Shaq offers to pay for Mikan's funeral

MIAMI (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal wants to pay more than respects to the family of George Mikan.

O'Neal said Thursday that he wants the Mikan family to contact the Miami Heat offices, so arrangements can be made for him to handle funeral expenses for the league's first dominant big man.

Mikan died Wednesday night at a rehabilitation center in Scottsdale, Ariz., following a long fight with diabetes and kidney ailments. He was 80.

"I'd like to send my condolences to the Mikan family," O'Neal said after Miami beat Detroit 88-76 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night. "I heard they were having some trouble, some problems, so if you contact the Heat office, I would like to pay for the funeral."

Now I don't know much about Shaq, but I read stories about him doing stuff like this all the time.

He gave out free toys in the innner city in LA during Christmas when he played for the Lakers. When fans rioted after a championship and burned two LAPD cars, he wrote a check to replace one. Lots of stories like this.

In an age where sports stars seem to be more self-centered, egotistical little brats than ever, it's so refreshing to see the ones who are setting a little higher standard than the average sports "star".

Miss all the free throws you want, big guy, you're still a class act and a real champion.

I'll even forgive Kazaam. Not Steel though. :)