Phoenix center calls fouls “cowardly.” Will he perform an embarrassing freestyle about Tim Duncan? Will he try and have Spurs arrested upon retiring and embarking on his law enforcement career? Nobody knows for certain – but Shaquille O’Neal says that he’ll get even with San Antonio for using the so-called “Hack-a-Shaq” foul strategy in last season’s playoff games. “The only thing I call cowardly is when you’re up by 10 and do it,” Shaq tells Phoenix radio station KTAR. “That’s a coward move and (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) knows that, and I’ll make them pay for it.” “Hack-a-Shaq” has been a common defensive strategy by teams who want to slow down O’Neal’s scoring by sending him to the free throw line, in hopes that he’ll shoot poorly.

Baseball great undergoes knee surgery. Ken Griffey Jr.’s got a new team, but he underwent knee surgery using his old club’s doctor this week. Griffey, who was traded from Cincinnati to the Chicago White Sox this season, had an arthroscopic procedure performed after twice having his left knee drained this year. “There’s no question,” Dr. Tim Kremchek tells the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It affected that push-off leg. How much, I don’t know. But he was dealing with it all year. There’s not much you can do early in the season.”

 Chicago star slams his 610^th homer. Ken Griffey Jr. is in the top five of all-time home run hitters after passing Sammy Sosa. Griffey broke his tie with Sosa by slamming number 610 versus Minnesota. “The most important thing is the team,” he says. “I probably would’ve been a little more excited if we won, but we didn’t.” Minnesota beat the Sox 9-3 Tuesday. “You guys have known me long enough (to know) that I’m not going to sugarcoat things,” Griffey adds. “We need to win.” His accomplishment leaves him 50 home runs behind Willie Mays, who holds the fourth-place spot.