FUN AND GAMES

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Despite the rumbles that persist a decade after he left Orlando for bigger ponds in the NBA market, Shaquille O'Neal still looms large as an O-Town dignitary.

The Big Philanthropist is hooking up with his Dear Mother to bring celebrities with cache here in September.

The "Shaq's Mama Said Knock You Out" Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament at Rosen Shingle Creek is scheduled for Sept. 15 and marks a sporty departure from the usual collaborative charitable efforts from the powerful tag-team of Shaquille and Lucille O'Neal.

Past events have featured boxing matches using oversized gloves and have included Sugar Ray Leonard, Hulk Hogan and Antonio Tarver as boxing bait for a certain 7-foot-1 pugilist.

"I changed things up because you can knock people out in many ways, so this year we will knock them out with music and laughter," Lucille O'Neal said.

Thanks goodness. As a featured participant on several "undercards," I get to retire with a 1-1 record -- though I suspect that my golf game, coupled with that of master of ceremonies Charles Barkley, might be more lethal than a left hook.

All money raised will go to the Odessa Chambliss "Quality of Life Fund" to provide nursing scholarships. The fund is named in honor of Lucille O'Neal's mother and Shaquille O'Neal's grandmother, Odessa Chambliss, who worked for more than 16 years in the nursing profession and who passed away in 1996.

Last year's event, staged on Miami Beach, raised $300,000.

Former Magic man Dennis Scott, golfer Dakoda Dowd, and Tarver, a three-time light-heavyweight champion, are among the celebrities who will be back -- and happy the format has changed.

"My arms still hurt [from boxing Shaq]," said Tarver, who "fought" him two years ago.

Click onto ocqualityoflifefund.com for sponsorship and participatory information.

Reality TV at its best

Orlando Predators Coach Jay Gruden has signed on for a reality series project some folks are calling "The American Idol of Sports." Although the prospect of Paula Abdul drop-kicking gyrating Taylor "I Got the Ticks" Hicks is extremely appealing, a more conventional sports format is in place here:

Gruden is wrapping up tryouts in six Southeastern cities for a spot in the show, which focuses on building an Arena2 team from scratch. The tryout tour has two more stops, Fort Lauderdale (Monday) and Tampa Bay (Tuesday) before Gruden and Tampa Bay Storm Coach Tim Marcum help select 72 athletes who will be invited to training camp in Tampa Bay. From there, two teams of 20 will be selected. The challenge concludes with a team coached by Gruden and Marcum playing a group coached by former NFL coach Ron Meyer and longtime NFL assistant coach Steve Sidwell. The best players from both teams will combine to form an Arena2 team and compete as an expansion team during the 2007 season, probably in Jacksonville. Producers say they are optimistic they will be able to sell the 13 episodes to one of the cable networks. "We're not trying out every Tom, Dick and Harry," Gruden said this week from another tour stop, Houston. "We're inviting players with backgrounds who can play a little bit. I'm sneaking some guys in under the radar and inviting them to try out for the Predators. The heck with the TV show."

Cutthroat competition! Reality television at its finest!

News and Notes

Seems that Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper is the perfect fit for the media paranoia that drives control freak Coach Nick Saban. Culpepper will make himself accessible to reporters for 10 minutes, then to photographers for another 10, next week before shutting down access from much of the training camp. Write fast, and click in focus, my friends.

Chuck Daly had one important piece of advice for Doc Rivers when Doc replaced him as coach of the Orlando Magic in 1999. "Whatever you do, don't play golf with Julius Erving." Erving, then an executive with the Magic, has the annoying habit of walking off every approach shot and every putt, then feels compelled to take a few practice swings before he finally makes contact. Hence, the nickname "Sundown," as in the time one gets home after a round with Dr. J.

Regarding Sammy Sosa's insistence that he's "ready to come back for the right offer": To quote Jimmy Buffett, and on behalf of all of Major League Baseball, "If the phone doesn't ring, it's me."

George Diaz can be reached at 407-420-5668 and gdiaz@orlandosentinel.com.

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