If Karl Malone had just referred to himself in the third person, this might have been the most Karl Malone interview ever.
The Hall of Famer sat down with Marc Lamont Hill of the Huffington Post and talked about a variety of topics. One of them was Kobe Bryant. Remember back in 2004 when Malone (and Gary Payton) came to the Shaq/Kobe Lakers to go ring hunting, Kobe and Malone had a little beef. Allegedly over Malone hitting on Kobe’s wife. When it was brought up here is what Malone said:
“We had a little issue... Are we cool? I don’t hold grudges... If Kobe doesn’t like me today, that’s Kobe Bryant’s fault. It ain’t mine, it’s his problem. I don’t have a beef with nobody.... I dont’ feel no tension, but I’m a hunter, so I’m right there anyway....
“I love Westerns. I’m old-school Western. Back in the day, when you had a beef, you didn’t go get guns and knives ... we just go back in the back with no cameras and knuckle up. Get it over with.”
Malone said that was a standing offer.
While I would pay to see that cage match — and you know Kobe would be scrappy and tough in a fight — it’s never going to happen. They’re going to spend the rest of their lives passing each other in the hall occasionally and just saying “what’s up?” then keep right on walking.