Don't let the door hit yer *** on the way out, Karl

[Chief Rum]

Karl Malone reminds me today what a jerk he was in the 17 years prior to last year.

Malone Won't Play With Kobe

Now, I don't know what this other scrape was about, and if that's the primary reason behind this, then I can't really comment about it.

But if Karl is primarily upset about Kobe's radio interview, I got news for ya, Karl-- he's right.

Malone has kept the Lakers stringing along for a whole summer and fall now, and even as his agent says he is "two weeks" away from being ready to return to play, he doesn't commit to anything. All he does is hang around and act like he could come back, raising players' (and fans') hopes, but never saying one way or another, really hamstringing the team, IMO.

He says he feels disrespected because he supported Kobe through his rape case, and he came to LA for less money. Well, Karl, you brought this all on yourself with your greed for a title. You won't commit to the Lakers because you're so desparate for a title, you want to be sure they are going somewhere before you do so. And that's fine--except that you're screwing an entire organization over while you waffle on your decision. It's fine when it's just you, but when you start to screw with the season of an entire team because you're too much of a coward to throw your chips in one way or another, then you move from righteous self-interest to selfish asshole.

Oh, and BTW, don't make out with the whole "took less money to come here" line. Everyone knows you don't need money and you came to LA for one reason only--your own greed for a title. And you're not the only one in that organization that stood by Kobe during his rape allegations either, so don't make that out like you're some lone defender against the world or nothing.

Good riddance, I say. What's really funny is that I am still not a real Lakers' fan, nor do I particularly like Kobe. But I think he nailed it on this one. It's not fair to this team to keep them wondering and waiting. And if Karl is to selfish to understand that, well, the post title says it all.

CR

[Honolulu_Blue]

Karl Malone is an ass. Always has been, always will be.

As for financial sacrifice, sure. I guess he did. It's all relative though. How can any normal person feel any pity or sympathy for a multi-millionaire who still made at least $1.5 million last year. Unless his family eat's like Sprewell's, I am sure they were well fed and housed during that "lean" year.

[flere-imsaho]

These "financial sacrifice" lines always get me....