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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Another Utah Jazz legend has joined his sport's best. Karl Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of fame Friday in Springfield, Mass.
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Malone gives short Hall of Fame jacket to boy
Karl Malone will go home with a spot in Hall of Fame. Unlike the other inductees, though, he'll go without his Hall of Fame jacket.A couple of weeks ago, The Mailman said he planned on keeping his speech short -- that he did. He also said he didn't want to cry, but he ended up doing that too.
Malone struggled with his emotions throughout his speech, especially at the end when he recalled his mother, saying she had died seven years ago Friday.
"I'm here because of her," he said.
Malone also thanked late Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller for believing in him. Malone is a two-time MVP and second on the league's career scoring list, and said his success came from staying true to his Louisiana roots.
"I hope I did it the way my peers did it before me," Malone said. "I didn't do anything but try to play hard."
Malone joins longtime Jazz point guard John Stockton and current Jazz Head Coach Jerry Sloan in the Hall of Fame.
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Story compiled with contribuitons from Rod Zundel and The Associated Press.
