Aug 26, 2006 7:31 pm US/Eastern
Shaq Attends Opening Of South Florida Gym
PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4/AP) ―
Shaquille O'Neal has enjoyed a peaceful, relatively quiet summer, but he was the main attraction at the grand opening of a gym, the second 24 Hour Fitness club to bear his name.
The 44,000-square-foot facility in Pembroke Pines, about 20 miles north of the Heat's home arena, is dotted with photos of O'Neal, has his voice echoing through it to inspire members, plus has amenities such as racquetball and basketball courts, steam and cycle rooms, and a section just for children.
It's the second 24 Hour Fitness to carry the "Shaq Sport" brand; the first is in Miami's Coconut Grove section, a facility where O'Neal often works out after midnight when the mood strikes.
Other athletes who've partnered with the California-based health company include seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, career grand slam tennis champion Andre Agassi, and NBA great Magic Johnson.
"What makes this place different is one; it's open 24 hours, and two, we make it easy, accessible and fun," O'Neal said after wading his way through fans who packed the building Saturday just to get a glimpse or snap a photo of the 7-foot-1 star. "When I first got into the workout craze in L.A., I'd try to go to the gym and traffic, it'd be murder. Then when I got traded here, I said, 'Let's do this here."'
O'Neal said he'd like to open as many as 40 gyms before his contract with the Heat expires in three years.
24 Hour Fitness, which was founded in 1983, has more than 3 million members and more than 350 clubs in 16 states. O'Neal said two more "Shaq Sport" clubs will open in the Houston area later this year.
"These guys really know what they're doing," O'Neal said. "I wouldn't work with them if I didn't believe they were the best in the business."
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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