The Deseret News reported this two weeks ago, and Karl Malone has been dropping hints all over the place lately, but apparently someone from the league office finally has leaked word that the Mailman will win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award.
According to a story in Tuesday's Chicago Tribune (and as reported on the Sporting News website Tuesday night), Malone narrowly beat out Chicago's Michael Jordan, a four-time winner of the annual award.Bulls coach Phil Jackson seemed to feel his guy was more deserving.
"We won 69 games this year mostly on the energy of Michael and Scottie (Pippen)," Jackson said. "We had mishaps with Dennis (Rodman) and Luc Longley, so we were not together as a unit the whole year. Karl played with that unit the whole season, and they had no injuries. He did his job, there's no doubt about it, but for the excess weight that was put on our team and still to win 69 games, there's no earthly explanation except that Michael won it so many times and this may be Malone's opportunity."
Jackson thinks the league should consider handing out MVP awards for each conference.
"That way players could share the awards," he said.
Interestingly, Jordan was named the Sporting News' Player of the Year after outdueling Malone in first-place votes, 102-27, in a poll of NBA players.
BOOT CAMP: The Jazz participated in a brief practice Wednesday morning at Westminster College, a workout described by forward Adam Keefe as "short but lively." Coach Jerry Sloan said they'll go longer Thursday.
"We'll probably get after it tomorrow," Sloan said. "They'd better drop their gloves."
The Jazz were relatively patient with the media horde Wednesday, even putting up with questions about stupid questions.
"I'm happy the Laker series is over, because I got tired of being asked about Shaq," said center Greg Ostertag.
Asked how he handles the same dumb questions all the time, Sloan said, "I give them the same dumb answers."
Jazz players were asked about Malone winning the MVP award and gave mostly predictable answers, except for Ostertag, naturally.
"I guess that means I didn't get it," Ostertag said. "How many votes did I fall short?"
Uh, how many votes are there?
NO ENVY: Sloan has noticed several of his coaching colleagues collecting mega-bucks contracts lately, but it hasn't caused him to lose any sleep.
"That doesn't bother me," he said. "I'm happy they're able to do well. I've never been in this business for the money, anyway. I just enjoy coaching."
Sloan said he's never considered running to the Jazz and demanding more money.
"I've never done that," he said. "I never did it when I played. I have a contract and I think they've been fair to me."
He stressed that he wasn't criticizing more money-oriented coaches, however.
"If they want to do that, that's fine," he said.
L.A. POST-MORTEM: The Lakers are still taking it on the chin for their playoff loss to the Jazz. The prevailing sentiment in Los Angeles seems to be that the Lakers were a better team than Utah and should have won. Apparently, they have this idea that paying $120 million to an over-rated behemoth should have insured at least an appearance in the Finals.
According to a Los Angeles Times story, after Laker rookie Kobe Bryant had launched a series of airballs that killed L.A.'s chances of a win in Game 5, Shaquille O'Neal gave the youngster a hug and said, "See all these people in here laughing at you and showing the Karl Malone banner and all that? Just remember that when we meet these guys next year - then just hit it."
O'Neal told the Times, "You've got to remember stuff like that. I wasn't upset he shot those airballs. He was te only one with enough guts to shoot the ball."
Laker guard Nick Van Exel, you'll recall, didn't attempt a shot in the overtime period.