Karl Malone said that the offer to slug it out with Kobe Bryant still stands.
DeadSpin reported that Malone was interviewed on Huffington Post Live by host Marc Lamont Hill and was asked about his relationship with Bryant. The former Lakers teammates used to be good friends until 2004, when Bryant accused the Mailman of making a pass at his wife, Vanessa.
ESPN wrote that Malone made some inappropriate comments to Vanesa which made her very uncomfortable at the time.
Dwight Manley, Malone's agent, said that Vanessa asked Malone before, "Hey, cowboy, what are you hunting?" She was referring to Malone wearing a cowboy hat and boots. Vanessa allegedly asked the question twice.
To which Malone responded, "I'm hunting for little Mexican girls."
Rob Pelinka, Bryant's agent, shared in the same ESPN report said that during one phone call, Karl asked Vanessa to give him a big hug and asked whether he likes him. Vanessa said that she is married and that he is old enough to be her father.
Pelinka said, "Vanessa didn't know what to say because this was the first time she had ever spoken to Malone without Kobe or Kay being around. Karl continued. 'Do you like me?' Malone asked her, to which Vanessa said, 'As my friend, Kay's husband.'"
Kobe was reportedly infuriated after his wife told him about the incidents and called Karl to tell him to stay away from Vanessa. Malone refused to address the allegations and said that he did not want to be part of another "Kobe Bryant soap opera".
Malone said in a recent New York Post report, "We had a little issue. I'm a grown man. I'm a grown man, too. Are we cool? I don't hold grudges. But here's what I'd say to anybody: If Kobe don't like me today, that's Kobe Bryant's fault or his problem. I don't have no problem. I come in peace, but I do prepare for war if I have to.''
Malone added in the interview with Hill, "You gotta understand, Marc, I'm a hunter, so I'm already right there anyways. ... I love Westerns. I'm old school Western. Back in the day when you had a beef, you didn't get guns and knives, you just "hey Marc, I got a problem." We just go in the back with no cameras, no nothing, let's just knuckle up and get it over with."
Malone later said, "I'm 6'9", 272, to be exact. I'm not hard to find. I don't want no trouble, but if something gotta go down, I'm not playing fair. We gotta get down, then we gotta get down, I'm just telling you."