Emcee, Ian Eagle: We're here at Center Court of the NBA Store, I am Ian Eagle, the play-by-play voice of the New Jersey Nets and also from WFAN Radio and we've got a special event set up for you here today. This is a Super Saturday in New York Sports and this is yet another element of what is turning out to be just a great sports weekend here in the tri-state area. The NBA MVP Trophy presentation is coming up. Before we get things started with the MVP in 1998-99, David Stern the NBA Commissioner is on hand to join us in the festivities.

The Mailman picked up his trophy in New York on June 5. (Daria Debuono/NBA Photos)

Stern: It is my great honor again to present the Most Valuable Player award for the 1998-99 season this time to Karl Malone. Now, for Karl Malone, he just had an average season for him which just happens to be an MVP season - almost 24 points per game, over four assists per game, between one and two steals a game, over nine rebounds, played in 49 of the 50 games - but I think, and by the way led the Jazz to a tie for the leagues best record. But I think that in this case a few pictures will be better than a thousand words. Let me introduce the video for a couple of minutes to show you what Karl Malone really did this season.

[video presentation]

Stern: If I can be indulged for about a minute, I'd like to say something about Karl that puts this extraordinary year in the context of a career that is no less extraordinary. Karl has been with us for 14 years and the Jazz have played during the regular season in those years 1,116 games and Karl Malone has played in 1,110 of those. What an extraordinary statistic. Along the way he's been an 11-time NBA All-Star, he happens to have picked up two gold medals in 1992 in Barcelona and 1996 in Atlanta, and of course he was appropriately voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

What more can he do? Well, I'll tell you what he can do, he can win his second MVP trophy in three years and I think, I'm not positive, but when I awarded him the last time he was the oldest player to have won it. Here he is just a few weeks shy of his 36th birthday with every intention of doing it again and again and again. Ladies and gentleman, join me in welcoming the 1998-99 NBA MVP, Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz.

Malone: First of all I would like to say that on behalf of my family, the Jazz organization and the NBA, thanks Commissioner for the award. To the fans, I do see some Jazz fans here, I would like to say that it is truly an honor and the Commissioner was kidding me in the back, he couldn't wait to tell everyone that I was the oldest one to ever win the award.

I just want to say that its been a pleasure. I've been fortunate to have played with a lot of great guys on my team, the Jazz organization has been real supportive, but I also want to say that the fans in Utah have taken Karl Malone the good with the bad and I want to say to them that I appreciate everything you've done for me and my family. More importantly, I want to thank the NBA for giving a kid from Summerfield, Louisiana, with a population of about 200, the opportunity to do something that he loves to do. So, Commissioner, I want to say on behalf of my family and the Jazz organization, thank you very much.

Eagle: 1998-99 NBA MVP Karl Malone, does this put things in perspective a little bit? In Salt Lake City you would expect this kind of response and here is New York City, look at the reaction.

Malone: Well I know it's New York, of course I know it's New York. It was about four hours to get here but it was nice. It was a nice four hours Commissioner and Larry (Miller), thank you very much. I have played with the Utah Jazz and we're a Western Conference team and you really never know because you just suit up to play every night and you really don't ever know until you go to the other cities and see the response. Over the years, the Jazz organization has had a great following and have gotten better and better.

In the beginning, I am in Utah and of course the season didn't end the way I would have liked it to have, but I am sitting at home and I get the call and your first reaction is, ?God, I would just like to stay here.? But, when you think of the magnitude of the award, other than winning a championship, and Commissioner, being 35 years old and just short of 36, it's a great award and a great accomplishment. Not just for myself, but for everybody and to have it here in New York, this is definitely the place to do it with the national media. I just want to say thanks for the reception because you really never know [what the reception is going to be like].

Eagle: When you won the first one you said it looked nice on the mantle, but you said at that point that you needed a friend for you're other little buddy. You've got another friend here [points to trophy].

Malone: I just made the statement because I've been known to make some statements. I made the statement in jest, I think. I was just kind of kidding about it. To me, my numbers were definitely down this year as a whole and I am not doing any of the voting at all and for the media to pick me to win my second MVP award and to have it sitting next to another one, I think the reality of it will hit on the way back home or even more when I get home to see the other one.

Like I said, I never came into this league to win individual awards, they've just happen to come with the territory. Other than a championship, to win this award and have been fortunate to win two and stay healthy doing that, I think that when I'm finished playing it will really sink in because it is a great award.

Eagle: Only nine players all-time have won multiple MVP awards and that is another piece of the puzzle that you have to put in to perspective. You have joined a very elite group.

Malone: Also, because I am reminded of it a lot, nine players have won it and I think all of them have won a championship, I think. I am not really sure, but I think that's the case and that's my main goal. I think if I could trade both of these to win a championship, I would do it today. It is going to be a lot more hard work and I am looking forward to the challenge because it's a challenge. I don't think I am the most talented player out of all those nine players, because I respect them. What I try to do every night is come to work every night and do the best job that I can do.

Eagle: You've made it very clear, you expected to be playing now. That's what you go into the season expecting every single year. That did not happen this year. How difficult has it been watching and trying to keep track of what has been happening since Utah's exit?

Malone: First and foremost, with this Jazz organization and this team, I have kind of been the focal point for a lot of years and it's been a challenge to me to keep my motivation going. I don't like to say this because we have a lot of young people here, but I am kind of a sore loser when it comes to professional sports because I want to be still playing. I think you win with pride and dignity in this profession and you lose as well.

There are four teams playing now and they are four great teams. Any one of them have an opportunity, so I wish the best of luck to them. But, I can't actually say I am watching it because I am not. I am doing everything I can to keep my mind off of it. Like I said, it is my goal to win a championship, but my main goal is to continue to try to do the things that I'm capable of doing on and off the court.

Eagle: Knick fans want to know who you think emerges from these Eastern Conference Finals which are tied at one game apiece now?

Malone: First and foremost, I think you want to know the answer to this because you know. But anyway, I think that I am not by any means an expert at this, but a lot of times when you look at the Knicks situation and you see Patrick (Ewing) out, that's kind of a rallying cry so to speak for a team. If you take those guys light, because every guy on that team now is capable of raising their game, so I don't think that it's going to be a cakewalk.

I have been in that situation myself where you have a star player out and those other guys get a lot of energy. They want people to know that they can play the game of basketball. I'm going to do like the Commissioner, I am not going to pick any team. All of them are great. That's the right thing to do, but it's going to be a great series.

Eagle: You're learning.

Malone: Hey, I've got to play those guys myself so I don't want to give them any ammunition.

Eagle: How many more years can you play?

Malone: I don't know. I think the main thing for me right now is to really enjoy my summer. There are a lot of things going on with the Jazz organization and I think they've got a tough summer. I've always tried to condition myself in the summertime and I always get a feeling about two or three days or four days after that when maybe I should be resting, to start back training again. If I keep that desire and the training at the level that I've been for 14 years because I think it's been successful, I want to continue to play.

What I don't want to do out of respect to the Jazz organization, is play to long and keep them from doing things that they need to. I think it is a decision we'll make this summer on how many years. I think ultimately, Larry Miller there the owner, it's going to be his decision because it's not going to be mine.

Eagle: Karl Malone, the 1998-99 NBA MVP. We'll take some questions from the media right now.

Q: What are you thoughts on Patrick Ewing having to sit out the rest of the playoffs?

Malone: I think the thing about it is that I came in with Patrick. He was the first pick and I was the 13th pick so we kind of got to know each other. Over the years, we've been on the Olympic team together and got some opportunities to talk. As an athlete at the top of your game, you feel really bad for him because he can't do anything that he wants to do. I know I've been injured at times and you go out on the floor and your body just doesn't respond.

For Patrick to be out, I think it is going to hurt him more than anybody realizes because he's played the first two rounds with injuries. I'm from Louisiana and I remember Willis Reed and how he played the game and he came back with injures and I saw Patrick a little bit of the time and how he was laboring up and down the floor to try and help his team win. I feel bad for him personally because I know how hard he's worked. I know the things he went through to be at the top. To not to be able to play I feel really bad for Patrick on that aspect.

Q: How important has John Stockton been to your career and do you think he'll be back next year?

Malone: I think John has been very important in my career and vice versa. If you ever played the game and you played with a point guard, when you play inside a lot and you come off a down pick or something like that, as a big guy that gets a lot of momentum in one direction you want the basketball at one particular time right then and right now. To play with a guy like John that just knows, we don't talk about it. I think he's been a lot to my career.

Unfortunately this is not a two person award, but I can go down the list and I've been playing with a guy like John Stockton where it's scary that he's thinking what I'm thinking and we don't even say anything to each other. It's been great and do I think he's coming back? I think I want to let him make that decision and whatever decision he makes I am going to support him. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag. I am learning to think a lot of the times before I say anything, so this is going to be one of those times.

Q: The fact that Michael Jordan retired this year and that you've played two consecutive years in the NBA Finals, did you put some pressure on yourself this year to be the man to carry your team to a championship?

Malone: First of all, that pressure has been like that for me for at least 12 years as I've been with the Jazz organization. When you come into this league, you come into this league and say that you want to be the man. That's just one of those little things that you want to be. Well, all of a sudden in this business, be careful for what you wish for because not only do you want to be the man, say you are, well every defense out there wants to stop you. So, you have to raise your game.

Of course I put pressure on myself. I feel that at this point in my career, the only thing I haven't done is win a title. Is it meant to be? Who knows? If it don't happen, will there be a void in my career? Absolutely. A lot of people say that I have a great career and won't miss that. I will and I'm not going to tell a story to you. I put pressure on myself and that's why you play the game. Nothing is guaranteed. You have to come out and play hard every night, but like I said, Michael retired and the game will never be the same.

I think people need to realize one thing on that subject, there is no more Michael's, there's no more Willis Reeds and Dr. J's at all. Let these guys now be themselves because Michael was in a class by himself and will always be that way. I think we need to let that go and get on with the NBA. I think the NBA, the Commissioner and everybody is doing a heck of a job promoting it now. So that's what we should look at.

Q: Besides working on your conditioning, what are your plans for the offseason?

Malone: Right now I really don't want to do anything but hang out with my kids. I love the outdoors and those kinds of things. I don't want to do a lot. I just want to right now get my thoughts and where I want to head and just enjoy my family and friends. I want them to enjoy this. I think we're going to have a fan appreciation day in Utah this week sometime and I'm looking forward to that, but after that I want to spend time with my family and my friends.

Eagle: Well were going to wrap this one up with a hard question for you Karl, this one from the kids in the audience.

Q: What kind of routine do you go through to prepare yourself for a game?

Malone: I really don't think I'm superstitious but I'm sure it's going to come across like that. I have to eat a certain food at the same time about 11:15 every day. I need to get a nap in before 1 p.m. I have to take a shower at 3 o'clock. When I get to the arena I have to have my quiet time when I don't like to talk to anybody. That's kind of a routine that I have. I wear the same socks all the time and if they get holes in them I stitch them myself. So those are the things that go on in the locker room that you'd never know. You would probably call me superstitious, but I've done them for 14 years and it works so I'm afraid to change now.

Eagle: I think that qualifies as superstition. That's going to do it for us. Again, Karl Malone is the 1998-99 NBA MVP. Let's thank David Stern for coming down to the NBA Store. A big weekend in New York sports and enjoy it everybody.