Now Shaq’s tweeting a different tune

One year after rapping that Kobe Bryant couldn’t win an NBA title without him, Shaquille O’Neal has now tweeted that he hopes Bryant soon earns his fourth championship ring.

Shaq tweeted this Wednesday:

“thats right i am saying it today and today only, i want kobe bryant to get number 4, spread da word”

Consider it spread.

It might help that the Lakers are up against an Orlando Magic team led by Dwight Howard, who some have dubbed the new “Superman” while Shaq has labeled him an “impostor.”

But it does seem as if Shaq might have recently learned some humility. He rapped last summer that Bryant “can’t do without me.” But in his tweet he changed his stance:

” . . . I wouldn’t of won it without him fish and robert horry, and b shaw and fox and everybody dynasty baby”

Still waiting for the Shaq tweet that says he wants to be Bryant’s teammate again.

Lil’ smack talk

To the disappointment of television executives, Vitamin Water and Nike, there is no LeBron-Kobe matchup in the NBA Finals.

But Nike says there will still be puppet ads.

“This is about celebrating two of the game’s best players and giving fans a glimpse into their personalities, not only on the court but away from the game,” Nike spokesman Kejuan Wilkins told CNBC.

Nike could take its cue from a fan who edited an original ad where James and Bryant baby-sit “Lil’ Dez.”

Among the pointed statements Lil’ Dez makes in the edited version:

“LeBron, what’s it like to be home for the summer?”

“LeBron, we can swim all summer. We’re on vacation.”

“LeBron, why do they call you the King if you can’t win the big one?”

Trivia time

How many active NBA franchises have not made a Finals appearance?

Keep this quiet

Soccer player Michael Owen has been awarded undisclosed damages and a public apology from the Daily Express, after the London paper published two stories last month implying he was washed up.

The headlines: “Unwanted Toon striker at a cross roads; Finished at 29?” and “Owen ready for sad finale.”

Express Newspapers agreed to pay damages and Owen’s legal fees, accepted that the claims were false, and apologized.

Which led to this remark on Fark.com: “Newspapers around America hope Brett Favre hasn’t been taking notes.”

Trivia answer

Seven: Clippers, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Bobcats.

And finally

Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Smallwood on Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick telling Sports Illustrated’s Dan Patrick that taking performance-enhancing drugs isn’t cheating if you’re not caught: “Rule books aren’t written in gray. They are written in crystal-clear black and white. Looking for loopholes and gray areas to bend, fix or stretch is called ‘cheating.’ ”

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mark.medina@latimes.com