"It wasn't going to be a standard retirement announcement. Instead, it was part going-away party, part memory-lane stroll, part comedy routine.

Shaquille O'Neal sat at a stage yesterday in his suburban Orlando, Fla., home in front of the media and a televised audience he had invited as if they were lifelong friends.

"First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming out,'' he said. "Appreciate you guys very, very much. Never thought this day would come. Father time has finally caught up with Shaquille O'Neal. I just want to say . . . ''

He cut the sentence short when someone approached to hand him a cellphone. He put it to his ear.

"Who's this?''

Phil Jackson? Pat Riley? Who knew, really?

"Yes?''

It had become a conversation.

"For real.''

The facial expressions continued.

"You want me to come up and apply for the New York Knick general manager job?'' he said, finally letting everyone in on the joke. "OK, sure. I'll be up right after the press conference.

"That was the president of the Knicks. He wanted me to fly up right after the press conference to apply for the general manager job.''

The 39-year-old O'Neal, who posted on Twitter Wednesday his intention to retire after 19 NBA seasons, clearly is keeping his options open. And with the announcement yesterday that Donnie Walsh will not return as the Knicks' top basketball executive, O'Neal used the opportunity to have a little fun with the news."