Shaq issues one-on-one challenge _ in spelling, not hoops _ to last year's bee champion
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WASHINGTON (AP) — Basketball great and reality TV star Shaquille O'Neal tried to add another championship title to his resume: spelling champion.
The hoops star challenged last year's champion speller, 14-year-old Kavya Shivashankar, to a spell-off on Friday during a break at Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Reporters weren't allowed to watch. The showdown was taped for O'Neal's "Shaq Vs." reality show.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Beforehand, O'Neal and Kavya exchanged some scripted trash talk. She said she would accept his challenge, warning him she beat Jimmy Kimmel in a similar challenge last year.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked O'Neal. "I did win the National Spelling Bee last year."
"Keep in mind I have my bachelor's and master's, and I'm ready to go," he said.