Miller, Malone trade potshots

A frustrated Larry H. Miller took some pokes at Karl Malone Friday, responding to recent media interviews in which the Utah Jazz star criticized his longtime team.

And Malone wasted no time firing back at Miller, in a radio interview from the Grand America Hotel.

Miller's opportunity to vent came moments after the Jazz's press conference at the Delta Center, during which they introduced the two newest Jazzmen — draft picks Sasha Pavlovic and Maurice Williams.

In his comments during the press conference, Miller made the statement, "We're rebuilding. There's some people that don't seem to like that, but it's a fact of life."

Malone, who becomes a free agent on July 1, no doubt would be included among the "some people" mentioned by Miller, a fact made plain when the Jazz owner was asked how he felt about a much-publicized three-hour 1280AM radio interview Malone did, which was followed days later by a 90-minute TV interview.

"Much of what he said was ridiculous," Miller said, adding that he was particularly offended by the many references Malone made to the Jazz not trying to contact him, when Miller made it clear at the John Stockton retirement ceremony that he talked with Malone that night and said he was available to talk anytime.

In a Friday afternoon radio interview on 1280AM, Malone said he had no intention of contacting Miller because he didn't want these negotiations to get emotional.

Miller earlier suggested Malone might have at least one other reason for avoiding him.

"Karl has said he wouldn't be intimidated by me in a fistfight, but he would be intimidated sitting down with me and talking about money," Miller said.

League rules prohibit teams from talking contract with players before July 1, though Miller has said it wouldn't be inappropriate to discuss "conceptual" issues. And that's what he'd hoped Malone would do.

In the meantime, Miller has been seething over Malone's comments, which the Jazz owner described as "confrontational and selfish."

"If you want me to use stronger words, I will," Miller continued. "But you can't print the words I'd use."

Miller also said, "The confrontations are unneeded, the insults are unneeded, and I'm sick of it."