Shaquille O'Neal conducts the Boston Pops [video]

 

Shaquille O'Neal conducted the Boston Pops on Monday night, getting into the groove on the orchestra's renditions of "Sleigh Ride," the Jackson 5's "Can You Feel It" and, of course, Queen's "We Are the Champions," a tune well suited to the former Lakers star.

The Boston Celtics center gave the performance a bit of a "Gulliver's Travels" feel, towering over the musicians and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus as he, um, helmed the group. (Watch the video — he eventually gets into it!)

"I have a whole new respect for conductors," O'Neal said before his performance, ESPN reports. "I went through a rehearsal today, and my arms are shot right now."

The musician's necks probably got a workout as well as they looked to the 7-foot-1, tuxedo-clad basketball player for guidance. Their usual conductor, Keith Lockhart, measures in at a merely human 5-foot-9 and weighs around half as much as Shaq does.

Thoughts on Shaquille O'Neal's conducting debut?

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal serves as guest conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra during a holiday concert in Boston on Dec. 20. Credit: Gretchen Ertl / Associated Press.

Why so trendy, Dwyane Wade? Was Gabrielle Union watching?

Two weeks ago, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade scored his 10,000th point. Then last night, he made a crazy dunk shot that Washington Post writer Michael Lee is calling "probably the most emasculating dunk in recent memory."

Today lots of folks want to see what they missed.

Shaquille O'Neal's Cleveland Cavaliers won the game, but who really cares?

Wade, who's going through a nasty divorce, has been linked with "FlashForward" actress Gabrielle Union, BET and the Palm Beach Post report.

The dunk is a crowd pleaser, even if you're not a basketball fan.

So sit back, hit play and be pleased.

Or click to the jump to see Gabrielle as Isis, head cheerleader for the East Compton Clovers, in the PG-13 trailer from "Bring It On," which we are proud to say is one of our favorite guilty-pleasure cheerleading movies.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Divorce for Shaquille O'Neal? Wife files for separation -- in California

Shaunie O'Neal has filed for legal separation with intent to divorce from her husband of nearly seven years, NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, TMZ reports. 

One twist: Before filing on Monday, she moved herself and her four kids from Florida, the land of no state income tax, out west to California, the land of more favorable child and spousal support.

Another twist: Shaquille filed for divorce once before, in Miami in 2007, but that petition was later withdrawn.

Bumpshack has photos of the O'Neals.

In other sports-divorce news, Jamie McCourt has spoken out for the first time since her split from Frank McCourt, telling The Times' T.J. Simers that she's "going to take the high road."

"I have four kids -- this is not something I would have played out in the public," Jamie said. "To read everything that's been said is devastating, and my kids are pretty upset about it."

Simers' full account will be updated later today.

Dodgers fans are going to have a lot to pay attention to in the off-season, we think.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Shaquille O'Neal takes a breather during warm-ups before the Cavaliers-Knicks game in New York on Nov. 6, 2009. Note that, unlike most of our newsmakers today, he manages to take this break while staying completely clothed. Credit: Ray Stubblebine / Reuters.

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