Born on March 6, 1972, Shaquille O'Neal stands 7'1" tall and weighs 325 lbs. He attended college at Louisiana State and currently plays for the NBA's Miami Heat. During his collegiate years, O'Neal thrived at basketball. Among his many recognitions, Shaq, as he is often referred, was named as college basketball's Player of the Year by the Associated Press and became the first Louisiana State University athlete to be named Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year. After his junior year, Shaquille O'Neal left college in an effort to become an early entry candidate in the NBA Draft.

During his 14 year career in the NBA, Shaquille O'Neal has received many honors and achieved amazing feats as one of the most popular players in the league. During his rookie year in the 1992-1993 season, Shaquille O'Neal was named as the NBA Rookie of the Year and was added to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after an impressive 23.4 points per game average. In 1994, he was a member of the World Championship team in Toronto and proudly played with the U.S. Olympic team, which won a gold medal, in 1996.

Several years and many points later, Shaquille O'Neal received the 1999-2000 IBM Award, which was concluded by a computerized rating that assessed a player's contribution to the team. During the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, Shaq tallied 22 points and nine rebounds, which earned him the title of Co-MVP. Shaq is a nine-time All-Star selection, a two-time NBA All Defensive Second Team selection, a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection, three-time All-NBA Third Team selection and a four-time All-NBA First Team selection. As voted by the media, Shaquille O'Neal was named the 1999-2000 Most Valuable Player. Additionally, he was chosen as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.

In addition to his popularity on the court, Shaquille O'Neal has made a terrific name for himself outside of basketball. He and wife, Shaunie, have three sons and two daughters. He received a business degree from Louisiana State University in 2000 and received a masters degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix in 2005. His autobiography was released in 2001 and, since then, he has authored two books. He owns a record label and clothing line and has sold more than one million copies of his own debut album. Shaq is one of the NBA's most active players in the community and has founded his own organization, known as Real Model Foundation. He has been a national spokesman for Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. and regularly participates in visits through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His services to the community are many and his fans are forever reminded that inside of this powerhouse athlete beats the heart of a true humanitarian.

Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Shaquille O'Neal their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. Letters and requests should be mailed to:

Shaquille O'Neal

Miami Heat

American Airlines Arena

601 Biscayne Blvd.

Miami, FL 33132