O’Neal Ends Seclusion

Shaquille O’Neal went public with his seclusion Sunday afternoon, coming to the Forum for the game against the Seattle SuperSonics, allowing a television camera to capture him watching the game from the locker room and doing interviews.

A day after releasing a statement that said he might stay away from games for a while because “I do not want you fans to see me in this condition,” O’Neal showed after all. Not only that, he issued his own timetable for a return.

“Eight to 10 weeks, I don’t think it’ll be that long,” he said. “I’m looking for six weeks. Once I start rehabilitating, I’ll rehabilitate extra hard. I’m going to try to come back. I don’t believe in eight to 10 weeks. My goal is six weeks.”

O’Neal maneuvered without crutches, despite the soft cast that stretches the length of his left leg, the better to keep the entire knee joint immobile.

“Mentally, I’m kind of frustrated, but I’m not going to allow myself to get fat,” he said. “I’m not going to allow myself to go crazy. I just have to take things as they come. Life is full of challenges and this is going to be a great, big challenge for me.”

“We’ve got a lot of good players on the team. They’re going to be fine. They’re going to hold the fort down until I get back.”