Off the Court, O’Neal Contends He Has Been a Leader as Well

Laker center Shaquille O’Neal said he was glad Karl Malone has landed a radio show gig on AM 1150 to keep him busy during the NBA lockout.

“Karl’s a good guy,” O’Neal said this week when asked about the Utah forward’s new temporary job.

Then, with a laugh, he added that he has blazed this NBA-to-show business path first: “I like to see guys copycat me and branch out and do other things.

“Make sure in the article you let people know who the forerunner is. I was the first to do a movie, I’m the first to do an album. I was the first to do ‘Wrestlemania.’ If you don’t believe me, look it up, ‘Bash at the Beach,’ with Hulk Hogan and Rick Flair. I was the first to do a rap video.

“So I’m just glad that a young guy could be a forerunner and everybody’s trying to accomplish what I have.”