Utah forward Karl Malone says he called Detroit`s Isiah Thomas and ”we had an unbelievable conversation” about their Dec. 14 collision that left Thomas with a 40-stitch gash.
Malone was ejected from the game with the visiting Pistons. He was fined $10,000 and suspended for one game without pay, costing him another $31,000.
Malone said he called Thomas about two weeks ago and left a message that Thomas returned. ”It was man-to-man, and contrary to what people think, Isiah`s a nice guy,” Malone said. ”He`s nice to me, and he echoed everything I`m saying right now.”
Malone said he didn`t call Thomas right after the incident because ”I wanted to talk to him when I wanted to talk to him. I didn`t want to talk to him because others wanted me to or when other people wanted me to. And Isiah understood. He understands how I play.”
Because of a warning from Thomas, Malone said, the Jazz gave him extra police protection last weekend when Utah played in Thomas` hometown of Chicago. ”Isiah just said he had some people he grew up with there that are crazy. That`s his quote. It shows you what kind of person he is,” Malone said. ”I respect him for that.”
Malone received $1,334 from fans who wanted to help pay his fine. He donated the money this week to the Utah chapter of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse.
