BATON ROUGE — Former LSU All-American and NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal returned to the LSU campus for the first time in nearly two years on Thursday night, addressing a panel of media before speaking to student-athletes at the Bo Campbell Auditorium of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.
The following is a transcript of O’Neal’s brief press conference:
On what he has been doing on his trip back to Baton Rouge …
“I have been visiting neighborhoods and talking to children. I went to the hospital. I was just hanging out and wanted to come say hello to my old friends. Me and this guy go way back (gesturing to LSU basketball sports information director Kent Lowe). In two years, it is going to be 20 years. I have been knowing him since 1988-89. I just wanted to come here and talk to the students and touch on some important issues — education, responsibility and stuff like that. Of course, I want to check out the first football game. I try to keep up with tradition. Last year, I was here and Katrina hit us unfortunately and we (Miami Heat) won the championship. I am a very consistent person. I like to do the same things, same dates, same flight. It is good to come back, see some old friends and see what the university is up to. It has grown tremendously since 18 years ago.”
On Hurricane Katrina …
“I was here. I was one of the one’s that got in touch with a bus company — one here and one in Houston — to try and move some of the people. I went up to New Orleans and saw it first hand. It was very, very devastating. It was something that I hope our nation never has to go through again.”
On the transformation of the LSU campus since his playing days …
“It is beautiful. This auditorium, the new dorms, the new apartment buildings are going up. Obviously, LSU is going in the right direction. It is a beautiful university. If any parents have any doubts about sending your kids to LSU, don’t have any doubts. We are still the best university in the state, and we will be forever.”
On his contributions to LSU …
“I was just here having fun, handling my scholarly responsibilities and my human responsibilities. It was a great place to be. It was the best three years of my life. I came back and got my education and might actually obtain my doctorate here from LSU. I have really been thinking about it. I will let you know on that. It is good just to come back and see old faces, see friends. Like I said, LSU is definitely moving in the right direction.”
On his obligation to speak to the student-athletes …
“I do feel obligated. I am alumni. These student-athletes are sort of my brothers, my sisters, my children. I want to give them certain life secrets. Some people may already know these secrets. Some people may not know these secrets, but I just want to give them some insight on what’s to come. After college, the real world starts. Right now, the only thing they have to pay is tuition. As soon as you leave here, there are taxes, car notes, insurance and all that stuff.”
On observing the men’s basketball team …
“I saw Big Baby (Glen Davis). He looks pretty good. I just saw him in the gym working on his moves. Hopefully, LSU can make it back to the Final Four and win it. I was very proud of the team and very jealous because they have been to a place I didn’t get to at this level. I was very proud of Coach (John) Brady and very proud of Kent Lowe. He did a great job with the media. I wanted them to win the whole thing, but before you succeed you must first learn to fail. Hopefully, they can take that failure and it motivates them to get back to the Final Four and win the whole thing. It would be great for the state. We had a lot of great players and great teams here but could never get it done. Hopefully, they can get it done, and I wish them well.”
On Glen Davis …
“He is a very, very chucky little fellow and very down to earth. He’s a nice, humble kid. I wish him well. The sky is the limit for him. I tell him that every time I see him. It’s up to him on how far he goes.”
On winning a fourth NBA Championship and first with the Miami Heat …
“It was really sweet. I think the key ingredients were us just being humble and working together as a team. Pat Riley is a great motivator, sort of like a Dale Brown. I can remember after Game 2, we had three days off. Mark Cuban had already planned the parade route, so Pat Riley read the article in the paper and just put it up on the board. He said, ‘I’ll see you at the game.’ For three days, we didn’t practice. We didn’t meet. We didn’t do anything. He’s a great motivator. We were a tight-knit group. That’s what it takes in any competition.”
On Tyrus Thomas …
“I really didn’t get a chance to talk to him, but I wish him well. I wish his family well. He had an outstanding performance during the NCAAs. Of course, we would have liked him to stay one or two more years to develop in certain years. An individual has to do what’s best for him, so I wish him well. It’s up to each individual how far they want to go. I played with him the summer before, and I didn’t see the things that I saw during the NCAAs. Obviously, he is a quick learner and still has a lot to learn.”
On what his future plans are …
“I have four more years on my contract, so I’d like to play out my contract. There is an election coming up in 2008, right here in Baton Rouge, in Orlando and in Miami-Dade County. I will be a sheriff in one of those three that I mentioned. Not sure which one yet, but in 2008.”
On his view of steroid use in some of today’s athletes …
“It bothers me. I have to blame winning for that. Some people want to win so badly, and they will do whatever it takes rather than just doing it the old school way — blood, sweat and tears. When it comes to winning, there is a lot of pressure with the word. People want to win so badly that they will actually do illegal activities. It is unfortunate because they put a bad name on the rest of us athletes.”
On what contributed to winning NBA titles …
“One, a lot of luck. Two, being very humble. And three, just failing a lot. Aristotle always said that before you succeed, you must first learn to fail. Secondly, Michael Jordan told me after they beat us the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. It’s true. I just got tired of losing, reading articles and not winning. You become even more humble and continue to the right things. Last year was a lot of heart, a lot of soul and a lot of luck. I never expected Dirk Nowitzki to miss two important free throws last year. That is pure luck.”