Bell, Sloan know how to feed the fire that keeps them hot

The Jazz played just two games last week.

Jazz co-captain Raja Bell was ejected once, from Tuesday's loss to Charlotte, for arguing with a referee.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan does not necessarily condone such behavior from Bell.

But he certainly can relate.

"He knows he does it a little bit too much at times," Sloan said, "but, also, you can't take all the fire out of a guy."

Sloan made a career out of playing with fire, and it burns him to watch players who won't.

"For some, odd strange reason," the Jazz coach said of his on-the-edge state, "that kept me pumped up to go."

Fire in the belly. Matches in the mind.

Whatever it takes, Sloan suggested.

"When you play a long time in this business, you've got to play games with yourself every day to say, 'How can I get my job done well today?' " he said. "I mean, some guys don't care, so they just come out and ... and say, 'Here we go.' But, if you care and you're interested in doing well, you've got to find ways to get yourself into where you've got to be.

"Some people may say, 'Oh, the guy's crazy,' " Sloan added. "Well, they've said that about me for years."

Sloan - whose count of technical fouls called on him this season (three) is down compared to the past, but whose passion for the game is not - usually could not care less what is said about him.

If the oft-emotional Bell plays similarly, the Jazz coach suggested, so be it.

"Something has to get you boiling," Sloan said. "And if you like basketball, then as soon as that thing goes in the air it starts getting you to squirm and twist and carry on - and maybe in a bad way sometimes.

"But that's who you are. And it's wrong. I realize it's wrong. It's not acceptable behavior sometimes. But I've always felt that maybe it's better than crawling up in the corner and hiding. I think if you're that kind of person ... then I don't want to get into a real battle with you on my team."

MALONE VISITS SPURS: Ex-Jazz star Karl Malone is believed to have met Saturday in San Antonio with Spurs officials, but there were no indications afterward as to whether or not the current NBA free agent planned to sign with the team.