He Sees Shaq in No-Win Situation

Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times says Shaquille O’Neal’s talents are often taken for granted:

“The Superman tattoo on his arm can’t help him. He is doomed to a life of grudging appreciation. It doesn’t matter how many points he scores, titles he wins, warm-and-cuddly TV ads he makes or goofy jokes he cracks.

“O’Neal, rather unfairly, always will be the bully who should dominate basketball games.

“He can’t win this time, either. When Shaq excels, we expect it; when he doesn’t, he gets ripped.

“It’s almost enough to make you feel sorry for him.”

Higher education: Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News points out that O’Neal is giving lessons, sometimes painful ones, to Stanford graduates Jason Collins and Mark Madsen:

“[Collins and Madsen] already had much in common. Now they can compare similar O’Neal-sized welts all over their arms, shoulders, hearts and minds.

“Madsen, finishing his second season as O’Neal’s teammate, gets pounded and hurtled through the air every day in practice. Collins, even as a rookie, is New Jersey’s best post defender, so he [gets to guard] O’Neal in the NBA Finals.

“Collins and Madsen aren’t teammates anymore, but this is the kind of thing that should bring alumni together.”

Trivia time: Who is the only player to win basketball titles at the Los Angeles City Section, NCAA and NBA levels?

Commercial property: Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, bemoaning the advertising glut at the Texas Rangers’ home field:

“Our once beautiful yard has been transformed over the last few seasons into ‘The Billboard in Arlington,’ meaning a constant NASCAR-type advertising blur, where every available space except Pudge Rodriguez’s butt has been sold, and Preparation H is reportedly making a bid on that.

“What was once a cathedral for baseball now has the look of a seedy truck stop.”

Going too far: Jason Kidd, predicting a turnaround for the New Jersey Nets before this season: “We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees.”

Vote of confidence: Glenn Dickey of the San Francisco Chronicle says Terry Donahue is making the right moves as general manager of the 49ers:

“It isn’t easy following a legend, but Donahue has been growing into his job, and the transition from Bill Walsh has been seamless.

“That doesn’t surprise anybody who knows Donahue, who thrived in a very tough market in 20 years as head coach at UCLA, earning a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame.

“He has applied the same intelligence that led to his coaching success to his work as an executive.”

Trivia answer: Gail Goodrich, with Sun Valley Poly High, UCLA and the Lakers.

And finally: Tom Watson always brought three big weapons to golf tournaments--a powerful driver, a deft putting stroke and an imagination--says Dave Hackenberg of the Toledo Blade.

Now you can add a fourth weapon, Watson told the columnist. A bottle of Advil.

“Trust me, at 52 the wheels are definitely getting rusty,” Watson said before playing in the Senior PGA Championship this weekend. “You have to keep ‘em oiled. The Advil makes it easier to play golf.”