UPDATE: Shaq has since walked back his comments, noting that he was making jokes to be "the life of the party."

“Everyone knows LSU is the most honorable university ... ever,” he said. “Everyone also knows I don’t sell my soul for anything.

“Everybody knows the relationship me and Dale Brown have, and the love we share for each other,” O’Neal added. “Something like that would never happen.”

ORIGINAL: Shaquille O'Neal told the Los Angeles Times yesterday that "they paid very well" during his years as star of the LSU Tigers' basketball team. O'Neal made his comment at the Lakers' annual "All-Access" event for fans at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Lakers beat reporter Mike Bresnahan quotes the former Laker as saying about his time at LSU..."Yes, they paid very well. Statute of limitations is up. I can talk about it." Then he added, "Snitches get stitches . . . what can I say?"

The story is posted at the Los Angeles Times web page.

Shaquille O'Neal brought LSU to new heights during his three years with the Tigers and the 7-1 center became a national celebrity in the days of saturation coverage of basketball by the media. But he earned his celebrity status with great play and an intimidation factor that made him the envy of coaches throughout the country. But... at what price?

LSU erected a statue on campus in his honor in 2011.

O'Neal recently weighed in on the LSU football team's status, saying head coach Nick Saban would’ve stayed at LSU and led the Tigers to Alabama-like status, if only LSU had paid him more money. He made the comments on an episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq. (The Advocate)

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