SHAQ OUT AND RUNNING?

Byline: JOHN KLIMA

"To be, or not to be, fat?" Shaquille O'Neal asked viewers every week at the start of his fitness reality show. "That is what the program is about!"

The show began with O'Neal bellowing a question, performing as he does. The funny thing about Shaq, however, is that the purpose of the entertainment is usually as complex as he is.

Perhaps there was something written on the flip side of the script. The question revolves not around running for fitness, but for office.

"To run, or not to run?" one might ask. "Is that what the program is about?"

Since Shaq has so much experience playing politics with the likes of Kobe, Phil and Jerry, it only made sense that these skills would surface in another way.

His show, "Shaq's Big Challenge," which concluded last week with six overweight children losing a ton of weight and swearing off fast food (they say) forever, is a sign that Shaq's days of politics and entertainment may not be over.

This is not to say the guy didn't seem genuinely concerned. It was clear much thought, money and time went into his crusade to tell kids that they are too fat without being a bully. Not every fat kid has a Shaq. Not all fat kids have a coach run with them through the neighborhood until they are ready to go it alone for the rest of their lives.

This is important. Public schools will always be stretched thin. Eating healthy is more difficult and more expensive than many families can deal with. Shaq may have unveiled his future platform.

He may have indicated his intent when he suggested that all levels of government should work together to stay closer on social issues. It sounded distinctly Democratic. The smartest aspect of Shaq choosing obese kids is that he picked a platform that everyone can get behind. This is an era when any stance is subject to a beat down, an era when discussion is confused with dissent, when disagreement is not considered critical thinking, but an attack. Division has become a way of life.

If it takes a 7-foot black basketball player with a smile that transcends race and economic status, then so be it.

Shaq's show displayed the hallmarks of a politician. He assembled his cabinet, which is a fancy word for a posse, consisting of a trainer, a chef, a nutritionist, two doctors and a motivational speaker.

Shaq also showed that he's perfect to be a politician, which is to say, not above a little bribery.

When he wanted the kids to make weight goals at the midway mark, he promised them the special treatment at a Miami Heat game, and delivered. We all know that six children chilling in the luxury suites with the Heat girls is only routine for middle school kids in Shaq's world.

The culmination of this six-episode experiment had Shaq going to the governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, to get his programs instated in Florida schools. You have to love how Crist looked eager to please.

Shaq is not the first athlete to take the platform afforded by celebrity. If he chooses this path when his playing days are over, then he may very well have used this reality show as more than just another six-show summer replacement contract. He used it as a prelude.

You could envision Shaq using this show as a springboard to something more than a means to motivate children and their parents. You could foresee him using this as one of his core platforms, one that doesn't divide but unites between local, state and federal governments as well as people of varying viewpoints.

Maybe this is what the country needs.

Maybe if Shaq becomes president, we should get rid of "Hail to the Chief" and replace it with something Jay-Z wrote.

Instead of peace talks being held at a neutral site -- well, come to think of it, peace talks are something we haven't seen in a while -- Shaq should just pull his NBA contacts and invite all the world leaders to his crib in Miami.

Better yet -- this is the way you get NBA fan Kim Jong Ill of North Korea to the table -- promise season tickets to any team of his choice if he stops playing horse with the nuclear weapons.

Think Shaq wouldn't get tough? When the formerly fat kids tried to whine their way out of working out, Shaq sicked his trainer on them. The dude looked mean but turned out to be a Teddy Bear.

Think of the debates. Honestly, what politician has had more mic time than Shaq? OK, the moment his opponent breaks out that film clip from "Kazaam," he might be in trouble, but Shaq can always say, hey, I did play with Kobe for years.

There's little doubt that Shaq is at home with his kids and isn't afraid to be one at heart. This is another reason why politics would be perfect for him. It's a business filled with children, bickering and arguing, and making rules, but more often, trying to break them.

He'd be perfect for that. Just don't ask him to settle the problems in the Middle East by shooting free throws.

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If Shaquille O'Neal can get overweight kids in shape, imagine what other things he might be able to accomplish.

Andrew Bernstein/Getty Images