He expects the Suns will rise

The Phoenix Suns got a lot of negative feedback after trading for Shaquille O’Neal. But not everyone has that perspective.

Consider what Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Mike Brown told Craig Shemon and James Washington on their Fox Sports radio network show.

“That’s a great trade for Phoenix,” Brown said. “It’s going to bring another dimension to that team.

“They’re still going to be able to run. They’re still going to be able to shoot threes. They’re going to be able to play two styles of basketball. Because when Shaq is not in the game I’m sure they’ll play one way, and when he’s on the floor they’ll play another.”

Could it be Brown had such nice things to say because he doesn’t want to get on O’Neal’s bad side in case his team and the Suns meet in the NBA Finals?

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Trivia time

When O’Neal signed with the Lakers on July 18, 1996, for $120 million over seven years, it was the richest contract in sports history. At the time, who was the highest-paid NFL player and what was his contract worth?

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Karl’s kernel of wisdom

Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl, while discussing the O’Neal trade on the same Fox Sports radio show: “I have a conspiracy theory that all East Coast teams dump all their good players out West here. I have no idea why. They all like rebuilding in the East. And the guys out in the West keep picking up better players.”

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A cold shot

From comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “Now when Shaq gets to the free-throw line he will still be cold, but it will be a dry cold.”

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More cold humor

The final edition of “Inside the NFL” after a 31-year run on HBO last week looked back at the Super Bowl.

At the top of the highlights package, NFL Films microphones captured referee Mike Carey greeting New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin.

“How’s the frostbite?” Carey asked, referring to the NFC championship game played two weeks earlier in Green Bay. “That was pretty cold, wasn’t it?”

Coughlin: “At least they’re talking about my face this year. Last year it was my . . . “

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New statistical categories

The Boston Herald broke down Tom Brady’s Super Bowl record by girlfriend. It reads:

Bridget Moynahan, 2-0

Laura Kinsman, 1-0

Gisele Bundchen, 0-1.

And a poster making the rounds on the Internet shows a dejected Brady. The caption reads: “Arrogance, 18-1”

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Ring count

It was pointed out on Fox’s Super Bowl pregame show that analysts Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson have a combined seven rings. Frank Caliendo, impersonating Dr. Phil at the time, countered with, “Ten, if you count Terry’s wedding rings.”

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Barkley’s logic

An item in Friday’s Morning Briefing about Charles Barkley’s changing his mind and making the wrong Super Bowl bet might make one wonder why he loves to gamble.

Here’s the reason he gave on HBO’s “Costas Now” in December, besides saying it’s fun and exciting:

“I don’t want to leave all that money to my free-loading family. I mean, you take care of your family, you build them all those houses and give them all cars. Then when you die they live happily ever after. That ain’t cool. I want to be like dead broke when I keel over.”

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Trivia answer

Troy Aikman had an eight-year deal worth a guaranteed $50 million, making him the highest-paid NFL player at the time. The highest-paid baseball player at the time was Barry Bonds, who had a six-year, $43.75-million deal.

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And finally

Steve Rosenbloom of ChicagoSports.com, on reports that former trainer Brian McNamee handed over syringes and vials used to inject Roger Clemens that he’d saved for years: “Remember when people just collected autographs and pictures?”

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larry.stewart@latimes.com