A few weeks ago some pictures showed up on the a bunch of internet message boards, (including the InsideHoops.com forums) showing Shaquille O'Neal in a parking lot in Scottsdale, Arizona, taking a picture with a young male fan. And then more photos showed Shaq inside a tiny Honda, barely able to fit inside, being driven, according to the story, to where his car was parked, far outside of that parking lot.

Well, InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner was with Shaq on Saturday, March 29 and the giant Phoenix Suns center confirmed the story is true.

InsideHoops.com: There were some pictures posted on some internet message boards, including InsideHoops.com's, showing two young people, a guy and a girl, who apparently gave you a quick lift in a parking lot over to where your car was. They definitely looked real and I wanted to hear direct from you what happened.

Shaquille O'Neal: Yeah, that was real. I bought this big-ass truck in Phoenix, and I was meeting my wife to get something to eat. I couldn't park it there, so I had to park way across the street, and you know it's hot as hell in Phoenix. So this kid wanted an autograph, and I told him, 'if you want an autograph you have to give me a ride,' so he gave me a ride across the street.

InsideHoops.com: Haha, cool, because they absolutely looked real.

Shaquille O'Neal: Yeah, they're real.

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Now, you'll note Shaq told InsideHoops.com he was meeting up with "his wife." I listened to my recording about 15 times in a row to make sure I heard it correctly, and it definitely was what I posted above. The obvious assumption is that he's referring to his ex-wife, Shaunie. They have children together, so I'm sure they're in touch. I don't know more than that, and didn't ask Shaq about it.

The pictures are in lots of places, but you can see them here.