He Has It All, Except Any Touch From Line

Shaquille O’Neal, in the July issue of Esquire magazine, revealed what he says is the only logical explanation for his woeful free-throw shooting:

“Me having a beautiful wife and great family and friends ... all the money I’ve got ... a Ferrari ... the rings I got, the two mansions on the water, a master’s in criminal justice, I’m a cop, plus I look good....

“So me shooting 40% at the foul line is just God’s way of saying nobody’s perfect. If I shoot 90% from the line, it just wouldn’t be right.”

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Trivia time: When was the last time the NBA Finals went seven games?

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Goon call: There is no NHL, but this, for some, may suffice: The Battle of the Hockey Enforcers, scheduled Aug. 27 at the CN Centre in Prince George, Canada. Twelve men will slug it out, two at a time in 60-second bouts, on the ice in full uniform, until only one is left standing.

Wonder if a hockey game will break out.

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Cool response: The Kings’ Sean Avery was part of a conversation between a Newsweek reporter and model Rachel Hunter, who was asked if she were “still dating that hockey player.” Told it was Avery, Newsweek queried, “Does he still have his front teeth?”

Hunter’s reply: “I don’t really talk about him, but yes, he does. That’s as far as I’m going with this.”

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By the book: There’s no joking in college baseball. That was the message the NCAA sent to Arizona State last week in the form of a stern reprimand after the Sun Devils practiced in shirts and ties before their game against Cal State Fullerton.

What’s more, the NCAA scuttled Curt Schilling’s plan to toss batting practice as ASU prepared for the College World Series, prompting Coach Pat Murphy to complain in the East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune: “Someone thought that wasn’t kosher. That someone needs to think about the bigger picture.”

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Flashback: On this day in 1967 Jack Nicklaus finished with a then-record 275 to win the U.S. Open at Baltusrol in New Jersey. His 72-hole total was one stroke better than Ben Hogan’s in the 1948 Open.

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Bubbly reunion: After beating Kostya Tszyu to win the IBF light-welterweight crown, British fighter Ricky Hatton said on the BBC that it was time to rekindle relationships with “two friends” he had shunned for 10 weeks while training.

“So welcome back, Mr. Guinness and Mr. Dom Perignon!” Hatton exclaimed.

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Voila: Stuart Scott says in ESPN the Magazine that he’s getting more distance off the tee after receiving advice from Tiger Woods. “Tiger gave me the best tip,” Scott wrote. “I told him I wasn’t hitting it far enough. He said, ‘Swing the club harder.’ ”

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Trivia answer: In 1994, the Houston Rockets won the final two games at Houston to defeat the New York Knicks in seven.

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And finally: Times staff writer Jerry Crowe, curious about the still-smoldering debate over whether Danica Patrick had an unfair weight advantage during the Indianapolis 500: “If it’s such an advantage, why don’t the owners just hire jockeys to drive their cars?”