A few more notes from Karl Malone's return to Utah, last week.
Malone has a hall of honor at his Toyota showroom in Draper. Included are dream team jerseys and autographed memorabilia from various athletes, including several signed pictures of himself with Muhammad Ali.
One of the notes says, "Don't quite [sic] your basketball job. Your friend always, Muhammad Ali."
Another says: "To Karl – we are the greatest of all time."
A third says, "Kindness to others is the only rent we pay on earth. God bless you – Muhammad Ali."
***
The Mailman was asked what he thought about LeBron James calling up Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosch, to form a coalition in Miami. Malone said he wouldn't have done it that way, but "I don't blame LeBron."
(Remember, Malone signed on with the Lakers when they had Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton and Kobe Bryant.)
He added that he doesn't regret spending 18 of his 19 seasons in Utah, even though the Jazz didn't win a title.
"Here's my thing," he said. "In my little weird way, I tell people right off the bat I wanted to play with a dominant center, and there were times when there was that ( O'Neal in L.A., Mark Eaton – defensively – in Utah), and times when there wasn't (Greg Ostertag, Felton Spencer, etc.). But I accepted that. That's fine, I would do it over again."