Karl Malone plays in the NBA's smallest market. He doesn't own huge national endorsement deals like Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Shaquille O'Neal or even Kobe Bryant.
Still, it's safe to say, judging from All-Star returns, that Malone has wide-based recognition and appeal - especially since he won the MVP Award last season. More NBA, fast-food french fry and Internet fans voted for Malone to be in the All-Star Game than for any other player in the Western Conference.The Mailman got 616,251 votes in the balloting that took place in arenas, at McDonald's restaurants and on the World Wide Web. Malone beat O'Neal, the next highest vote-getter in the West, by more than 30,000 votes. Only Eastern Conference stars Michael Jordan and Hill were picked on more ballots.
It was the 11th consecutive year Malone was selected as an All-Star but the first time he'd been the top vote-getter in the conference.
Malone, a little gun-shy after last season, is being judicious in what he says about going to the All-Star game this year. He doesn't want another entire city mad at him - especially when that city is the Big Apple.
Last year, you may recall, Malone was widely quoted saying he would have rather stayed home in Salt Lake City and relaxed rather than fly across the country to Cleveland for the All-Star game. Cleveland residents, thinking he was blasting their fair city, booed the Mailman every time he touched the ball - and when he was being announced as one of the 50 greatest players in league history during a halftime ceremony.
So this year Malone's saying the right things about the All-Star game and being the top vote-getter in his conference.
"I'll just go there and try to represent the Jazz and myself the best way that I can," he said.
And expect John Stockton, despite missing the first 18 games of the season while recuperating from knee surgery, to join Malone on the Western Conference's team for the 10th straight time.
The All-Star reserves, as selected by a vote of the coaches, won't be announced until Tuesday or Wednesday. Stockton's All-Star streak appeared to be over after his pre-season knee surgery.
But then he came back strong, played in more than half the Jazz games and finished third in the fan balloting for Western Conference guards. His style of play is popular with league coaches. Plus, he's nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career and actually wants to be at the game this year - even though the media horde is something Stockton could do without.
"It would be an honor if it comes and I'd look forward to it," said Stockton. "It being in New York would be a lot of fun because it's the league's headquarters and nobody can do things like New York City can do things. That would make it interesting."
LOOKING BACK
Utah played four games last week with impressive results. It could have been a perfect week had the Jazz been able to hold on to a 15-point second-half lead at Indiana They beat Detroit and Golden State at home with relative ease early in the week. The Jazz led Indiana most of the way on Friday night, but Rik Smits led the Pacers to a late rally and a four-point win. Utah rebounded with its most impressive victory of the season, beating the Bulls in Chicago - which is something a Western Conference team simply isn't supposed to do. Many others have tried this year - including the Lakers and Sonics - and been blown away. It was the first win in the United Center by a Western Conference team since Jordan returned to basketball from his ill-fated attempt at a pro baseball career.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Jazz have three games on tap to start the second-half of the season, with two at home.
The best game, on paper, will be the first one, Wednesday night at the Delta Center against Seattle, owners of the best record in the West. The Jazz, even without Stockton, downed the Sonics by six points in November. Utah has won four of the last five meetings, in fact. Still, Gary Payton is making a bid as the league's MVP and Vin Baker has done all that Shawn Kemp used to do for Seattle, and more. The team has far fewer internal distractions now. The Jazz should have a slight advantage simply because of the home court.
The Jazz will then get a break - in the form of the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night in the Delta Center. Actually, the Mavs, using a slow-down style of play to near perfection, nearly upset the Jazz on Dec. 12 in the Delta Center. Utah escaped with a 68-66 victory in the lowest scoring game in franchise history. It won't be that close this time. The week will end with the first game of a two-game road trip to face the two worst NBA teams in California. The Jazz play at Golden State on Sunday before traveling to Anaheim to play the Clippers on Feb. 3.
Projected record for the week: 3-0, which would put the Jazz at 31-13 overall.
Wednesday, Jan. 28
Seattle
7 p.m.
Home game
Friday, Jan. 30
Dallas
7 p.m.
Home game
Sunday, Feb. 1
Golden State
8 p.m.
Road game