Karl Malone: I’ll fight Kobe Bryant if he’s still mad I flirted with wife

KARL Malone and Kobe Bryant have had a longstanding beef that stretches back over a decade, reportedly over Bryant’s wife, Vanessa.

Mailman’s delivery to Kobe’s wife sparks war

KARL Malone and Kobe Bryant have had a longstanding beef that stretches back over a decade, reportedly over Bryant’s wife, Vanessa. Malone said Wednesday on Huff Post Live he doesn’t want any trouble, but Bryant has a standing offer to fight him if the Lakers legend still feels wronged.

“We had a little issue. I’m a grown man. I’m a grown man, too,’’ Malone told host Marc Lamont Hill. “Are we cool? I don’t hold grudges. But here’s what I’d say to anybody: If Kobe don’t like me today, that’s Kobe Bryant’s fault or his problem. I don’t have no problem. I come in peace, but I do prepare for war if I have to.’’

Back in 2004, Bryant accused Malone of pushing up on his wife. According to an ESPN story at the time, Malone’s agent, Dwight Manley, told the LA Times that Vanessa asked Malone one day, “Hey, cowboy, what are you hunting?” since he was wearing a cowboy hat and boots. According to Manley, she asked twice, and Malone replied: “I’m hunting for little Mexican girls.”

Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers and wife Vanessa arrive at the 2009 ESPY Awards.

Bryant called Malone out back in 2004 over the alleged comments that resurfaced a decade later.

Malone said the sum total of their conversations since have been passing each other in the occasional hallway and nodding “What’s up” as they walked by.

“I don’t feel tension. But you’ve got to understand, Marc, I’m a hunter, so I’m already right there anyways … I’m ready at all times,’’ Malone said.

“You have the problem, I don’t. I love Westerns. I’m old-school Western. Back in the day when you had a beef, you didn’t go get guns and knives. You just, ‘Hey Marc, I got a problem.’ We just go in the back with no cameras, no nothing, and let’s just knuckle up and get it over with.’’

When Hill asked Malone if he ever had given Bryant that invitation, Malone said, “No, but it’s standing. It’s a standing [offer].’’

The 51-year-old Malone said Bryant, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury, could easily track him down.

“Hey, this is what I’d say to you. I don’t have a problem. People say whatever they want to say and that’s great. I’m 6-9, 272, to be exact: I’m not hard to find,’’ Malone said. “I don’t want no trouble. But if something’s got to go down, I’m not playing fair. [If] we’ve got to get down, then we’ve got to get down. I’m just telling you.’’

This story originally appeared on the New York Post

Originally published as Karl Malone: I’ll fight Kobe Bryant if he’s still mad I flirted with wife