Shaq’s mom writes motivational book

Cleveland — Shaquille O’Neal’s mom has written a tell-all book — about herself.

Inspired and motivated by her superstar son, Lucille O’Neal is promoting, “Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go: From Mental Welfare to Mental Wealth,” a book that chronicles her life as an unwed teen mother, struggles with alcohol and her determination to get a college degree in her 40s.

On Wednesday, with her “little one” Shaquille sitting by her side, Lucille O’Neal signed copies of the book at Quicken Loans Arena before her son’s team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, hosted the Milwaukee Bucks. Shaquille O’Neal is currently sidelined with a thumb injury but is expected to return for the NBA playoffs.

Lucille O’Neal said the book had been “in me for years.” She was motivated to write the book to help inspire others, especially young, unmarried mothers.

Veteran ‘Wire,’ ‘ER’ screenwriter dies

New Orleans — David Mills, a veteran television writer who worked on the award-winning series “ER” and “The Wire,” died after collapsing on the set of his latest production. He was 48.

Mills died Tuesday night in New Orleans, said HBO spokesman Diego Aldana. Doctors at Tulane Medical Center said he suffered a brain aneurism, according to a statement Wednesday from Mills’ latest production, “Treme.”

Mills was on the set of the new HBO series as it filmed a scene at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter when he was stricken and rushed to the hospital where he died without regaining consciousness, the statement said.

“He was an enormous talent,” said David Simon, a co-executive producer with Mills who first met the award-winning writer in the newsroom of their college newspaper. “He loved words and he loved an argument, but not in any angry or mean-spirited way. He loved to argue ideas. He delighted in it, and he was confident that something smarter and deeper always came from a good argument.”

Mills was living in New Orleans while working as a writer and executive producer of the drama set during post-Katrina and slated to premiere on April 11.

Lindsey Vonn gets her ‘Law & Order’ wish

Los Angeles — Lindsey Vonn is going from Olympic star to “Law & Order” bit player and said she’s delighted about it.

“How many people get to appear on their favorite TV show?” Vonn said Wednesday in a statement released by NBC and series creator Dick Wolf.

In the crime drama’s season finale, the skier will play an administrative assistant with a vital clue in a case involving a terrorist, NBC said. She’s set to film her scene with series stars Jeremy Sisto, Anthony Anderson and Alana de la Garza next week in Brooklyn.

The episode, written and directed by executive producer Rene Balcer, will air in May. The date was not announced.

Vonn, who won a gold medal in downhill skiing and captured a bronze in the super-G, announced during the games that she had been invited to take part in “Law & Order.”

The series, in its 20th season, airs Mondays at 9 p.m. CDT.

People: Jesse James seeks professional help

Los Angeles — Jesse James reportedly is seeking professional help to deal with “personal issues” after a cheating scandal that has put his nearly five-year marriage to Sandra Bullock on the line.

His representative told People magazine in a statement Tuesday that James “realized that this time was crucial to help himself, help his family and help save his marriage.”

The representative did not specify the type of treatment facility.

Bullock was on a career high that culminated with an Oscar win for “The Blind Side” just before Internet rumors of James’ infidelity surfaced.

The two walked hand-in-hand down Oscar’s red carpet, celebrated together at the parties afterward and were photographed outside a Long Beach burger joint the day after the awards.