马龙与马刺队会面商讨计划
MySA: Malone. Spurs meet to discuss his plans
Web Posted: 02/06/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Karl Malone met with Spurs forward Tim Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich in San Antonio on Saturday, leaving open the possibility he might sign with the team.
卡尔马龙与马刺的前锋Tim Duncan和教练Gregg Popovich周六在圣安东尼奥会面,为他和马刺签约留下了很大想象空间。
Malone had been at his Arkansas ranch and was driving home to Newport Beach, Calif., when he stopped to visit with Spurs officials.
马龙之前一直留在自己阿肯色的农场,目前正在回到加州Newport Beach家中的路上。他在中途停下来与马刺官方人员会面。
The meeting ended without any commitment from Malone, who still is debating whether to play this season.
马龙自己对于这次会面没有发表言论。他还在考虑要不要继续打球的问题。
Though Popovich did not press him for a decision, Malone is respectful of the Spurs’ desire not to prolong the talks much past the Feb. 20 All-Star Game. He also expressed interest in reaching a decision soon.
尽管Popovich并没有向马龙施压,要他马上做出决定,马龙会充分尊重马刺队的意见,尽量不把会谈所需要的时间拉长到2月20日全明星赛之后。他也表示希望能尽快做出决定。
Malone underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on June 29 and still is trying to determine whether he is physically and emotionally ready to play even a short season. The Spurs will have 30 games remaining after the All-Star break.
去年6月29日,马龙的右膝因为关节炎动过手术,他一直不能确定自己的体能和精神够不够应付一个较短的赛季。在全明星周之后,马刺还有30场比赛要打。
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford and Malone’s agent, Dwight Manley, helped arrange Saturday’s meeting to give Popovich and Duncan an opportunity to visit in person with Malone.
马刺的总经理R.C. Buford与马龙的经理人Dwight Manley帮助促成了Popovich、Duncan与马龙的会面,这次会见是以个人身份进行的。
Malone still may retire, but he appeared to enjoy his visit with them. Though the Spurs have tried to sign Malone since the summer of 2003, Buford is the only member of the organization to have visited with him at length before Saturday.
马龙可能还是会退休,不过他显然很喜欢这次会面。尽管马刺在2003年尝试过与马龙签约,但直到周六的这次会见之前,马刺队中只有Buford和马龙面谈过。
Popovich has said he will not guarantee Malone a starting job or a set amount of minutes — the same policy he has kept with each of his players. Malone seemed to appreciate Popovich’s honesty.
Popovich说他不能保证马龙的先发位置或者基本的上场时间――他对队内的任何球员都是这一政策。马龙对于Popovich的坦诚似乎报以欣赏。
Almost two weeks ago, Manley told the Los Angeles Times the 41-year-old forward was leaning toward retiring. Others who have spoken with Malone in the past month thought the same.
大约两周之前,Manley告诉《落山矶时报》说这位41岁的前锋倾向于退役。在过去一个月里和马龙交谈过的其他人也有类似结论。
To sign Malone, the Spurs first would have to open a roster spot by trading or waiving another player — further reason for him to reach a decision by the Feb. 24 trade deadline. The Spurs are limited to offering him the 10-year veteran’s minimum of $1.1 million, pro-rated by the number of games left in the season.
为了签下马龙,马刺首先得在目前得人员名单中清出一个位置,交易也好,卖断也好,这样才能便于他在2月24日交易截止日期之前做出决定。按照赛季剩下的场次来计算,马刺会按照10年老球员的最低薪金,给他110万美元。
Popovich said Thursday the team likely was getting close to a cutoff date for signing Malone, but stressed he still was interested in him.
Popovich在周四的时候说关于是否和马龙签约,球队会有一个终止日期,不过他强调自己对于马龙仍然很有兴趣。
Malone is famous for keeping his body in great shape, though the Spurs do not know how much, if any, basketball he has played recently. They especially value his toughness and were impressed with how he defended Duncan in last season’s playoffs.
马龙的健身之道十分出名,不过马刺并不清楚最近他有没有在打篮球。马刺看重的是他的强硬作风,尤其对去年季后赛中他对于Duncan的防守印象深刻。
“Who wouldn’t want him?” Popovich said. “He’s a leader. He’s got the whole package.”
“有谁会不想要他呢?”Popovich说,“他是一个领袖。他具备所有条件。”
Malone has been known to change his mind several times when weighing a tough decision. Shortly before training camp, he said he would play for only the Lakers, if he played at all.
众所周知,马龙在做出重要决定之前经常会几经反复。就在训练营开始之前,他还说过他只会为湖人打球。
After Kobe Bryant accused Malone of flirting with his wife, Malone said he no longer wanted to play with his former teammate. He also has resisted the Lakers’ offer of a front-office job.
在Kobe Bryan指控他和自己的妻子调情之后,马龙说他再也不会和这个前队友一起打球了。他也拒绝了湖人给他的经理性职务。
Several teams have expressed interest in signing Malone, including Miami and Minnesota, but he has seemed most receptive to the Spurs. Malone has never won a championship in his 19-year career, and the Spurs could afford him that opportunity.
其他几支球队也对马龙表示了兴趣,包括迈阿密和明尼苏达,不过他本人比较倾向于接受马刺。马龙的19年职业生涯从未染指冠军,而马刺能给他这个机会。
Malone was one of the Spurs’ biggest rivals during his 18 seasons in Utah. He invited the wrath of local fans during the 1997-98 season when he knocked David Robinson unconscious with an elbow to the head.
在马龙效力于犹他的18个赛季中,他都是马刺的最大敌手之一。他在1997-98赛季用他那著名的铁肘击中David Robinson的头,导致后者昏迷,也因此招来本地球迷长期的怨恨。
On the day Robinson cleaned out his locker for the final time, he was asked who might fit well as his replacement. Said Robinson: “Karl Malone, I guess.”
当Robinson最后一次清理自己的更衣室的时候,有人问他谁是他最好的替代者。Robinson说:“卡尔马龙,我想是。”