Shaq is back at the Shootout.
For the second year, basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal is appearing at the tournament on the arena's JumboTron, where he is introducing promotions by Shootout title sponsor GCI.
What's the connection?
"I made him a star," joked Paul Landes, senior vice president for GCI.
In truth, GCI is connected to O'Neal through Monster Inc., the maker of headphones, speakers and other accessories. GCI sells Monster products, O'Neal is a spokesman for Monster, so O'Neal taped some promotional spots to help GCI give away Monster products and other prizes at the Shootout.
"We've partnered with (Monster) a whole bunch," Landes said. "We' do produce give-aways every game."
In the first game of the five-day tournament, 3-year-old Aubrey Staples was the winner of an autographed copy of O'Neal's children's book, "Little Shaq."
Evan and Angie Staples brought Aubrey and 1-year-od Marcus to Tuesday's opening round. It's the family's first Shootout.
Aubrey can't read yet, but that's OK. O'Neal's autograph isn't something you can read anyway. It looks like a big, friendly scribble, something right up a 3-year-old's alley.
Thank you for your service
Thanksgiving at the Shootout is Military Appreciation Night.
Members of the Armed Forces and their family members can get discounted tickets to Thursday's games -- which include UAA's 5:30 p.m. tilt against Middle Tennessee -- for $5.
The discounts are being made available by tournament sponsor GCI.
GCI will also provide nearly 1,000 free Shootout tickets to a variety of Alaska non-profits, including Special Olympics, the Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts, the YWCA and others.
Another fan-oriented promotion by GCI is happening in conjunction with Alaska Airlines.
Four families -- from Juneau, Russian Mission, Barrow and Wrangell -- won trips to the tournament in an online contest. During halftime of Saturday's men's championship game, a member from each family will compete in the 1 Million Mile shooting contest, where a million Alaska Airlines miles are at stake.