Jazz F Karl Malone declined to participate in a live
interview on NBA.com TV at the NBA Store when the Jazz
traveled to the N.Y. area this week, according to Steve Luhm
of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Given the NBA's recent $7,500
fine and one-game suspension of Malone for "backhanding"
Mavericks F Christian Laettner, the request by the league
for a personal appearance "touched a nerve." Malone "and
everybody else in the Jazz organization" felt Mavericks
Owner Mark Cuban had "badgered the league into action for an
offense that did not warrant a suspension." Malone,
speaking through Jazz Dir of PR Kim Turner, said, "After all
that has happened -- all the things that have come up lately
-- they still called up and asked me if I'd help them out.
No, no, no. Absolutely not. I have no desire to do
something like that. There have been plenty of times when
I've made appearances for the NBA. But I'm one of those old
has-beens now. So I don't think it would be appropriate."
Instead of Malone, Gs Bryon Russell and DeShawn Stevenson
did the appearance yesterday (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 11/28).
