I was never a Karl Malone fan because he always had this holier than thou persona and always critized the young players in the NBA for being good for nothing. I guess it takes one to know one.


Dad Karl Malone a footnote in Demetrius Bell’s life
Allen Wilson
Updated: 04/29/08 3:54 PM



If you’re a fan of NBA great Karl Malone, you might change your mind when you start reading this column.

If you never heard of Buffalo Bills rookie offensive tackle Demetrius Bell, you’ll be rooting for him when I tell you his story.

Bell was a seventh-round draft pick and two-year starter at Northwestern State, the same Louisiana school that produced cornerback Terrence McGee.

Bell is the son of Malone, but the Mailman had no role in Bell’s success except passing along athletic genes.

The two have had very little contact during Bell’s life. His mother, Gloria Bell, reportedly was only 13 years old and Malone a college sophomore at Louisiana Tech when Demetrius was born. Malone might have served jail time had her family asked the district attorney to file criminal charges.

Bell didn’t even know Malone was his father until after graduating from high school. When they finally met, Malone told the 18-year-old Bell it was too late to be his father, and that Bell would have to “earn his money on his own.”

In a 1998 story in the Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune, Gloria Bell said, “Demetrius is ashamed that his dad doesn’t claim him. But I’ve told him it is not his fault.”

Malone also fathered twins while in high school. One of them is WNBA star Cheryl Ford. It took years to claim the twins, and now he and his wife, Kay, fully accept them as part of their family.

But what about Demetrius? Doesn’t he deserve the same measure of love and recognition?

I can certainly relate to Bell’s experience. I didn’t meet my father until after my 40th birthday. Our separation was under different circumstances, but I can imagine how difficult it must have been for Bell not having a connection with the man partly responsible for his existence. At least my father and I have a relationship now.

As a first-time father, I can’t understand how any man could turn his back on his own blood. There’s a word for that, and it’s appropriate: Deadbeat.

Fortunately for Bell, he’s doing just fine without Malone. Bell has clearly moved on with his life.

“All of that’s behind me right now,” Bell said during a conference call Sunday. “I feel good I made it this far. 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. Everything is a plus right now.”

Bell has come a long way as a football player in a short time. His high school didn’t have a football team, so he focused on basketball and was good enough to earn a scholarship to Northwestern State. He played in 88 games, with six starts, and was one of four Division I athletes to play basketball and football last season.

Bell didn’t play offensive tackle until three weeks before the 2006 season opener at Kansas. That was the first of his 22 consecutive starts over the last two years.

Whether Bell will stick with the Bills remains to be seen. Seventh-round picks are the long shots on a preseason roster. But a player of his athletic ability deserves a good look.

“I’ve still got room for everything,” Bell said. “I think my strongest part is pass blocking. But I’m getting stronger by the moment. That’s a plus on my stopping the bull rush. Run-blocking is always getting better when I’m adding bulk and getting stronger. And technique- wise, it’s all about the coach teaching me his technique or what technique he wants. I think it’s all on the upside.”

Here’s hoping Bell has a long and prosperous NFL career. He might never be as great in his sport as Malone was in his, but Bell has already surpassed his father as a man.

awilson@buffnews.com

dag.......Mailman was halfway to a Shawn Kemp and 1/3 of the way to a Travis Henry BEFORE he was in the NBA.
Darren McFadden send help.

Lesson to the young (whether you are an athlete or not): Keep your seeds in the BAG or else you will buy the farm.

Can't understand deadbeats.

quote:

Originally posted by bornthrilla:
Can't understand deadbeats.

Hey, it's not for us to understand. We aren't deadbeats, so we can't relate to this. I will say this: if you had that son of yours outside of wedlock with some skank you didn't know on a one night stand, well, you may look at things a little differently than you do now.

As far as Malone, he's a clown to me, just like Henry, Kemp, and McFaden.

My parents would have made me take care of my kids, even if I didn't set out the mother. Blood is blood.

BTW - At 13, back in the day, I doubt she was a gold digger. And but for the parents not pressing charges, his raggedy arse would never have even been, The Mailman." He woulda' been just another Negro doing time.

Forget being a deadbeat. What the HE!! was he doing sleeping with a 13 year-old girl?!

That is amazing.... Who knows..she might have even been 12 when they were sleeping together..

There is something really wrong with that!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FAMUGAL,

quote:

Malone told the 18-year-old Bell it was too late to be his father, and that Bell would have to “earn his money on his own.”

That statement tells me more than I need to realize Malone is a great big stinky pile of horse shat.

Karl Malone is a creep. That is all.

If even half of this story is true his azz needs to be called on the carpet.

Sadley he was always quick with a soundbite for the white media on how young NBA players lacked morals.

quote:

Originally posted by hulaw94:
My parents would have made me take care of my kids, even if I didn't set out the mother. Blood is blood.

BTW - At 13, back in the day, I doubt she was a gold digger. And but for the parents not pressing charges, his raggedy arse would never have even been, The Mailman." He woulda' been just another Negro doing time.

Exactly, just a molestor.


Oh yeah, your second pic has officially scarred me for life.

quote:

Originally posted by hulaw94:
My parents would have made me take care of my kids, even if I didn't set out the mother. Blood is blood.

BTW - At 13, back in the day, I doubt she was a gold digger. And but for the parents not pressing charges, his raggedy arse would never have even been, The Mailman." He woulda' been just another Negro doing time.

quote:

Originally posted by Bison 4 Life:


Sadley he was always quick with a soundbite for the white media on how young NBA players lacked morals.

Exactly or was it the do as I say and not as I do syndrome that struck The Mailman.

But a question for the lawyers...is there a thing as back child support?

Karl Malone belongs in the same company of hypocrites like Bill Cosby, Bill McCartheny, Michael Jordan, Newt Gringich and Charles Barkley..

quote:

Originally posted by shine3000:

quote:

Originally posted by bornthrilla:
Can't understand deadbeats.

Hey, it's not for us to understand. We aren't deadbeats, so we can't relate to this. I will say this: if you had that son of yours outside of wedlock with some skank you didn't know on a one night stand, well, you may look at things a little differently than you do now.

As far as Malone, he's a clown to me, just like Henry, Kemp, and McFaden.

My parents would have done the same, or they would have disowned me first and helped the mother.

quote:

Originally posted by B Triple:
But a question for the lawyers...is there a thing as back child support?

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder why his mother never sued for child support.

quote:

Originally posted by hulaw94:
My parents would have made me take care of my kids, even if I didn't set out the mother. Blood is blood.

BTW - At 13, back in the day, I doubt she was a gold digger. And but for the parents not pressing charges, his raggedy arse would never have even been, The Mailman." He woulda' been just another Negro doing time.

My parents would have done the same, or they would have disowned me first and helped the mother.

quote:

Originally posted by FAMUGAL:
Forget being a deadbeat. What the HE!! was he doing sleeping with a 13 year-old girl?!

That is amazing.... Who knows..she might have evenbeen 12 when they were sleeping together..

There is something really wrong with that!

That is an excellent question.

quote:

Originally posted by Bison 4 Life:
If even half of this story is true his azz needs to be called on the carpet.

Sadley he was always quick with a soundbite for the white media on how young NBA players lacked morals.

I agree. He was very quick to say something.

He loved the fans of Utah, and they "loved" him too. Well, I wonder how much do they love him now.

quote:

Originally posted by EB:

He loved the fans of Utah, and they "loved" him too. Well, I wonder how much do they love him now.

Well with all the polygamy/ child marriages in Utah, it probably won't even register on the radar.

quote:

Originally posted by DIZZNESS:

Oh yeah, your second pic has officially scarred me for life.

Yeah, I gotta' keep 'dem puppies in line. Sometimes they wanna try and get all big and come off the porch.

I remember Rick James' song "17." These dudes, with these 15 and 13 year olds, are one-upping him. This is sickening.....

quote:

Originally posted by B Triple:

quote:

Originally posted by Bison 4 Life:


Sadley he was always quick with a soundbite for the white media on how young NBA players lacked morals.

Exactly or was it the do as I say and not as I do syndrome that struck The Mailman.

But a question for the lawyers...is there a thing as back child support?

Do you think he might have been taking care of them on the sly? And that's why charges were never filed against him?