Hardaway said. "He was hurting his legacy. You don't want to see anybody hurt their legacy when they're going out. I think a lot of people are happy he didn't go through that pain of waiting too long. And I think it was tough for everybody to watch Shaq when he was playing hurt like that at the end of this season."

And that left O'Neal in the market for a new nickname.

After announcing his retirement, he asked fans to give him a nickname that befit his retirement. He reported at about 5 p.m. that "The Big 401K" was the leader.

"I know you can do better, though," he said in another video. "I'm here all day. I'm retired."

Knicks intrigued by Faried's board work

CHICAGO -- Newark's Kenneth Faried thought it was a practical joke last summer when his former high school coach handed him the phone and said it was Dennis Rodman on the other end.
It was no joke. The Hall of Fame rebounding demon was on the line, offering him words of encouragement, words that may have put the undersized power forward in the position he is today. Faried is a projected mid-first-round pick in the June 23 draft.
Faried, the Morehead State senior power forward, is on the Knicks' radar. Team president Donnie Walsh would love to add a solid rebounder to help Amar'e Stoudemire in a draft that doesn't have a 7-footer, according to measurements released at yesterday's combine. As such, there's a growing belief the relentless board man could be picked before the Knicks pick at 17, although one scout thought he struggled in various offensive drills.
"He's a great rebounder," Walsh told The Post yesterday. "He's got energy. Some called him a Ben Wallace. There's nothing wrong with that. We're looking at him. We're looking at all of them."
The next Wallace wouldn't be bad at all. The next Rodman, elected into the Hall of Fame this year, would be even better.
"He encouraged me to keep playing hard, hustling and make a name for [myself] by being a hustle guy," Faried said of the Rodman phone chat. "Don't let anyone hold you back or stop you. Everyone will say you're an undersized guy, don't let that intimidate you. He said be like him on the court, but don't act like him off the court."
Faried, who averaged 17.3 points and 14.3 rebounds, is ready to follow Rodman's plea to the letter. Faried wears his hair in long dreadlocks, but has no Rodman-like piercings, his body isn't covered in tattoos and he has no dress in his wardrobe. He just rebounds and comes off as a wholesome kid. He spoke thoughtfully of the pain in having to break it to his mother a year ago he was about to be the father of an infant daughter.
"It did inspire me," Faried said of Rodman's talk. "It inspired me to want to be great and a Hall of Famer like he was. It made me feel I could be like him on the court."
Faried measured, without shoes, is only 6-foot-6, but he has a healthy 7-foot wingspan.
"If he was 6-9, he'd be the top pick in this draft," ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said. "He's got deficiencies but he's got one major-league skill -- rebounding. And he's low-maintenance guy; nothing off the court you have to worry about."
Faried, though, is plenty confident. He believes he can post a 30-rebound night in the NBA.
"With my height, people don't really think I can maintain it at the next level, but I believe in myself," Faried said. "My strength is rebounding and defense and my motor. I have a quick first jump and my second jump is probably more amazing and is quicker than my first jumper. I'm relentless."
With the scouting report pegging him as offensively challenged, Faried is nonplussed. The big fear is he becomes another Ronaldo Balkman rather than Rodman or Big Ben.
"When the ball's anywhere around the rim, I can go up and get it, and that's a great and attribute to have," Faried said when asked if he had any offensive skills.
Faried rooted more for the Nets, who select 28th, than Knicks growing up Newark and Jersey City.
"I was a great Nets fan," Faried said. "In high school [at Technology H.S.] one time when they came out, I spoke to Vince Carter, Jason Kidd. They stopped to wish me good luck."
But he'd be fine landing with the Knicks.
"It would be a great place to play, the Garden is loud," Faried said. "Amar'e [Stoudemire] and Carmelo Anthony are two great payers. They play hard and I can push their level higher to make them play harder and try to win a championship."
The draft will be in his backyard -- at Newark's Prudential Center.
"If I'm invited, it would be great to be there," Faried said. "It's my hometown. a lot of friends are talking to me about getting tickets. I don't know if I'll be lottery. We'll see if they invite me."

Cutler talk, but not expected

Say what you want about Jay Cutler. I do not like his attitude, his behavior, he said. It does not matter and that does not mean it is a difficult player and does not mean he does not care.

Steve Jensen, the Chicago Sun Times, managed to land an interview with Cutler, and said on the subject of criticism during and after the NFC championship.

Cutler admitted he was worried about the criticism, but it will not worry him. All that really matters is that I can not wait until the football field and his followers colleagues back.

Some people still say that should Cutler, came before the defense. No, he did not. The fact that no reference to the press at a separate press conference, does not mean he did not care. It did nothing to choose from.

Since leaving Denver, body language, fraternity boy personality and all that he has a dislike for the world to have Cutler. But what the people is not to note that Cutler was right. He did not want for a coach who knew what he was playing. Josh McDaniels, the  trainer  Cutler would not play was, after running all the players that the Broncos actually made the city dismissed competitive.

When football starts (where) do not expect to explain Cutler what happened or how I felt everyone was offended. It is old news. All that matters and all that should matter is how it reacts in the area, Cutler and his colleagues think of him.

If you are still waiting to go to Cutler and have a strong opinion on how it was destroyed by the media and not disappoint the fans. The problem is that it will not be disappointed.

NFL owners do not consider the waiting

The owners have said by using replacement players if the first work stoppage in the NFL since 1987, directs the Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday said, and the league could not keep their contract offer last negotiating table, if not soon.


He also said that, the Miami Dolphins and four other teams so far been informed or fines that the NFL will be prosecuted for violating rules prohibiting contact with the off-season player. Goodell was asked about the Dolphins, did not show any other team.

NFL general counsel Jeff Pash, said injuries are not related to the closure of the players in the league, the 12th March hours after negotiations with the players broke began, and dissolved the union. Even during normal counter-season from the end of the season to about 15 March NFL teams organized bar to keep training rules, practices or meetings, and coaches do not allow players to control the conditions.

This is a  go home and rest  period,  said Pash.
Since the blockade began, no contact between the 32 clubs in the league and the players were allowed. Players are not paid and can not negotiate new contracts, institutions to take advantage of the team.

Goodell said he has not been 11th on the NFL Players Association director DeMaurice the Smith March, when the talks said after 16 days of the Federal Mediation ended.

The owners have a proposal on this day in 2011 included an increase in their salary cap to $ 131 million to 141 million offer, the players were a ceiling of 151 million dollars this year, a greater chance of us at some of the revenue to higher than expected win over a certain threshold.


was made six days after the proposal, Goodell said that some of the information sent in an e-mail contained information on all active players.
 Some players complain letter Goodell, saying that he intends to divide. He also opposed the proposal of the letter that  return-union at the negotiating table, the players their push, the NFLPA renounced their union status, and said that now is a professional association. This in turn allowed the player in the league in federal court under the antitrust laws continue. A hearing is for 6 April planned.


The NFL has no games lost to a work stoppage since 1987, when the strike of the season and some games, including non-union shortened the waiting list.

Goodell said the owners want a full season in 2011, and reiterated his hope that negotiations could resume before the draft starts 28th April.

We are certainly about it, a full season,  he said.  It is our goal and we work as hard as we can see that a reality.

Cohen: The result of the final classification

ORLANDO - I tend to be very obsessed with the rankings of the NBA playoffs and possible collisions. Every day during the regular season, after all get up and turn on my computer, I have to visit NBA.com for a look and analysis of past positions.

There is always plenty to analyze and predict, especially at this stage of the season when teams are in the final phase of competition for places in the playoffs and positioning.

It's almost impossible not to think about what are the best arguments for the Orlando Magic. What is the best seed for your search in the championship, which will go with the first round and what do you expect the rest of the case on the floor?

Currently, there are all sorts of oddities in the Eastern Conference to spread.

Ultimately, the end No 1 in the East: Celtics and the Bulls?

Then the magic will take the heat and claim the title of the Southeast Division?

Atlanta, New York or Philadelphia: Who is Orlando in the first round of the playoffs face?

Those who avoid the lottery of the NBA and fall into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed: Indiana, Charlotte and Milwaukee?

If the magic prior to the event finals, most likely?

As one of the invigorating and stimulating arguments raised in the War Room OrlandoMagic.com, I decided some of my colleagues predictions about what the rankings look like when the regular season, compiling over.

Forecast for everyone after revealing that allows each team to its projected point in the playoffs to the fans for what they think the result would be that these are the struggles of the first round vote sown.

CTE found in brain tissue Probert

Bob Probert knew was given to the savage beatings and received over 16 seasons as an enforcer in the NHL at its own expense, as he grew up. So he wanted to analyze his brain to, once he is dead.

Although heart failure has finally ended his life last July after 45 years, Probert was also living with a brain damaged.

Researchers at Boston University on Thursday that Probert the degenerative brain disease, had chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The disease was found by the analysis of brain tissue by Probert anyway.

It is the second player in the hockey program of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy with the disease diagnosed after death.
Reggie Fleming, an agent of the 1960s, which was played in front of helmets mandatory took ETC.

CSTE is a collaboration between the Boston University Medical School and the Sports Legacy Institute, to address what he calls the crisis  concussions in sports studied. The group has been at the forefront of research on brain injury in sports and was awarded $ 1,000 , 000 donation from the NFL, which has for better treatment of bruises lobbying.

The family of former Bears safety Dave Duerson agreed to donate their brains trial after he committed suicide last month at 50 years.

During his years as one of the most feared player in the NHL Probert had a value of 3,300 minutes - fifth on the career list in the league. It was the most difficult fight and most productive of his time. Probert, to overcome the problem, an alcohol during their fight to stay in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks from 1985 to 1994 played from 1995 to 2002.


The first results were reported by the New York Times and the Globe and Mail in Toronto on Wednesday night.


Some of the biggest stars of the NHL, including Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh lost time this season because of the effects of a concussion. Crosby has not played since he recorded a few hits in consecutive games in early January.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said during the All-Star break, the tremors are caused appears in court this season, but quickly took note of the increase in incidental or accidental situations, rather than contacting the head of another player.

Although the NHL has set a new standard to surprise him illegal access side of the head, and the CEO of the league will later consider this month, when should the contact of the head are prohibited, was the fight against time is an important part of the professional Thurs

There were signs that the NHL in changing or eliminating this aspect of the sport is interested.


The detailed results of brain tissue Probert will be released only if they submit to a medical journal. His family asked the diagnosis is made publicly available could the dangers of head injuries in sports are considered and to encourage greater efforts to make the sport safer for the brain, says SLI.


Fleming died in 2009 at the age of 73 with dementia after 30 years the deterioration of cognitive and behavioral problems.

Daniel Probst said her husband showed mental decline of about 40 years, new problems and the increase in short-term memory, attention, and moody. These are all symptoms are similar to those reported from other athletes, ETC.



Nowinski has in the past month more than 300 athletes, 100 NFL players in the past, the record of brain donation are CSTE. There are 65 cases in the study. The  brain bank  CSTE is currently 68 copies.

Dr. Ann McKee, Co-Director of the ETSC - reportedly the largest brain bank in the world, analyzed the brains of 40 former athletes and found that 30 showed evidence of CTE. This includes 13 of 14 former NFL players, football players, college and high school hockey players, wrestlers and professional boxer.

CTE, originally as a  pugilistic dementia  because they thought, that affect only boxer known, is a progressive disease of the brain seems to be caused by repeated trauma subconcussive of the brain, including vibration or shock.

It is believed that other undetermined factors such as genetic predisposition, like some people more at risk of developing the disease.

Keith Primeau, a former jockey of the stars who are forced, in 2006 was due to a concussion during a 15-race of the season in the NHL retirement is decided by those who donate his brain.

Probert and Primeau were Red Wings teammates for four seasons.

Hockey is positive measures to protect players from shock and trauma,  he said.  I hope the results of my friend, Bob Probert, accelerate the momentum at all levels of the game.

NBA: All-Star Weekend Winners and Losers

With an abbreviated set of games this past week ahead of All-Star Weekend, we’re going to do things a little different for the Pinkie’s Monday NBA coverage. Instead of the normal short opinion piece with the UK and UofL updates, I’m going to run down the winners and losers from this weekend’s festivities in LA.

WINNERS

Kobe Bryant/Kevin Durant

With a 37 point, 14 rebound outing in his home building, Kobe was a shoo-in for MVP honors. He had 32 heading into the fourth quarter and with the West holding a double-digit lead, he had all but locked down the award. However, the East rallied behind LeBron James and in the end it was Kevin Durant, not Kobe, that made the big shots to sew up the win.

Durant scored 34, including four threes, but Kobe’s stellar first three quarters and home court advantage were too much to overcome.

LeBron James

I saw a few jokes floating around the Twitter universe about LeBron playing as hard as he did in the All-Star game after his now notorious egg-laying against the Celtics last season in the playoffs. Maybe the jokes were deserved, but LeBron was still fantastic. He had just the second triple-double in the history of the All-Star game with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. If you include “ridiculous open floor plays that make you say ‘wow’” as a statistical category, he actually had a quadruple-double.

The Three Amigos

I was fairly entertained by All-Star game and dunk contest, but the highlight of the weekend for me was, without a doubt, the Rookie-Sophomore game. In fact, I think it was the most I’ve enjoyed watching a non-UK game in a long time. Seeing John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe play together again was really cool, especially with all the highlights they turned in with neither team bothering to play defense.

It was a Big Blue infomercial as Wall set a record with 22 assists in the game and Cousins had 33 points and 14 rebounds. After the game, Wall said that he set out to break Chris Paul’s assist record in the game and was looking to get Cousins the MVP. Wall, though, was just too brilliant. Besides, how could they not give it to him after that bounce pass alley-oop to Blake Griffin. Bledsoe didn’t play as much as his former teammates, but he did turn in a nasty left-handed dunk off a Wall pass.

Blake Griffin

It was a bit of a coming out party for the sort-of rookie, as he participated in the Rookie-Sophomore game (playing limited minutes), won the dunk contest and played in the main event. The dunk contest was honestly a bit underwhelming, but Griffin had his share of patented ‘wow’ dunks in both games to remind you why he has been one of the stories of the year in the NBA.

Teenage Girls with Bieber Fever

If you watched the abomination that is the NBA’s celebrity game, you know what I’m talking about. Justin Bieber played in the game, scoring eight points but leading the world in high-pitched screams from fans. Even though he was on the same team as Scottie Pippen and Bieber shot just 3-11, Biebs took home MVP honors thanks to some Chicago style ballot box stuffing. And if you were wondering, yes, text message voting was available.

LOSERS

Members of Miami’s Big Three not named LeBron James

Dwyane Wade went down with an ankle injury, aggravating a sprain from last week. Chris Bosh, on the other hand, looked a lot like he does when he plays for the Heat: a bit lost and unsure of his role. Bosh shot pretty well and did score 14 points in just under 21 minutes, but it came time to make a clutch play, he failed to grab a big rebound and decided to shoot a three pointer, which he bricked.

Everybody involved in the Carmelo shenanigans

‘Melo was highly average in the main event with just 8 points and 7 rebounds, while talks of the trade that may or may not happen with the Nets/Knicks dominated much of the conversation all weekend. I’ve been a Carmelo defender most of the year because I think he’s really good, but I am 100% ready for this to be over and done with.

Derrick Favors

I know it’s kind of iffy to single out a player for a performance in an all-star game, especially a big man, but Derrick Favors was the one guy in the Rookie-Sophomore game who looked like he just did not belong. Playing against very thin competition from the sophomore front line, Favors managed to avoid grabbing a single rebound. He was badly overshadowed, perhaps because of the distraction of the potential ‘Melo trade. It still baffles me that someone could have taken him ahead of DeMarcus Cousins, even with all of Boogie’s supposed issues.