People in the news

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Yo-Yo Ma began what he called a root-searching tour with concerts in Taiwan and his father's hometown in China and played J.S. Bach - one of the first composers the cellist learned to play.

Ma, whose 50th birthday was last month, said he began learning cello at the age of 4 with his father in Paris by playing Bach's suites. The family later moved to New York.

"After reaching 50, I began to wonder what the root of life is," he said Sunday.

Ma said that as a child he didn't enjoy practicing the cello very much.

"I still don't like practicing so much now, but I could bear with it if music helps me find my roots," he said.

After two concerts in Taiwan Sunday and Monday, Ma is to play in Hong Kong, Shanghai and his father's hometown of Ningbo in eastern China.

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MIAMI (AP) - Shaquille O'Neal is apparently preparing to become a father for the sixth time.

Shaunie O'Neal, the wife of the Miami Heat center and 12-time All-Star, told Miami television station WFOR on Sunday that she is three months pregnant.

She told the TV station the couple doesn't know if they're having a boy or a girl.

The couple, who married in 2002, already are raising three sons and two daughters. They have had three children together and two are from his previous relationships.

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CINCINNATI (AP) - Bootsy Collins is showing off his signature funk in a tribute song to his hometown football team.

Dressed in an orange leather hat, jacket and wide-legged pants, Collins, 54, shot a music video Friday for the Cincinnati Bengals song, "Fear Da Tiger," which was released last month.

The song includes three players, Duane Clemons, Ben Wilkerson and Stacy Andrews, rapping lyrics they wrote.

The video, scheduled to air for the first time during the Bengals' next home game on Nov. 20, will feature several players showing off their dance moves with orange tackling dummies.

Collins, who wore the jersey of quarterback Carson Palmer under his leather outfit, has played bass for James Brown and Parliament/Funkadelic. He said he hopes the video will convey a positive image of the city.

"The Bengals are doing their part," he said. "I'm just trying to do mine."

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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ho ho ho and goodbye.

Johnny Grant, who ran the Hollywood Christmas Parade for 22 years, said this will be his last season as executive producer.

"I just think it's time to step aside and let some young blood come in," Grant, 82, told the Los Angeles Times.

The man dubbed the honorary mayor of Hollywood ran the Hollywood Boulevard parade from 1978 to 1988. He helped round up celebrities and marching bands and arranged for movie studios to sponsor floats.

He left the job for five years to pursue other activities but the parade faltered. Last year, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce asked Grant to return.

This year's parade will be held Nov. 27 and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will be the grand marshal. Some cast members from TV's "Lost" and "Malcolm in the Middle" will take part in the nationally televised event.

Chamber of Commerce Vice President Todd Lindgren will take over when Grant leaves.