O’Neal, their prize asset, was despatched to McKechnie’s clinic in Vancouver for an professional opinion.
Endurance, it transpired, was not O’Neal’s advantage.
“I get this name from the limo driver, from his safety folks, saying ‘we’re coming’,” recollects McKechnie. “I’m going, ‘sorry, I am unable to see you till 1.30’. They go, ‘we might like to return now’.
“I stated, ‘it’s important to sit and wait. I’ve obtained folks right here I am working with. I am unable to simply stroll away’.”
They hung up. 1.30 got here and went. O’Neal’s occasion had pivoted and flown again to Los Angeles.
The subsequent day, LA Lakers orthopaedic surgeon Steve Lombardo rang McKechnie to apologise and requested if he would see O’Neal the next week, and whether or not he would come into downtown Vancouver for the session.
The response was terse. “No, Shaq can see me at my clinic. Finish of story.”
It turned out they felt it was well worth the effort.
“In comes Shaquille with bodyguards, buddies, coaches, trainers – I used to be simply inundated with folks,” says McKechnie.
“The massive fella got here in and we sat down. I am pondering this might go any means, in any path, at this level.”
The prescribed Core-X therapy programme – primarily based on making certain alignment between muscle mass in numerous elements of the physique – was unconventional on the time.
However it labored wonders. O’Neal was quickly again in motion for the Lakers with out having surgical procedure.
“He introduced me again,” the grateful O’Neal stated. “I used to be lifeless, and he introduced me again.”
A mere 4 days after the preliminary session, McKechnie was flown to Los Angeles and a pitch delivered to retain his unique use all through the demanding NBA season.
Accepting the job supply meant a change of tempo – however all-areas entry inside one in all world sport’s most well-known and glamourous golf equipment.
