Shaquille O'Neal doesn't seem like a guy who has much to sweat about when it comes to life after the NBA. He's made millions of dollars on the court, plenty more in endorsements and calling the man's personality magnetic doesn't go far enough. Most men in that position would just take things for granted and spend the NBA offseason sipping drinks out of coconut shells with little umbrellas.
Shaq's not one of those guys, though. He's currently enrolled in a broadcasting course at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Anyone who's seen Shaq on camera knows that there may not be a human being who needs media training less, so why bother taking a course?
"I’ve been the type of person (and) the type of athlete, I don’t like to be given anything," he said. "I like to earn."
O'Neal landed the first on-camera interview with the Orange's new quarterback Greg Paulus since the former Dukie announced he'd be resuming his football career in upstate New York. The interview ended with Paulus getting O'Neal's autograph, surely something that's never happened to any other guy who makes his living asking questions of athletes.
O'Neal is, of course, Twittering about his experiences on campus, including a prediction of a lacrosse national title for his beloved Orange.
Given his mix of talent and his ability to actually work to get good at broadcasting, O'Neal may not need to bother with going the sports-only route. He could do what Charles Barkley does in his sleep, why not shoot for replacing David Letterman?
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
