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One mistake in this article is that Buck goes on the premise that Vanessa told the story that Malone said "little mexican girls" and that it might not be true. But it wasn't Vanessa who said that -- it was Manley, Malone's own agent.
Harvey: Spurs' edge: Malone needs a happy ending
Web Posted: 12/14/2004 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...y.4cfe660.html
If I'm the Spurs, I wince.
Karl Malone wouldn't have been easy to sell to Spurs fans anyway. His "I'm hunting for little, Mexican girls" just made it impossible
But if I'm the Spurs, I consider the source of this story, as well as how this would alter Malone if he plays in San Antonio.
A seamy exit from Los Angeles would have followed a sour one from Salt Lake City. Malone won't like the pattern, and what it says about him, and he will be determined to have a happy ending.
If I'm the Spurs, I see this as helpful — when Gregg Popovich tries to coach Malone.
Some fans will howl at the thought of Malone in a Spurs uniform, especially after the recent installment of the L.A. soap opera. It wasn't enough that Malone once decked David Robinson with an elbow or that he eliminated the Spurs several times from the playoffs. He had to try to join the happy Bryant family.
Vanessa Bryant's version doesn't describe either a good teammate or a good husband. Malone, she said through an agent, came on to her.
It's happened before. A Spurs locker room, years ago, went through the same, sad tension.
No one really knows what athletes are like, just as no one really knew about Kobe before the summer of 2003. But this goes against Malone's track record. He fathered two kids out of wedlock when he was a kid himself, but those who have known him in the NBA never saw this side.
The details don't make much sense, either. Malone chose to make a pass at Vanessa with a child in tow, in an arena, knowing the history of this family?
Vanessa, part Hispanic, says Malone used the "little, Mexican girls" phrase, and she also said Malone asked if she would come give him a big hug during a game. "If you do that," Malone told her, "it will be on the cover of every magazine in the country."
Was Malone being serious? Or playful? As Kobe himself described the relationship between the Bryants and the Malones: "We've been out to their house, just joking around, giving each other a hard time, just clowning, being sarcastic with one another, baby-sitting kids and all that."
That sounds like two couples who can say almost anything to each other. The issue, then, might be Vanessa, married at 17, sheltered by fame and still reeling from her own relationship trauma.
She has shown signs of instability before. Last season, with her husband awaiting a sexual assault trial, Vanessa wore a shirt to a Lakers game that featured two words.
One word can be printed in a newspaper ("fashionable"), and one cannot. The obscenity was more offensive than anything Malone reportedly said.
As for Kobe being outraged someone would flirt with his wife: There's a family in Colorado that doesn't empathize.
Either way, none of it does much for Malone's reputation, especially in South Texas where's he long been a villain. But everyone in San Antonio should understand the hoop reality, that signing Malone is a no-brainer for the Spurs.
The money would be miniscule by NBA standards, with the league itself picking up a portion. And if Malone is anything like he was a year ago, he would add something.
Remember the defense he played on Tim Duncan? He did the same against Kevin Garnett. It's no coincidence the Lakers fell apart after Malone hurt his knee in the Finals.
Malone would contribute without scoring, and there also would be nights when his jumper would make a difference. His 30 points in a playoff game last spring against Houston were just that.
But everything wouldn't be good. There would be nights when Popovich would yell at him, as Popovich yells at everyone. There are no guarantees Malone would fit with Popovich's defensive schemes.
There also would be nights when Robert Horry or Malik Rose would be better. Malone took less money and less of the stage last season with the Lakers, but he's never had to deal with sitting.
There could be flashes of anger no matter what. But if there's an incentive for Malone to calm down — to accept his role on a deep team that could win a championship without him — it stems from disappointments elsewhere.
If I'm the Spurs, I see this.
Malone would want a ring. But he will need to leave a city without a sour taste, with good feelings, for once.
One mistake in this article is that Buck goes on the premise that Vanessa told the story that Malone said "little mexican girls" and that it might not be true. But it wasn't Vanessa who said that -- it was Manley, Malone's own agent.
Kori said:
Is this contradicted by the Mike Monroe article you just posted?One mistake in this article is that Buck goes on the premise that Vanessa told the story that Malone said "little mexican girls" and that it might not be true. But it wasn't Vanessa who said that -- it was Manley, Malone's own agent.
I'm confused about all this, the He Said, She Said stuff, whether what was said was intended to be sexual or innocent jest, or whatever.Karl did not do what he was accused of," Manley told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. "He never hit on (Bryant's) wife. This is a soap opera that is affecting the best power forward ever and a gigantic franchise. Karl did not want to get sucked into it as much as he has. It's all the Bryants' soap opera.
"It's a personal matter between Kobe and his wife, and Karl got drawn into it like a pawn."
I'm assuming that Buck Harvey thinks Vanessa is the one who said that Malone said "little mexican girls".His "I'm hunting for little, Mexican girls" just made it impossible
But if I'm the Spurs, I consider the source of this story
It's too much drama for me. I hate this kind of crap on a basketball team.
What role has Malone had with the Lakers this season? This isn't exactly a case of lockerroom drama.
Sounds like he was trying to get a "Happy Ending" from Vanessa.
Hey HEY! (Rimshot)
it sounds like he was joking with this dumb and she decided to make a big deal out of it... she probably likes kobe being the only superstar on the lakers... she doesnt want anyone to steal their spotlight...
Everything about Kolby is drama. Malone is certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to dealing with the media, but this situation happened because it's LA and it's Kolby's wife.
Malone is the only thing that held the Lakers lockerroom together last season. He's a professional. He'll fit right in with this group.
He plays defense.
He rebounds on both ends.
He passes the ball.
He hits the 15 footer.
He'll throw the nastiest, meanest, "Don't even think of coming in my lane" elbows in the playoffs, when we need them most.
What more could we ask for from our back-up PF? This team has no enforcer. He's the best enforcer in the league, even at 63 years old.
Give the man a pen.
That pretty much sums it up.
"Give the man a pen"
What's the $number that Holt is going to sign with his pen?
Jack $hit.
what would you say if mailman wanted to wear number #50
It's retired, ducks.
Malone would get the vet minimum salary of $1.1 mil, prorated for however many games are left in the season.
Also of note is the following...
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#9
So Malone would cost the Spurs less than probably everyone else on the roster. The horror.One interesting thing about minimum-salary contracts is that for certain players, the league office actually pays part of their salary. This happens with players who have been in the NBA for five or more seasons and are playing under a one-year, ten-day or rest-of-season contract at the minimum salary. In these cases, the team pays the player at the minimum salary level for a four-year veteran, and the league pays the remainder. For example, in 99-00 the minimum salary for a four-year veteran is $510,000, so a ten-year veteran, with a minimum salary of $1,000,000, would be paid $510,000 by his team and $490,000 by the league. Only the four-year minimum is included in the team salary, not the player's full salary. The reason for doing this is so teams won't shy away from signing older veterans simply because they are more expensive.
I know but number 6 was not when tp wanted it
It was Manu who wanted 6 ducks.
be intersting what number he chooses
I would like him if he was a spur to wear 00
I know but could you imagine the stick from spur fans if he wanted sean's number or aj's
Well, Sean Elliott's isn't retired yet.....but I'm sure there would be an even bigger uproar than Manu's 6.
Who cares? If he wants to go back to wearing his old #32 that would only be for the rest of this season. Spurs are probably going to retire it for Elliott soon anyways.
We're asked if we want to see Malone in a Spurs' uniform, but we're not asked why, or why not.
My "not" has nothing to do with elbows or crassly worded flirtations. My "not" asks, "Why should any of the current Spurs have to give up playing time to Karl Malone? and How do we know he's going to be any more effective than a current Spur merely because he once made Tim Duncan look bad?"
Karl Malone doesn't deserve to be a Spur - and the 2004-2005 Spurs roster doesn't deserve to move over for him.
be intersting to know if mailman thinks he is a starter and how many minutes he wants
rember he wants to break the scoring record
pop may not agree to that
Why Malone should be a Spur:
Who would give up playing time to Malone?
actually...Spurs will have to cut someone to make room for him...we already have 15 roster spots filled...
I still say do it...
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