Back when Shaquille O’Neal was in his NBA playing days and couldn’t seem to sink a foul shot to save his life, there were plenty of coaches and fans who likely could have used a drink after watching him botch another attempt. Shaq has since retired from playing the game, of course, but he’s still ready to help people find a drink, though in a totally different way this time.

O’Neal is about to launch his own line of vodkas, the New York Post reports, that will be coconut-flavored, sugar- and gluten-free, hit store shelves early in 2013 and be called “Luv Shaq.” (One wonders how the B52’s are taking this.)

Drew Adelman, the founder of Devotion Vodka, which will produce the Shaq-branded sugar-free and gluten-free liquor, says that the plan is to go up against Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Ciroc vodka. Devotion was also responsible for a vodka that had Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s name on it.

O’Neal, who now makes big bucks as an analyst on TNT’s Inside the NBA, has been on a self-promotion bender this year — or as he calls them on his Twitter bio, "random acts of Shaqness."Continue reading...

Just when you thought that America had sustained the biggest blow to traditional sensibilities about retailing, with the encroachment of Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day, comes this news: Macy's is opening 24 hours a day for Christmas shopping!

That's right, the venerable retailer — one of the last remaining stalwarts of the mainstream-department-store business — is going totally mass-merchandiser on us by caving to the manic demands of U.S. consumers. Macy's will open most of its stores for 48 hours straight for its last scheduled One Day sale in the weekend before Christmas. The sale will start at 7 a.m. on Friday, December 21, and run through 7 a.m. on Sunday, December 23.

"We hope to make it easy for our customers across the country to finish their shopping at any time of day or night," stated Peter Sachse, Macy's chief stores officer. You've got to believe, kids!Continue reading...

Google taps David Beckham to promote Google+ as company grapples with social search fallout, and apologizes for Kenyan flub.

Apple's iPad 3 expected to go on sale in March with HD screen and faster chip. Apple also joined the Fair Labor Association, opening suppliers' doors to labor rights watchdog in transparency response to Foxconn fears — the first tech brand to do so.

Bentley courts Maybach fans including Jay-Z — who has just signed on as the face of (and an investor in) Duracell.

British films to be pitched as a global brand.

BT will offer free Wi-Fi at London Olympic Games.

Disney Studios quickly fills CMO position.

Dr Pepper brand name is removed from Texas town.

Easyjet fined for barring disabled passengers.

Excedrin recall expands to Canada.

Olivia Munn strips off for PETA.Continue reading...

His fashion brand is called Sean John, while personally he's been known as Puff, Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy, King Combs, and even by his real name, Sean Combs. Now, he'd like to be known by another name — "Swag." But only for one week. Mr. Combs explains the temporary rebranding above.

P&G acquired Natura Pet Foods; also faces US investigation over Pampers Dry Max as brand prepares to launch in the UK. Other brands in the headlines:

Adobe's CTO weighs in on Apple spat.

Blockbuster releases open API to spur distribution.

Conan O'Brien chats up YouTube and Google staffers.

Diddy's Sean John line will be exclusively carried by Macy's.

FCC to overhaul US Internet rules.Continue reading...