KM is proud of himself: http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2432140 Malone says $7,500 is a 'reputation' fine JOHN NADEL / Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lakers coach Phil Jackson believes the $7,500 fine levied against Karl Malone for his flagrant foul in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals was based on the 40-year-old star's reputation. Malone agreed, and said that was OK with him. "I just think it's my reputation preceding myself," Malone said before the Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 on Tuesday night. "You know what? I love it," he added with a smile. Malone, the second-leading scorer in NBA history, delivered the foul on Minnesota's Darrick Martin with 2:31 remaining in the Timberwolves' 89-71 victory on Sunday night at Target Center that evened the best-of-seven series 1-1. Malone made it clear he did so as retaliation for a couple of hard screens on teammate Derek Fisher, who still had some puffiness under his left eye as the result of a collision with Latrell Sprewell. Fisher was called for a foul on that play. "It's your teammate out there," Malone said. "It's nothing malicious. That's just basketball, that's just how it is. It gets physical - you hit and you get hit." In addition to being fined, Malone earned two flagrant-foul points for what was ruled a second-degree flagrant foul. If a player exceeds three points in the playoffs, he is automatically suspended for one game. When asked if he would repeat his action, Malone replied: "We'll see." Asked if that might be a difficult decision, he said: "Nope. Easy decision." He didn't elaborate, and said he had put the matter behind him. Jackson expressed annoyance when asked about the fine and possible consequences should Malone commit another flagrant foul. "Those are decisions I wonder how get rendered in the league office," Jackson said. "I probably shouldn't comment on it. Did anyone see him throw an elbow? I didn't see him throw an elbow. Maybe they had a better look at it than I did Monday." "His reputation preceded him on that one. He just has to play the game. Basketball's played much more intense in the playoffs. It's all judgment - it's extremely frustrating." Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said he didn't think Malone should have been suspended, as some believe. "Guys get suspended for blows to the head, malicious hits like that," Saunders said. "He was trying to get his point across, but he wasn't trying to hurt Darrick." Minnesota's Wally Szczerbiak, who set a hard screen on Fisher shortly before Malone's foul, said he had "no thoughts whatsoever" on the fine. Teammate Michael Olowokandi obviously did, but didn't wish to share all of them. "Reviewing the video, obviously he hit him kind of hard," Olowokandi said. "The league did what it thought was appropriate, and we'll leave it at that. I don't want to get fined."
Malone is the biggest jackass that ever stepped foot on a basketball court. How many freakin times does the man need to make an emphatic 'first down' signal when there is a turnover? He's done this in every game of the playoffs, and about 3 times last night. burn in hell, karla.
Aren't there reasons they regulate to keep unlike bodies apart, as in wrestling and boxing? 275 lb people 'picking' hard picking 200 pounders seems to me to require NBA regulating as well. Screens should be ok, but this is ridiculous IMO.
VWiggin, Stop posting!! You are making it hard to hate the Lakers! Good to know not every Laker fan has embraced Karla. *lol* Point well taken. But I'm a Laker fan, so every game night I'm torned between my love of the Lakers and my hatred of Malone. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.....
To put it in to perspective, Artest got fined more for making an obscene gesture while Malone tried to hurt another player.
Did you really need me to put a smilie to know that I was joking? Apparently, Malone's evil is great enough to unite political enemies.
That's a good one. One thing puzzles me though is that NBA is the only sport event, in which people can openly admit "star treatment" without being hammered by the public. You only hear "drawing fauls, initiating contacts, floppings" in NBA. Discrimination is a trend here. Everybody in broadcast, every analyst, every coach, and every player keeps saying thsi is a veteran given the benefit of doubt, and that is rookie treatment. It's just beyond me how can fair-play be treated like dirt? Maybe it's because of Jordon era, NBA expansion? But every sports event is market driven, but at least you still need to pretend that you hold common values. How can one draw a faul? If you initiate contact, isn't that you committing the faul? Yes, it's difficult to call a flop. But if fly with a minor touch, either your opponent should be called a faul, or you who try to cheat should be punished? There is penalty for diving in Hockey, and Yellow card for flop in Soccer. But in NBA, well, those floppers are called defensive specialists. It's just disgusting. You can have players like Malone to throw an elbow, or undercut other players to "make a stand", and being called "warriors". Why don't we just bomb the damn court and kill everyone on your opposite team. NBA is a sick, dirty, and disgusting business. God help me, that I am still addictied and want to watch some good games. But it's so frustrating to see how the game is "played".
You're right. This star-driven mentality has to stop. I guess the NBA believes it owes its existence to superstars: Dr. J, Bird and Magic, Jordan, and now Kobe and Vinsanity. What they fail to realize is that this marketing focus on individuals create an almost unwatchable game. We have too many dribble-dribble-dribble-one-on-one-clock-running-out-heaving-one-up type of plays in the NBA. The "experts" tell us the great players are those who can get isolation plays down the stretch and get two at the line. Yeah, that's exciting to watch. Give me team play, passing, and good shooting any time. I'd rather watch a good team play off the Princeton offense than a Kobe forced double pump reverse any time.
