Lakers Shaquille O'Neal married in private ceremony

Friday December 27, 2002

LOS ANGELES (AP) Lakers big man Shaquille O'Neal took the big plunge and married his longtime girlfriend Shaunie Nelson in a ceremony shrouded in secrecy.

Those present at Thursday's event at The Beverly Hills Hotel said the couple exchanged vows in front of friends and O'Neal's teammates. A television news helicopter managed to capture film of O'Neal standing with his bride as they prepared to take their vows.

The ballroom of the hotel was trimmed in white roses and lace for the occasion, and Nelson appeared in a silver wedding gown with a long veil and an elegant headpiece.

``The wedding was absolutely beautiful,'' O'Neal's uncle Michael Parris told the Daily News of Los Angeles. ``It was a very traditional wedding. It was a very intimate gathering.''

O'Neal had declined to discuss his wedding plans after practice Thursday, and his teammates wouldn't say much more.

``We know, and it's only for us,'' said Lakers forward Mark Madsen as he left the team's practice facility in nearby El Segundo.

``Since we didn't find out until the last minute what was going on, I didn't know it was black tie,'' said Lakers guard Brian Shaw.

Security was tight around the hotel where plainclothes guards began chasing out reporters and photographers during the afternoon.

Nelson and the 30-year-old O'Neal have two children together and two from prior relationships. They are expecting a boy in May.

The three-time defending NBA champion Lakers don't play again until Saturday night at Denver.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)