No Question, O’Neal Is Not Tapped Out

How was Laker center Shaquille O’Neal preparing at the team’s HealthSouth Training Center in El Segundo for tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers?

If you watched any of the local sportscasts Thursday night, perhaps you noticed O’Neal had someone’s head under his massive left arm while he answered reporters’ questions. That someone was assistant public relations director Michael Uhlenkamp. Saying he was tired of dumb questions, O’Neal put Uhlenkamp in a headlock and announced he would tap Uhlenkamp’s head every time a reporter asked what O’Neal deemed a stupid question.

Uhlenkamp got plenty of taps, although a tap from a 7-foot-1, 335-pound giant can be frightful.

But if O’Neal starts tapping Brad Miller tonight, they won’t be love taps.

The last time they faced each other, it was back in January when Miller was a Chicago Bull. Incensed by what he thought were cheap shots, O’Neal took a wild swing at Miller that was anything but playful. Fortunately for Miller, O’Neal missed, but he was still suspended for three games and fined $15,000.

Miller was obtained by Indiana from the Bulls in a Feb. 19 trade.

O’Neal was asked about Miller Thursday.

Tap, tap, tap.

“I don’t live in the past,” O’Neal said. “I don’t like dirty play. [But] it doesn’t really matter to me. I just want to get back on track.”

Laker Coach Phil Jackson took the same stance.

“We are not putting any energy into it,” he said of the O’Neal-Miller faceoff. “Just let it be. Whatever it is, it is.”

O’Neal is sure to be asked about it again tonight. And when he is, Uhlenkamp is sure to be as far away as possible.

TONIGHT

vs. Indiana, 7:30 p.m.

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center

Radio--KLAC (570)

Records--Lakers 39-17, Pacers 28-29.

Record vs. Pacers--1-0

Update--Ron Artest, averaging 16.8 points, is hobbled by a sprained left ankle.