A SIDEWAYS GLANCE : SHAQ CAN FILL THE BOX WITH ICE AND SOAK DOWN HIS INJURED HAND.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth

The latest worthless collector's item in the long line of Shaquille O'Neal memorabilia is just a drive-though window away.

Those promotion-conscious folks at Taco Bell just make the Lakers well-exposed center look even more like a huckster than usual. But if this new ``Shaq-Os'' game can improve his free-throw percentage, all the better.

Order a kid's meal at the fast-food chain these days (go ahead, even if you're not a kid - there's no height requirement) and be prepared to have your mini-meal handed to you in one wacky-shaped box that looks like a basketball hoop and net.

Don't throw the box away.

Dig to the bottom (ignore the caution message: ``contents may be hot!'') and get to the plastic circle game pieces with Shaq's face on them - they're called Shaq-Os.

Collect all 24 of 'em if you're so inclined. They come in all sorts of themes, like the ``Hoop-Shootin' Shaq-Os'' (in game uniform, without the trademark Lakers logo), the ``Stylin' Shaq-Os'' (in his trademark TWISM apparel), the ``Actin' Shaq-Os'' (Hollywood Shaq, including his ``Steel'' costume) and ``Singin' Shaq-Os'' (you call it singin', we call it rappin').

Next, poke out the holes on the top of the box.

Split up the Shaq-Os with a pal.

Now start firing them at the box - much like Shaq would do at the free-throw line.

According to the rules on the box, each shot that goes in earns you a letter of Shaq's name. First player to spell ``S-H-A-Q'' wins the game.

And each shot that misses? Hope Campbell or Horry get the rebound and give it back to you.

If the box gets a little beat up, you can always use that old Taco Bell plastic mug to keep playing. You know, the one with Shaq and Hakeem Olajuwon on it, promoting their pay-per-view one-one-one match after the '95 NBA Finals that never materialized.

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PHOTO Taco Bell's latest giveaway, ``Shaq-Os.''