Inside ‘Schollmaier Live’ and how TCU landed Diesel ... aka Shaquille O’Neal
When you pay for Shaquille O’Neal, you’re going to get Shaq. Or maybe the Big Aristotle. Or maybe Superman. Or the Big Daddy. Or … Diesel?
Possibly a combination of all the above.
TCU and Fort Worth is going to find out on Friday night as O’Neal is the headliner for “Schollmaier Live,” the school’s kickoff event for the basketball programs.
Yes, O’Neal has added another layer to his vast resume ranging from Hall of Fame basketball player to rapper to TV broadcaster to now a DJ that goes by ‘Diesel.’
TCU jumped at the opportunity when it discovered the 7-foot-1 O’Neal would be available for the kickoff event that is open and free to the public. It’s scheduled to run from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday at Schollmaier Arena.
“I am thrilled that we could tip-off the season with such a great entertainer and ambassador for the game of basketball,” TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said. “We looked at a lot of different options and felt he would appeal to our fan base and students better than the others could. The initial response from our fans has been incredible.”
O’Neal is one of the rare athletes that has managed to stay in the spotlight well after his playing days. It’s been almost two decades since he won the NBA’s MVP award in 2000, 13 years since he last won an NBA championship in 2006 and a decade since last being an NBA All-Star in 2009.
But O’Neal has become a popular analyst on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” and is a spokesman for a seemingly endless list of companies. Oh, and he isn’t afraid to create a stir in the music industry such as a recent rap beef with Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.
O’Neal ranks as one of the more prominent sports stars to crossover into the music industry with success. O’Neal gets mocked at times for his rap career, but this is a guy who released five studio albums and one compilation album with his crew the Fu-Schnickens.
Plenty of athletes shy away from the music industry with one failed attempt such as Deion Sanders, Kobe Bryant, Chris Webber and Allen Iverson.
But O’Neal has persevered through it all and is now booking gigs as ‘Diesel.’ TCU associate athletics director for marketing and licensing Julie Austin compared O’Neal’s show to what you might find in a Las Vegas nightclub.
“We reached out to our partners at student activities with our budget and genre we were looking for and they came back with, ‘What about Shaq?’” Austin said. “It was the best of both worlds. A DJ, Shaq, basketball, great name, great brand.
“It’s been a really good reaction so far.”
Added Brad Thompson, who works in student activities at TCU: “When trying to think through an artist for Schollmaier Live, Shaq was just an obvious choice because of his name recognition and his connection to basketball. We worked really closely with our partners in athletics to find a suitable artist for this event that would appeal both to students, alumni and Frog fans.”
The news of O’Neal headlining the kickoff event certainly excited the men’s and women’s coaching staffs and players. O’Neal remains a larger than life figure.
TCU men’s coach Jamie Dixon feels O’Neal represents everything that is good with basketball, too, given his background in education and earning a doctorate degree.
“He’s an impressive person besides the basketball,” Dixon said. “I met him a few years ago doing some TV stuff, and he really represents the good things about basketball. I think it’s a great fit.”
About Schollmaier Live
When: Friday
Where: Schollmaier Arena
Time: 8:30 p.m. -- 10 p.m.
Doors: 8 p.m.
Admission: Free
What: Hosted by DJ Diesel, aka Shaquille O’Neal, the kickoff event will feature the men’s and women’s programs in shooting contests, dunk contests and more.
FYI: TCU’s clear-bag policy will be enforced
