O’Neal Returns--on Bench

The prodigal son returns today well aware he’s out of the will. Or, is that you Benedict O’Neal?

The cornerstone of the Orlando Magic the previous four years, Shaquille O’Neal will be on hand for the game today and hoping that the same stones don’t get thrown back at him. Just in case, team officials have beefed up security for the occasion and will station some extra personnel around the Laker bench.

Imagine if he had been playing. This was the first Magic game to sell out in the fall, even before the Bulls in what could be the last appearances of Michael Jordan, and NBC had planned to do its pregame show from Orlando Arena instead of the studio in New York. Once O’Neal went down, the scalpers lost their European vacations and the network backed off its plans, going only with the game itself.

When O’Neal decided to come to Orlando for the weekend after all, planning to return Monday for his regularly scheduled rehabilitation sessions in Los Angeles, interest picked up again, though nowhere near original levels. The locals flooded the talk-radio circuits, then awaited their chance to vent in person.

The Lakers, meanwhile, awaited the chance to win one for the gimper.

“No doubt,” Kobe Bryant said. “It means a lot to the big fella. It would to anybody.”

Added Byron Scott: “I know he would love to play in the game. But I also know it’d be real special for us to go up there with a lot of effort and get a win.”

Having O’Neal there, the Lakers insist, won’t be a distraction. To the contrary. They’d like to think the presence will be a boost.

“No, I don’t think it’s going to be any particular problem,” Coach Del Harris said. “The guys are playing a game, they don’t get caught up in that stuff. Guys play the game. As a matter of fact, we’re glad he’ll be here. We like having him around.”