Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes: It's going on six years now.

He's been there longer than he was here.

"Until we win a championship, there absolutely will always be the 'How could you lose Shaq' syndrome around here," Magic Coach Doc River acknowledged Wednesday, just a few hours before Shaq's Lakers dismantled his Magic 111-93. "People will always throw that in our face."

In the years since he left, the emotions have changed. Orlando has gone from defiance (we will show him), to anger (we will boo him), to sadness (we will mourn him).

When he was introduced Wednesday, there were nearly as many cheers as jeers. After leading the Lakers to back-to-back championships, Shaq's return here now is more torture than treason.

This is like seeing an old girlfriend six years later -- and she is more beautiful than ever and married to Freddie Prinze Jr.

As he trotted off the court, a fan held up a sign that said, "Lakers Tear Down The House That Shaq Built."

They don't hate Shaq around here anymore.

They just miss him. Much like Toronto misses Tracy McGrady.