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The Utah Jazz were fined $15,000 by the NBA for a skit that ridiculed Karl Malone and teammate Kobe Bryant during a timeout in the Los Angeles Lakers' game at Utah last week.
NBA vice president Stu Jackson levied the fine, issuing a two-paragraph statement Friday saying the Jazz were penalized for ``performing a mascot skit that ridiculed opposing players.''
During a timeout last Saturday, Jazz mascot ``Bear'' answered a fake call that was broadcast over the loudspeakers. The caller imitated Malone's voice and identified himself as ``Mail,'' saying he wanted to come ``home,'' L.A. fans were ``mean'' to him and the Lakers don't pass him the ball.
The call ended with the impersonated voice saying, ``I guess it could be worse. I could be Ko...,'' stopping short of saying Kobe.
Bryant had spent the previous day in Colorado, where he's facing trial on a sexual assault charge.
The skit continued during a later timeout, this time with Jazz owner Larry Miller -- sitting courtside -- accepting a call from the Malone impersonator, hanging up and throwing the phone to the floor.
``After 18 years, for them to stoop to that kind of level, that's no class,'' Malone said. ``And that's something I'll never forget.''
The Jazz later issued an apology to the Lakers organization.
``There's really not a lot to say. We had an incident, we sent an apology and the NBA has fined us,'' team president Dennis Haslam said.
Malone, who did not attend the game, was offended that the Jazz alluded to Bryant's sexual assault case in part of a joke.
Malone, who played 18 seasons with the Jazz, is on the injured list and did not return to Salt Lake City for his first game as a Utah opponent. He has vowed to be there for the Lakers' next visit March 8.
``I'll be there, and then you bring it on,'' Malone said. ``If I'm living, I'll be there. You have my word.''
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Methinks Karl needs to lighten up a little.
NBA vice president Stu Jackson levied the fine, issuing a two-paragraph statement Friday saying the Jazz were penalized for ``performing a mascot skit that ridiculed opposing players.''
During a timeout last Saturday, Jazz mascot ``Bear'' answered a fake call that was broadcast over the loudspeakers. The caller imitated Malone's voice and identified himself as ``Mail,'' saying he wanted to come ``home,'' L.A. fans were ``mean'' to him and the Lakers don't pass him the ball.
The call ended with the impersonated voice saying, ``I guess it could be worse. I could be Ko...,'' stopping short of saying Kobe.
Bryant had spent the previous day in Colorado, where he's facing trial on a sexual assault charge.
The skit continued during a later timeout, this time with Jazz owner Larry Miller -- sitting courtside -- accepting a call from the Malone impersonator, hanging up and throwing the phone to the floor.
``After 18 years, for them to stoop to that kind of level, that's no class,'' Malone said. ``And that's something I'll never forget.''
The Jazz later issued an apology to the Lakers organization.
``There's really not a lot to say. We had an incident, we sent an apology and the NBA has fined us,'' team president Dennis Haslam said.
Malone, who did not attend the game, was offended that the Jazz alluded to Bryant's sexual assault case in part of a joke.
Malone, who played 18 seasons with the Jazz, is on the injured list and did not return to Salt Lake City for his first game as a Utah opponent. He has vowed to be there for the Lakers' next visit March 8.
``I'll be there, and then you bring it on,'' Malone said. ``If I'm living, I'll be there. You have my word.''
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Methinks Karl needs to lighten up a little.
