The Big Aristotle Sees The Big Finish Line

Shaquille O'Neal's time as a dominant force in the NBA ended a good two or three years ago. Unfortunately for Phoenix, he's still owed $40 million over the next two years. Sure, it's possible that pride will eventually eat away at him and force him into early retirement, but from the sounds of things, that's not going to happen. From an interview he gave Wednesday with an Orlando television reporter (via TrueHoop):

"My basketball career will be over in 735 days, and being an educated man, I've always had things to fall back on. So one of my options is law enforcement. But if Jerry Demings is going to be the sheriff I would love to work for him," O'Neal said.

Demings is running for sheriff in Orange County, a candidate that Shaq has officially endorsed. Shaq has talked about a future in law enforcement his entire career, although his post-NBA plans took a hit this summer when he was forced to give up deputy badges in Arizona and Virginia after his now infamous Kobe-inspired freestyle surfaced on the web.

But if he stays out of trouble the next two years (mind you, stealing $40 million from the Suns isn't technically a crime), I'm guessing some law enforcement agency out there will be seduced by his celebrity status and give him a job.