There is no defense for the Mailman
May 1st, 2008 by 
Basketball John
Due to the recent NFL draft, an ten-year-old story has come to light again with new details. Demetrius Bell was drafted by the Buffalo Bills last weekend in the NFL draft. Demetrius is the son of former Jazz great Karl Malone.
The two biggest disturbing details are that one, the mother of Bell was only 13 when she was impregnated by Karl. And two, apparently Malone doesn’t want anything to do with his son. Bell didn’t even learn Karl was his father until he was 18. How’s that for a revelation when you’re 18? I’m sure Malone knew about him for most of this time yet when the two met, Karl told his son, “It was too late for him to be his father and that Bell would earn his money on his own.” I’m sure that’s not the extent of the entire conversation. And I don’t think the kid was looking for a handout. But’s that’s amazingly obtuse of Malone.
As much as you might be inclined to defend Karl on this, there’s no excuse. He’s accepted his daughter Cheryl Ford and his other son into his family. But Bell is just out of luck? There are many more details and questions that need to be asked but it looks like Karl’s not talking. Maybe we’ll hear more as Bell speaks out. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders,
”Nothing against him, but I feel good at this time. If he would’ve been there, yeah, it would’ve been good. But if not, it’s even better,” said Bell, ”Everything’s a plus right now.”
It’s incredibly hard to have success coming from a one-parent household. And it’s great that he was able to use sports to improve himself. Bell’s also become close with his half-sister Ford.
It’s never too late to be a father. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. He’s not after your money Karl. And unless Karl mans up and becomes his father, I can’t be a fan of his any more. We really need to hear from Malone on this.
If there’s any good that comes of this, it will be that Bell won’t make the same mistakes his “father” did.
PIC: Karl Malone eating at the Little America yesterday. According to my Aunt, he licked the plate clean. Maybe he is just cheap.
Posted in Karl Malone | 
May 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Spot on. It really sucks to hear about stuff like this from people you idolized growing up. I’m really disappointed how he has handled this. I just can’t believe that this came out in a Salt Lake Trib article in 1998 and I don’t remember ever hearing about it.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Like actually licked the plate?
I agree that the story sounds pretty reprehensible, but I’m sure someone is preparing a follow-up story right this second. I, for one, am looking forward to Karl’s convoluted response. There may have been more truth to his famous “I’m hunting for little Mexican girls” comment to Kobe Bryant’s wife than we thought.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
That’s what she said. I asked her what he was eating and she said she thought it was chicken but she couldn’t tell for sure because he had licked the plate clean. I’ll get some clarification. Maybe not licking, but maybe he was wiping it clean with his finger.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
i’m not defending karl, but i have a couple of problems with the article. first, why does it say that gloria bell was “reportedly” 13 years? would it have been that difficult for the reporter to check her age?
second, it says that bell didn’t know malone was his father until after he graduated from high school. in the paragraph right after that, it quotes bell’s mother as saying (in 1998) that “demetrius is ashamed that his dad doesn’t claim him.” well, which is it? did he find out in (or before 1998), or after he graduated from high school (which would have been four-ish years ago)?
May 1st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
They’re both in the first link, http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/columns/story/334471.html.
“Bell didn’t even know Malone was his father until after graduating from high school. ”
“His mother, Gloria Bell, reportedly was only 13 years old and Malone a college sophomore”
May 1st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
what i meant was, it quoted gloria bell on demetrius’ feelings in 1998–when demetrius (born in 1984) was 14–about karl being his father (”he is ashamed”)
however, in the paragraph right before that, the article said that demetrius didn’t know karl was his father until after he graduated from high school.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:42 pm
p.s. in case it’s not clear, i’m responding to the buffalonews.com article, not your post.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Good question. I was trying to make sure things lined up before I posted it. I didn’t catch that. I hope more comes out on this.