Shaq issues a one-on-one challenge... in spelling
O'Neal takes on last year's champ in Washington DC
Posted: 06/04/2010
WASHINGTON - Basketball great Shaquille O'Neal will try to add another championship title to his resume: spelling champion.
The hoops star challenged last year's Scripps National Spelling Bee champion, 14-year-old Kavya Shivashankar, to a spell-off on Friday.
O'Neal made an impromptu appearance at the hotel where the bee is under way this week. He challenged Shivashankar onstage after the sixth round of semifinals. She accepted his challenge, even allowing him two misspelled words, warning him she beat Jimmy Kimmel in a similar challenge last year.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked O'Neal, the tallest person in the ballroom. "I did win the national spelling bee last year."
"Keep in mind I have my bachelor's and master's, and I'm ready to go," he said.
For more on the spelling bee, check out our special section.
------------------------------
Shaq's spelling association comes from these two brilliant ESPN commercials, check them out:
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
PRINT
Water Cooler News
-
Pregnant woman accused of driving drunk
A six-months pregnant woman is accused of drunken driving after she was pulled over for speeding and found with an open bottle of vodka, police said.
-
Teen arrested, expelled for relationship
-
Pat Robertson offers cheating advice
-
VIDEO: Car plunges into hotel pool
-
17 dumped puppies saved from roadside
Education News
-
1,900 new computers donated to students
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District showed off 1,900 new computers Tuesday, thanks to a generous donation by KeyBank.
-
Norovirus outbreak cancels more classes
Brunswick High School is the latest school to shut down, as the district battles a highly contagious norovirus.
-
Brunswick schools closed for norovirus
-
Teacher donates hair before marathon
-
HS student who shot self improves
-
Man killed by police officer had BB gun
-
In-state tuition for OH students voting
Consumer News
-
Will insurance go up after tornadoes?
Would you be covered if a storm or other damage hit your home? The simple steps you can take to protect your home.
-
CLE will soon add more red-light cameras
-
App stores all your loyalty cards
-
Swimming pool on hold for bad concrete
-
Why are gas prices so high in NE Ohio?
