http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/la-sp-bryant13dec13,1,2315913.s
tory?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba
"He was like a mentor to me, an older brother to me," Bryant said before the
Lakers' 105-98 victory Sunday against the Orlando Magic. "When something
like that happens, you're upset, you're hurt. There's all those emotions
tied up in one at the same time.
"We've had fun, myself, my wife, [Malone's wife] Kaye, him, we've had fun
together. We've been at their house together, joking around, giving each
other a hard time, just clowning and being sarcastic with one another,
whatever. Baby-sitting the kids and all that."
Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, related more alleged contents Sunday of a
cellphone conversation during the Nov. 23 game.
Malone was courtside at Staples Center for that game, invited on behalf of
the Lakers, and Vanessa Bryant was across the court, a few rows behind the
Laker bench.
Vanessa Bryant was on her cellphone with Kaye Malone, who did not attend the
game and was at home in Newport Beach. Vanessa Bryant told Kaye Malone that
Karl Malone's son, Karl Jr., looked bored during the game. Kaye Malone said
to give Karl Malone a call on his cellphone and invite Karl Jr. to sit with
the Bryant family.
Karl Malone responded improperly when Vanessa Bryant called him, Pelinka
said.
According to Pelinka, Malone said at that point, " 'No, why don't you come
sit by me and give me a big hug that would be on the front cover of every
magazine in the country?' Vanessa said, 'What?' "
According to Pelinka, Malone also said he was "hunting for a young Mexican
girl" in response to a question from Vanessa Bryant as to why he was wearing
a cowboy hat. Vanessa Bryant is a Latina.
Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, said Malone did not act inappropriately.
"Karl did not do what he was accused of," Manley said. "He never hit on
[Bryant's] wife. This is a soap opera that is affecting the best power
forward ever and a gigantic franchise. Karl did not want to get sucked into
it as much as he has. It's all the Bryants' soap opera. It's a personal
matter between Kobe and his wife and Karl got drawn into it like a pawn."
Pelinka said Bryant and Malone were so tight that Malone confided to Bryant
before the season that he would not return to play this season.
"He said, 'Hey Kobe, I'm done playing . I really want to focus on my family.
It's time for me to walk away from the game,' " Pelinka said. "Kobe became
emotional about it and said, 'Wow, that's big news. If that's your decision,
I wish you all the best. I hope it goes well for you and your family.' "
Malone's agent said Malone might have said he was close to retiring, but did
not go beyond that.
"Karl was still hurt at the time," Manley said. "He was telling everybody he
was leaning toward retiring."
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