Shaqi to Pay for Funeral

June 3rd, 2005, 04:30 PM

The family of George Mikan accepted Shaquille O'Neal's offer to pay for the late center's funeral expenses.
O'Neal said arrangements were finalized Friday. ``Everything's going to be handled,'' O'Neal said.
Mikan, the NBA's first dominant big man, died Wednesday night at a rehabilitation center in Scottsdale, Ariz., following a long fight with diabetes and kidney ailments. He was 80.
O'Neal said he greatly enjoyed getting to know and speak with Mikan on several occasions. Shortly after the Heat beat Detroit 88-76 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night, O'Neal said he would like to handle the funeral costs.
``I heard they were having some trouble, some problems, so if you contact the Heat office, I would like to pay for the funeral,'' O'Neal said.
O'Neal and Mikan are linked by leading the Lakers franchise to multiple NBA championships; Mikan carried the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles in a six-year span. O'Neal led the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000-2002.

**PVVikeFan** · June 3rd, 2005, 04:32 PM

That was a nice gesture on Shaq's part.

**MikMo** · June 3rd, 2005, 04:34 PM

Read that earlier. Proves that everybody that has money aren't @sses.

**Shoe** · June 3rd, 2005, 05:34 PM

Well I got a new found respect for Shag. It's everyday that a big name player or actor or whatever does something like that.

**imported_trumpet1988** · June 3rd, 2005, 05:43 PM

That's a great thing to do.

**Ironlung** · June 3rd, 2005, 07:16 PM

I don't care for basketball and don't really watch it, so I have no say in Shaq's ability's, but I did see a special around Christmas where he was shopping and filling like 3 tractor trailors to give to underpriveledged kids. About a month ago he was also made US Deputy Marshall. No kidding! He's helping the Marshall's stop internet crimes against children. He does all this stuff and doesn't try to seek any publicity for it. He had done the Christmas gift thing for years without a mention until Shelly Smith from ESPN heard about in and did the story. Even though it was a month ago you still don't hear much about the Marshall thing. The guy has a huge heart, no pun intended.

**imported_mega** · June 3rd, 2005, 08:13 PM

I laughed hard when he was pulling all the toys off the top shelves and they were hitting him in the head, that was great. Everything he does is great, especially when he pokes fun at Erick Dampier, George Murahsan, Shawn Bradley, and Greg Ostertag. Hes not saying anything that noone at home isnt thinking, those guys suck lol.