Karl Malone is a reluctant All-Star participant, but now that he's here he's trying to make the best of it.
"The best thing about this year's game being in San Antonio is that there's a rodeo around here and I get to see Clint Black perform," the Mailman said. "All my wife brought me was my western clothing. That's the kind of stuff that I like to do. It's also really neat to be here because of the warmer weather."Just a couple days ago, Malone was complaining about a sprained ring finger on his left hand that might keep him out of his eighth All-Star appearance. He said he wouldn't mind some rest, not only to catch up on assorted aches and pains, but because "I could spend that time with my family."
After an examination by the Dallas Mavericks' team physician on Friday, however, Malone joined Stockton and the other All-Stars here - though he was a little surprised by his lack of reception.
"There was nobody at the airport," he said. "I figured there'd be somebody there to get the players. But that's all right. I don't like limos anyway."
Malone went into more detail about his plans for the weekend.
"I'm going to get to go to a couple of cow sales," he said. "The editor of Bowhunting magazine is here and he wants to take me on a safari hunt. And Garth Brooks is playing at the rodeo, too."
Jazz guard John Stockton, also playing in his eighth All-Star Game, said before he came here that it's not a particularly restful situation.
"You go down there expecting to get some R & R, but it never really happens," he said. "I'll be excited when I get there. I'm really looking forward to it. I've enjoyed every game I've played in."
It's anybody's guess how much Malone and Stockton will play today. The West coach, George Karl, has two players here, and both - Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton - just happen to play the same positions as the Jazz stars.
"I probably won't play much," Malone predicted. "He (Karl) will play his guy instead, and that's fine with me. I could use the rest."