O’Neal, Karl Signal a Verbal Cease-Fire

The verbal battle between Shaquille O’Neal and George Karl ended peacefully Wednesday.

O’Neal said he hopes his problems with most of the women basketball coaches in America will also die.

Karl, the Seattle Supersonic coach, said he was watching television Tuesday night when he realized this whole thing was pretty silly.

“I’m channel surfing and every other show has something about us, some commentary, some angle,” he said. “And I’m thinking, this is not what the series is about.”

So he shifted gears.

“Besides Michael Jordan, there is nobody in the league tougher to prepare for than Shaquille O’Neal,” he said, later adding, “he is the most powerful paint man in the planet.”

O’Neal was also taking different attitude.

About his comments concerning weeping women coaches, he said, “I said it, but I didn’t mean it to come out like that. People who don’t know me will take it wrong.”

He added, “Of course, women can coach. The one from Tennessee, she can really coach. I apologize to all women, especially with Mother’s Day coming up.”

O’Neal said he had not yet been scolded by his mother, but he expected to hear from her soon.

He said he also expects to hear from others.

“I’m sure I’ll be getting letters from the W.D.A.,” he said.

The WDA? “The Women’s Discrimination Assn.,” he said. “Isn’t there one of those?”