"So let the sideshow begin. Hurry, hurry, step right on in."

Appropriately enough, there's a huge blue-and-gold circus tent outside Staples Center right now. But don't think that the show will stop when the Cirque du Soleil leaves town.

As if the addition of future Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Karl Malone to O'Neal and Kobe Bryant would not attract enough attention, the whole saga will be played under the specter of a sexual assault charge against Bryant.

Along with the usual assortment of Laker beat reporters heading to Hawaii at the end of the month, national sportswriters from Associated Press, USA Today and television crews from shows such as "Access Hollywood" and "Extra" will make the trip. Everywhere they go this year, the Lakers can expect an abundance of fans, media and maybe even protesters.

O'Neal has experienced NBA Finals, All-Star games and even a stint with Dennis Rodman ? and he knows they were nothing like what's in store.

"My life has always been crazy, but it's been basketball crazy," O'Neal said. "Of course, this year it's going to be off-the-court crazy. We have to develop a simple system and stick with that."