Even an Emerging Star Must Turn Up His Nose at This Deal

Shaquille O’Neal, advertising pitchman and Orlando Magic center, has cranked out an autobiography (“Shaq Attacq!”), a rap album (“Shaq Diesel”) and a music video--all before his second NBA season. He drew the line, however, when asked to contribute to one project.

“Some guy wanted me to run on a treadmill with bottles hooked up to my arms,” he told Mark Woods of Florida Today. “They were going to put it in perfume and call it ‘Essence of Shaq.’ ”

Add Shaq: O’Neal appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” recently to promote his book.

“Isn’t 20 a little young for an autobiography?” host Charles Gibson asked.

Replied O’Neal: “I’m 21.”

Trivia time: What do Cal State Northridge, Cal State Sacramento, Missouri Kansas City, Oral Roberts, Southern Utah and Notre Dame have in common?

Lucky deer: Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that Chicago Bear fullback Bob Christian has a clause in his contract that allows him to collect a $10,000 bonus if he refrains from bow hunting.

Wild at heart: Some final thoughts on Phillie reliever Mitch (Wild Thing) Williams come from Phil Rogers of the Dallas Morning News, who covered the Texas Rangers during Williams’ years in that organization.

According to Rogers, Williams was so erratic in the spring of 1985 that several Ranger hitters refused to take batting practice against him.

“I made it a point not to,” former Ranger catcher Darrell Porter told Rogers. “I was too advanced in my career to step up to the plate with him pitching.”

Add Williams: Rogers noted that the Rangers sent Williams to visit a hypnotherapist recommended by Tom House, the team’s pitching coach at the time.

Recalled Williams: “I went to see him about three times, and then he went to see a psychiatrist.”

An idea is born: The saga of David Williams, the Houston Oiler offensive lineman who skipped a game and sacrificed $111,111 in pay to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, has Oiler defensive end Sean Jones fantasizing about making a television movie.

“We figure we can have it in the can in three weeks,” Jones told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, “before the story loses its impact. If they can do it with David Koresh, we can sure do it with David Williams.”

Wrote McClain: “A television movie of the week might not be out of the question, but when the script writers get through with Williams, he will be a star quarterback choosing between his wife and the Super Bowl.

“The Oilers and the Super Bowl? Now that would require a lot of imagination.”

Trivia answer: They are the six remaining NCAA Division I basketball independents.

Quotebook: Marv Levy, coach of the Buffalo Bills, on the large number of television shows hosted by Buffalo players and coaches: “It’s almost disappointing to me that people aren’t interested in something that’s more stimulating some of the time.”