Shaq: I'm the emperor of big men

Shaq is back. Calling himself the still-reigning "emperor of big men," Shaquille O'Neal may or may not be ready to retire in two years, as speculation has suggested. "You'll know when I'm gonna retire," Shaq said. "There's going to be parties and gifts at the end of the games." Meanwhile, O'Neal reported to camp at a fit-and-trim 330 pounds (hey, it's Shaq we're talking about). Then he began getting himself and rookie center Robin Lopez into game shape. "It gives you a lot of confidence playing against somebody that big every day in practice," Lopez said. "You know you're not going to face someone who knows as much about the game as he does." Power forward Amare Stoudemire can relate. "What I noticed about playing with Shaq last year was that he is a real center," Stoudemire said, "and I was not."