O’Neal Shows His Classy Side to a Great Degree

Shaquille O’Neal began his Laker career in the Forum, and Saturday morning he returned, this time to walk across the stage and accept a master of business administration degree from the University of Phoenix Southern California Campus.

Before the commencement ceremony honoring more than 2,000 graduates, Shaq appeared at a news conference. The public relations folks running the conference put down a line of blue and black tape at the back of the media room, and ordered everyone to stand behind it -- more than 20 feet from Shaq. I guess they were afraid Kobe Bryant might appear.

It was a small gathering. Two newspaper reporters, a couple of photographers, several TV cameramen, an NBA Entertainment crew and Jim Hill.

Hill, the hardest-working man in local TV, kept his record intact, making this the 401st news conference in a row he was best-dressed in the room. On the cuffs of his expensive and starched white shirt, though, Hill has his first name stitched in black letters -- I guess in case the teleprompter breaks down.

Shaq sat behind a table, flanked by a couple of school officials, and stuck his tongue out at Hill. I’m guessing he would’ve held his nose had Jack Haley been in attendance.

There was some official mumbo-jumbo to start and then Dr. Warren Washington, the chief of academics for Phoenix, said, “I recall when Shaquille was first interested in pursuing a graduate degree, and his bodyguard contacted me ... “

Everyone laughed. I think everybody understands why Salma Hayek would need a bodyguard, but Shaq? Hill straightened his tie. I guess he thinks he has a chance with Salma.

“After I got my degree from LSU, I wanted to get a Master’s degree in the line of work I’m going to be doing after basketball,” Shaq said. “I thought it would be very important to have that on my resume.”

I can just picture Shaq down at Kinko’s running off his resume ... actually, I can just picture his bodyguard down at Kinko’s running off Shaq’s resume.

“I started going to class every Thursday, four to five hours, and I didn’t miss a class,” Shaq said. “Of course, when the trade went down I had to do everything else online.

“A couple of times I felt I couldn’t get it done, but I just stuck through it ... [my family] told me, go get all the knowledge you can get, go get all the degrees you can get and after this day I’m going to get another Master’s. Then I’ll be working on my doctorate -- so pretty soon you will address me as Dr. O’Neal and Dr. O’Neal only.”

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THE POMP and circumstance at the Forum for graduation were first class, the old building still sporting five Laker championship banners and names on the wall like Baylor, West and Johnson along with Vachon and Dionne -- whoever they were.

Before Shaq joined the festivities, he took questions. I wanted to know why we never see Channel 4’s Fred Roggin at one of these news conferences, but Hill spoke up first and wanted to know why Shaq would continue his formal education when he already owns the world.

“I’ve always been the type to plan ahead,” Shaq said, and how well we all know that. He had two years remaining on his Laker contract, but wanted to know what he was going to be paid after that, which explains why he’s in Miami.

“I promised Dr. Washington I would graduate on time and walk the stage,” Shaq said, and so Hill wanted to know if he had any memories walking into the Forum.

“Not in this building,” Shaq said. “We didn’t win in this building.”

Hill had a number of memories of the Forum, of course, but no one seemed interested in hearing them.

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WHEN THE hiring of Phil Jackson was mentioned, Shaq said, “I’m happy for Phil just like I’m happy for all the other 2,000 graduates today.” Are you sure his advanced degree isn’t in political correctness?

On Day 1 as the Laker coach again, Jackson left open the door for Shaq’s return, knowing Shaq has the right to opt out of his contract.

But would Shaq consider coming back to the Lakers?

“No,” he said. “Not at all. Not bachelor’s O’Neal, not Master’s O’Neal, not Dr. O’Neal.”

That put an end to the news conference with officials making it obvious they had no interest in furthering their NBA education.

O’Neal, dressed in cap and gown now, joined his fellow graduates on the Forum floor and was greeted by a standing ovation. He took his place in the front row, and listened as Phoenix campus Director Matthew Johnston told everyone they were here “to celebrate individuals who wanted more out of life and then went out and made it happen.”

Now when you consider all the stories about what’s wrong with sports, Shaq walking across a stage in cap and gown with a diploma in his hands is pretty cool.

Shaq traveling across the country to put on cap and gown and walk across the stage is even cooler, and a striking example of just one of the many good and classy things O’Neal has accomplished in his life. He can stand so tall at times.

So, I wanted to know -- taking him aside before he received his degree, why would he lower himself and continually demean Bryant?

“I’m not the one bringing it up,” he said. “People ask me questions. I’d rather not say anything; that’s why I don’t use his name. I’d like to squash it.”

I think he was referring to the questions about Bryant, and not Bryant himself, although I can’t be sure.

You would think his own success in Miami and the Lakers’ demise would already speak volumes, but for some reason Shaq has insisted in piling on.

“I’m not bitter at all,” he said. “You’ve never heard me saying, ‘he did this, and he did that.’ I wish you’d tell people to stop asking me about what happened and what I think about him. I’m just trying to forget.”

We all are -- obviously, some better than others.

T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.