Shaquille O'Neal knocked Greg Ostertag of the Utah Jazz to the floor Friday because of "testosterone," the 7-1, 315-pound Laker center told the media Sunday.
NBA commissioner David Stern's testosterone - not to mention new zero-tolerance policy with regard to disciplining players - may cost O'Neal a chunk of change and a game or two suspension. A decision by the NBA on how - or if - to discipline O'Neal is expected as early as today.Meanwhile, Ostertag will be in the lineup tonight in the Delta Center when the 1-1 Jazz take on the artists formerly known as the Bullets, the 0-2 Washington Wizards. Tip-off is set for 7.
Gheorghe Muresan, Washington's 7-7 center, will miss the game with a sore right foot. Washington's ex-Michigan duo
of Juwan Howard and Chris Webber at forward, along with guard Rod Strickland, make coach Bernie Bickerstaff's club formidable, however.
O'Neal and Ostertag waged a brief war of words as the Lakers and Jazz passed each other at the shoot-arounds in the Forum Friday. The argument soon turned physical. O'Neal decked his counterpart with an open, cupped left hand to the side of his face. It had enough power behind it to knock the 7-2, 280-pound Ostertag over and his contact lens out of his eye.
O'Neal hasn't shown a great deal of remorse about the incident.
"Maybe it was wrong and maybe it wasn't wrong," O'Neal told the L.A. Times. "I want it to be over with. And it will be over with."
O'Neal didn't play Friday night against the Jazz due to an abdominal strain. Ostertag struggled during the Utah loss, making only 1-of-11 shots.
The Lakers' next game will be Tuesday in Sacramento. O'Neal is questionable against the Kings anyway due to his abdominal strain. Los Angeles plays New York - and center Patrick Ewing - Friday night in the Forum.
If O'Neal is suspended without pay, he would lose $156,794 salary per game.
"Do I regret it?" said O'Neal. "I realize maybe I made a mistake, but I'm at peace with myself. I'm the type of person, I really like to move on."
Said Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, "I think (O'Neal) needs a multiple-game suspension."