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'Ask God' Malone still waffling on All-Star Game appearance
Posted: Wednesday February 09, 2000 11:42 AM
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Karl Malone's comments on whether he will play in the NBA All-Star Game have gone from "Ask God" to "my body needs a break" to he will play Wednesday night against Chicago and "then see how I feel." Two weeks ago, the Utah Jazz forward grumbled privately that he wouldn't play in the Feb. 13 All-Star Game in Oakland unless he was named a starter in voting by fans. He wasn't. Malone and teammate John Stockton were chosen by coaches as All-Star reserves. A few days later, agent Dwight Manley said Malone would not play in the All-Star Game because he needed to rest his sore back and an injured finger, but would continue to play the regular-season games. The following day, when asked if he would skip the All-Star Game, Malone said, "Call up God. Why don't you ask God?" After Thursday night's loss to Milwaukee, the 36-year-old Malone said, "My body needs a break, and when the proper time comes I'm going to take it." Malone said he planned to spend the All-Star break at his ranch in Arkansas. However, NBA Vice President Rod Thorn told USA Today on Monday that the league might require the Jazz to place Malone on the injured list for five games. "If you're healthy and play in regular-season games, then you play in the All-Star Game," Thorn said. "If you're hurt, then you don't play in the regular-season games." Malone would not lose any salary if he missed games because he was on the injured list, but the Jazz would suffer. Before practice Tuesday, Malone said he would wait until after the game against Chicago before deciding what to do. He declined further comment.
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