EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Karl Malone can't understand why Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett are not jumping at the chance to play for the United States at the 2004 Olympics.

"You can't make people play. You wish they would, but you can't make 'em play. But if guys know what's at stake here and they don't want to play, there's something wrong with them, basically," Malone said Sunday before Utah's game against the New Jersey Nets.

Malone, in his 18th season with the Jazz, is one of seven players who already were chosen for the U.S. Olympic team, although Malone's spot has not been officially announced.

The selections of Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen and Tim Duncan have been announced, while Mike Bibby, Kobe Bryant and Malone have said they were invited and intend to play.

The U.S. team will play in a qualifying tournament in August in Puerto Rico in an effort to clinch one of the three Olympic berths from the Americas region.

"Being able to have an opportunity to play for another gold medal, being 41 years old, being (in Athens) where the Olympics originated, getting to take my family there -- there's a lot of plusses," Malone said. "There ain't that many minuses."

Malone played on the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and on the 1996 team that won in Atlanta.

Ready to do it all over again, Malone is over the mental and physical exhaustion that led him to jump on the first available airplane out of Atlanta after beating Yugoslavia for the gold.

Malone said he did not watch any of the basketball from the 2000 Olympics, where the Americans nearly lost, or the 2002 World Championships, where the U.S. team finished sixth after losses to Argentina, Yugoslavia and Spain.

Although he acknowledges the competition has improved, Malone said he will still go into the Olympics with the Dream Team's mind-set -- hoping to defeat every opponent by 40 points.

What remains to be seen is whether two of the best American big men will be playing alongside him.

USA basketball spokesman Craig Miller said neither O'Neal nor Garnett has completely closed the door on the possibility of playing in 2004.

O'Neal has cited his participation in the 1994 World Championships and the 1996 Olympics in defending his decision to sit out, while Garnett has said he wants to be certain about committing the bulk of two summers to the national team.

If O'Neal doesn't play, USA Basketball will have to choose a center from a pool of candidates that figures to include Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace and Brad Miller.

"You look around, and without a doubt you'd hope that Shaq would play. There's not tons of centers out there, but there's forwards that can play center by committee," Malone said. "You would hope a guy like Shaq would play. I don't know why he wouldn't, but that's a decision he's got to make. So we'll have to wait and see.

"It's not about taking up your summer," Malone said. "Basketball has been good to you, and to give up one of your summers for all you've gotten -- I don't think that's too much to ask.

"I think when it comes down to it, those guys will realize that. You'd hope they would."


Karl Malone...speaking his mind again. First his views on Magic and now this??? He must be bitter about not having a ring!

um...actually...he has a bit of a point...doesn't sound too bitter to me. Its an honor to be asked to represent your country in the Olympics,regardless if those two young bucks realize it or not.

i know here in Australia,if u turn down the opportunity 2 represent your country you're looked at not very nicely.

divo02 said:

Karl Malone is phoney, sneaky, slimy, and only out for himself. Magic's situation had nothing to do with Malone's fear of the HIV virus, and everything to do with getting Magic out of the way so the Jazz would have a better chance in the post season. The Failman is a dirty player, and probably planned on slicing Magic up with a flagrant foul - IF there was no known virus in his system. After raising the issue he didn't seem to mind playing with Magic on the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics.

He's definitely bitter about not having a ring, he's also bitter about not being named to the All Star team this season, and he's only hanging on to try and break Kareem's record for career points. My opinion of Malone has nothing to do with this article. He's a great player, but he's also slime, and I guess he's trying to make up for never getting a ring with individual and non-NBA achievements.

For more on The Failman and his dirty ways click here: http://www.makingpages.or...anger.html
[This message was edited Sun Mar 2 20:45:54 PST 2003 by Supernova]

Maybe Malone hates America like Soulpower and doesn't think it worthy to represent??? That's a possibility.
[This message was edited Mon Mar 3 14:53:29 PST 2003 by divo02]

divo02 said:

Oh, my love!

BattierBeMyDaddy said:

You love Soulpower?

It sounds like Shaq's sitting this year out to make room for someone else - but that's only what I read from one line of the story. That's not so bad.

tommyalma said:

No, I was in reference to divo02. Shaq is probably sitting because he is a whiny pussy and they won't pay him enough to go be all..olympian.

I think the World of Karl Malone as a Player but I think He needs to Leave Shaq's Toe&Feelings alone&KG's Uncertain Future with His Team Alone.I give Karl Malone Props for Being His Own Brother unlike alot of the Puppets in the NBA&Entertainment Game nowadays.but I think Karl should be Pushing for Allen Iverson to be on the Team IMHO.I mean AI is being Dissed for His Image&that is Wrong.AI is Being Ignored&I Think Shaq was agreeing as well not to play to give up a Spot for AI.