The long-standing feud between Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone just entered into a new chapter on Wednesday when Malone appeared to challenge Bryant to a bare-knuckle brawl during an interview with the Huffington Post. When asked if Malone ever challenged Kobe to a fight Malone responded, "It's a standing offer."
Malone and Bryant were teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2003-2004 season. That team was composed of four, maybe five future Hall of Famers in Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, Malone and maybe Derek Fisher. The team reached the NBA Finals, but lost in five games to the Detroit Pistons. The team was broken up after that season and Malone retired. The following season however, while attending a Lakers game, Malone appeared to hit on Kobe's wife, Vanessa Bryant and the feud began.
According to legend, Malone was dressed for the game in a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and came up to Vanessa during the game. Vanessa asked Malone, "Hey, Cowboy, what are you hunting?" to which Malone responded, "I'm hunting for little Mexican girls." Vanessa, who is a Latina, immediately told Bryant what happened after the game and Kobe called Malone later that evening to give him a piece of his mind. Bryant later said that they hashed it out and that the Mailman did not deny what occurred.
On Monday, Malone told Huffington Live host, Marc Lamont Hill. that Kobe and himself had "a little issue," and that back in his day, beefs were settled with "no cameras and knuckle up."
"I'm 6-9, 272 pounds to be exact," said Malone. "I'm not hard to find. I don't want no trouble. But if something got to go down, I'm not playing fair."
Bryant is currently recovering from surgery on his torn rotator cuff and will have his arm in a sling for the next few months. We're not sure if Bryant would want to accept Malone's "standing offer" to a fight in that condition, but we also don't know of Bryant to back down from any challenge that may come his way.
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