Despite having his blinking basketball shoes turned off by the NBA, Jazz forward Karl Malone says he isn't going to let it spoil his holiday cheer.
"It seems like right when you try to do something, somebody will always try to compare me to being a grinch, and I'm not going to be one," said the Mailman.Malone was notified by Rod Thorn, the NBA's vice president of operations, on Monday that he would be suspended if he persisted in wearing his signature L.A. Tech shoes with the blinking red lights implanted in the heels. Malone was gently warned by the league previously - in phone calls to the Jazz and at the urging of referees prior to two games last week - to stop wearing the shoes. But the Mailman continued.
That apparently won't be the case Wednesday when the Jazz play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Richfield Coliseum. Malone will wear the same shoes, but with the batteries removed from the heels. Jazz vice president of public relations David Allred said the teem was told Malone would be suspended if he wore the shoes again with the lights blinking. If suspended, it would cost Malone about $38,500 - his salary for one game. Given that option, the Mailman was suddenly agreeable. "It comes down to a matter of - and I continue to say this - what is most important? For us to win games or me to get into some kind of shoe controversy."
The shoes didn't meet league approval, Thorn told Malone in a Monday phone call. "He said the reason is that it's not part of the (standard) uniform," said Malone.
Malone added that the league is apparently concerned that once lights are allowed on shoes, the next step could be ringing bells or honking horns. The league's dim view of Malone's lighted shoes didn't come as a total surprise. The NBA wouldn't approve the shoe when it was presented to league officials last summer, before hitting the market. (Malone said Foot Locker stores have ordered over 100,000 pairs.) "They (NBA) sort of said, `You can't do it,' but I didn't think it was that big a deal. But I guess I was wrong," said the Mailman.
Allred said the shoe was designed to meet all the criteria as a legal shoe. "I hope they (NBA) are as diligent in policing other teams' shoes as they are with us," Allred said.
Curiously, the league hadn't said anything about the shoes until last Friday's game in Boston - the 24th game of the season. Malone pointed out that Thorn attended at least one Jazz game this year but didn't mention the shoes.
But Malone was in a conciliatory mood anyway, claiming he has the spirit of the season and that he doesn't want a controversy to jeopardize the team. "After all,' he shrugged, "this is a basketball league."
Malone wasn't the only one in a conciliatory mood. After having his shoes banned Monday, the Mailman was named NBA Player of the Week. He had an exceptional defensive game last Monday against San Antonio's David Robinson and landed the game-winning shot and stole the ball in the final seconds in a win over Boston. He netted 31 points in last Wednesday's victory over Minnesota.
It's likely Malone's game in Minnesota was where he ran afoul of the NBA. Several league officials were in attendance at that game, doing ground work for the NBA All-Star Game, to be held in Minneapolis in February.
Though Cleveland just broke a five-game losing streak Sunday - and has lost eight of the last 10 games - Malone allows the Cavs are a formidable team.
"Don't look at their (8-14) record and think they're an easy victory, because, hey, these guys are tough," he said.
But the Mailman says he likes the idea of playing at Richfield Coliseum late in December, rather than the Cavs playing in Utah. "I like going to someone else's place before Christmas," he said. "Maybe their minds will be somewhere else. I like being on the road."
Meanwhile, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is taking his customary skeptical view of the Jazz's current three-game road win streak. "I've got to feel a little uncomfortable. Guys get a little too happy with themselves. Once you start feeling comfortable you need to get concerned." The Jazz have won four straight and nine of 11.
PREGAME NOTES: Strength coach Rick Anderson joined the team in Cleveland and will stay with the group through the San Antonio game Thursday.
Anderson is along to help players with weight lifting and training on the trip. In particular, he is focusing on rookie Luther Wright, who coaches feel needs extra work . . . John Stockton has been wearing a sleeve on his leg due to tendinitis. He says it isn't a serious problem and merely relieves soreness.