@SHAQ lands a new gig

Shaquille O’Neal would have been a TV-ready personality upon retiring even if Twitter had not come along. But there is no question The Big Tweet enhanced his brand as a pioneering user, having built a following of 4 million-plus.

Given his history on the site, it was appropriate that Turner Sports announced the addition of O’Neal Thursday, one day before Twitter marked its fifth anniversary.

Five years! It seems longer ago than that that athletes usually needed a middleman like a journalist to share thoughts with the public that got themselves into hot water.

This system is far more efficient.