Karl Malone makes no bones about it. He'd really rather be somewhere else - almost anywhere else - this weekend.
"If I had my choice of being in Cleveland or Salt Lake right now, no doubt about it, I'd be in Salt Lake," said the Utah Jazz's power forward. "I would have loved to take the weekend off."But unlike fellow all-stars Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Clyde Drexler, Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing - who are all out with varying degrees of injury - Malone will take part in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game. It will be the Mailman's 10th, while teammate John Stockton will be making his ninth appearance.
"Maybe some of those guys really are hurt, maybe some aren't," said Malone of the no shows. "I couldn't really speculate. I do know that one year when I was hurt the NBA said they'd fine me if I didn't play - and I was really injured."
The upside to having five of the league's most recognizable names out for Sunday's game - if there is an upside - is that a few younger players, like Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will get the opportunity to shine in a worldwide spotlight.
"It's going to be fun playing with the new guys," said Stockton. "It will give us some fresh blood and that will be good."
Said Garnett, "You won't have the same rim-shaking, rim-rocking such as from Shaquille, the hang time and glide such as from Clyde and the attitude and jokes from Charles. But you will get to see some of the guys that will make a difference in the future."
While the actual all-star game is still a day away, the NBA - which under commissioner David Stern has never been known for its subtleness - will present its three-ring circus known as All-Star Saturday night this evening beginning at 5 p.m. at Gund Arena.
Tonight's festivities have enough corporate sponsorships to make the college football bowl committees green with jealousy. If you tune into the TNT cable network this evening, you'll see the Schick Rookie Game, the American Express Million Dollar Shot, the AT&T Shootout and the Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk Contest.
The fourth annual rookie game will feature 16 first-year players - including former Alta High star Travis Knight of the Lakers.
"It's a little overwhelming being here," said Knight, who played college ball at UConn and who averages 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds for Los Angeles. "It's weird walking around here and seeing all these players I idolized growing up, but it's been like that all year for me."
Knight will be joined on the West rookie team by Laker teammates Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher along with Vancouver's Shareef Abdur-Rahim and others. The East rookies are led by Allen Iverson of the Sixers, Toronto's Marcus Camby and Milwaukee's Ray Allen.
Jim Valente of Bradenton Beach, Fla., isn't a rookie or an all-star, but he has a chance to become a millionaire tonight anyway. Valente will be given one chance to sink a 3-pointer. If he makes it - like the guy who made a 35-yard field goal two weeks ago at halftime of the Pro Bowl - he'll get $1 million. If he misses he's get a $10,000 consolation prize.
Stockton will be Utah's only representative tonight when he takes part in the annual 3-point shooting contest. Stockton, who is shooting a career-best 42 percent behind the 3-point arc, is making his first appearance in the event since '92. He'll be shooting against the likes of defending champ Tim Legler of Washington, Chicago's Steve Kerr, Denver's Dale Ellis and Seattle's Sam Perkins.
All-Star Saturday night will conclude with the usually anti-climatic slam dunk contest. Featured contestants include rookies Ray Allen, Bryant, and Darvin Ham as well as Cleveland's Bob Sura, Minnesota's Chris Carr and Dallas' Michael Finley.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NBA All-Stars
Roster of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game to be played in Cleveland Sunday. The East has won 29 of the past 46 All-Star games.
Eastern Conference
Players Pos. Team
Vin Baker F Milwaukee
Terrell Brandon G Cleveland
xz-Patrick Ewing C New York
y-Joe Dumars G Detroit
x-Penny Hardaway G Orlando
Tim Hardaway G Miami
x-Grant Hill F Detroit
x-Michael Jordan G Chicago
Christian Laettner F Atlanta
z-Alonzo Mourning C Miami
Dikembe Mutombo C Atlanta
x-Scottie Pippen F Chicago
Glen Rice F-G Charlotte
y-Chris Webber G Washington
Western Conference
Players Pos. Team
xz-Charles Barkley F Houston
z-Clyde Drexler G Houston
y-Kevin Garnett F Minnesota
y-Chris Gatling F-C Dallas
Tom Gugliotta F Minnesota
Eddie Jones G-F L.A. Lakers
x-Shawn Kemp F Seattle
Karl Malone F Utah
x-Hakeem Olajuwon C Houston
z-Shaquille O'Neal C L.A. Lakers
x-Gary Payton G Seattle
Mitch Richmond G Sacramento
y-Detlef Schrempf F Seattle
Latrell Sprewell G Golden State
x-John Stockton G Utah
x-starter; y-injury replacement; z-will not play due to injury