Some Words of Wisdom Before a Deserved Break

It will be 30-some days before I write another column, which is the longest I have gone without making fun of our local teams.

I worry how they will hold up, of course, and wasn’t surprised when Grady Little asked for my cell number Wednesday, but frankly, it’s time he started managing the Dodgers on his own.

I intend to return before the trading deadline because I can’t imagine leaving Angels GM Bill Stoneman alone during such a crucial time, and I’d also like the opportunity to say goodbye to Odalis Perez and at some point maybe get a sign of life out of J.D. Drip.

I’ve planned it, though, so we’re as far away from civilization as possible, which would be Kansas when the World Cup finally runs its course on July 9, a G.P. doing everything he can to keep his granddaughter away from soccer for another four years. I’m even willing to go to Kansas by way of Nebraska.

But then it almost goes without saying I really need a vacation, because I begin today’s column with a compliment.

I’d like to congratulate Shaquille O’Neal for winning another title, and while Dwyane Wade did all the heavy lifting, O’Neal made good on his word when he promised to deliver a championship to Miami.

O’Neal was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Wednesday night for the premiere of the new Superman movie, and undoubtedly to take the opportunity to rub a little celebration into the face of L.A.

At the same time Lakers owner Jerry Buss was flying to Hawaii -- on his way to Japan and China -- and while I’d like to think he made those reservations early in the season with the expectation of skipping town before the championship parade, I know he wasn’t running from Shaq.

Buss returned a call after arriving in Hawaii, but because the Dodgers were rallying and the crowd got loud, the call went to voice mail before I could answer. I wish I had been at an Angels game. They almost never rally.

“I heard you were asking if I’d like to congratulate Shaq and the Heat,” Buss said in his message. “Yes, I’m very excited for them. I’ve won championships before and I know what a good feeling that is. I couldn’t be happier for them.”

Buss made the tough decision two years ago, and I still firmly believe the correct one based on the information available at the time.

He fell in love with Kobe’s game and what it would mean in ticket sales, and wasn’t going to risk losing it, while having no evidence to suggest Shaq was going to work himself into shape.

None of that has changed, Miami winning a championship, or not.

Had he kept Shaq for one more year since Shaq was already under contract, there is a very good chance in talking to Kobe at the time that he would’ve gone to the Clippers. Kobe was fed up with Shaq, wanted his own team, and while some say he would’ve never taken the pay cut, he really disliked the Big Lug.

An argument could be made now, knowing the fire that burned in Pat Riley’s belly to prove himself again, that they should have brought him back as the Lakers’ head coach two years ago, but as we learned the last few days in newspaper dispatches, Buss had already made the decision to move on without Shaq.

Now might be a good time for Lakers fans to do the same.

A number of Lakers fans were rubbed raw when Shaq couldn’t leave town without showing his sensitive and slighted side, striking back at the city and Bryant. The Big Lug lost some luster off the Big Kid image with each immature shot.

But it’s the same thing that afflicts Lakers fans now, still smarting from Shaq’s good fortune and the Lakers’ demise, and striking back with petty insults and ridiculous talk of what might have been.

Sure, Shaq was the benefactor from the split up, and while it’s even taken him time to accept that, he got a younger Bryant in Wade, a more motivated coach than Phil Jackson in Riley at this stage of their lives, and a chance to re-invent himself in Miami.

As for the Lakers, I sure got excited by the progress I saw in Kwame Brown.

Like I said, I need a vacation.

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THE HEAT championship parade will be in Miami on Friday, and I’ve got a pretty good idea Shaq will be back in time to dominate it.

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I DON’T know if you heard the story about the two radio reporters in Kansas City who had their media credentials revoked for asking tough questions. My immediate reaction was the rest of the media should have gone to battle for them, but then I got to thinking what would we do in L.A. if the Dodgers elected to revoke the media credentials of Vic the Brick?

It’s a good thing he doesn’t ask tough questions.

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BEFORE I left, I told Jeff Kent about Shawn Green and Adrian Beltre fulfilling my requests to hit home runs over Kent’s head, and asked him if he wanted to hit a homer for me as a going away gift. You should’ve seen the look on his face.

So I went to Seattle pitcher and former Angel, Jarrod Washburn, and asked him if he’d strike out Kent for me. It took him six innings, but he got him. I almost wish I could be there today for the look on Kent’s face.

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Larry Yells:

“Would you be a fly on the wall of Tiger Woods’ entertainment room during Mickelson’s 18th hole U.S. Open meltdown or would you watch the Heat win Game 6 of the NBA Championship with Kobe?”

That’s easy. If I were a fly, I’d rather be with Kobe, knowing how he gave up against Phoenix, sooner or later he’d give up trying to swat me.

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