Karl Malone, Inspired by Brett Favre Decides to Un-Retire.

Updated: August 12, 2008, 3:54 PM EST

We're excited to have Karl back on the team this year.

“We’re going to take this just one year at a time,” Jazz GM Kevin O’Connor said on a conference call early Thursday morning. “We’re excited to have Karl back on the team this year.” “With the future of Carlos Boozer unsure, this is the best move that we could make at this time-besides, the fans love him.”
Malone, who announced his NBA playing career was over Feb 13th 2005, was introduced at a 6 p.m. news conference at Energy Solutions Arena yesterday afternoon.

Malone's new No. 32 Jazz jersey already was for sale on the team's Web site

Needing to get up to speed with the Jazz’s new playbook, Karl wanted to join his team as quickly as possible so he can get ready for the season opener against the Denver Nuggets October 29th.
He spent the night at Larry Miller’s home, before driving to the ESA to meet with Jazz officials.
O’Connor said on KFAN yesterday morning, “…Karl was very aggressive; he was very active and did a great job selling himself to Larry and myself.”
“I am looking forward to seeing Karl Malone in a Utah Jazz jersey,” Jazz Chairman and CEO Larry H. Miller said in a statement released by the team. “He represents a significant addition to this franchise, and reflects our commitment to putting the best possible product on the court.”

...Karl was very aggressive; he was very active and did a great job selling himself to Larry and myself.

Malone’s new No. 32 Jazz jersey already was for sale on the team’s Web site about an hour after the signing was announced.   As a result of the trade, the Jazz released forward Paul Millsap on Tuesday to free up space for Karl’s contract under the salary cap.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for us,” Kevin O’Connor said. “I have all the respect in the world for Millsap as a person, as a player. We’ve accomplished a lot of good things with Paul … He gave his heart and soul to this organization for a long time. I really appreciate everything he’s done.”
The Jazz will go into training camp with an open competition between Carlos Boozer and Karl Malone after Carlos never established himself during the playoffs last season.
Finally, late Tuesday, Karl talked to head coach, Jerry Sloan and others in the organization for the first time as he tried to convince Jerry that he would be a good fit for the Jazz.

The Jazz will go into training camp with an open competition between Carlos Boozer and Karl Malone

“He’s coming to a new team,” O’Connor said. “He’s been in one system for a number of years. He doesn’t have a lot of connections to our current roster. We were able to talk through moving to the post more often and other issues.”
The Jazz decided to send an invitation to both John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek to sign on as backup guards after Karl announced his desire to return to the NBA. Given their lack of commitment to Karl, team officials weren’t particularly optimistic that they would come out of retirement as well.

I am looking forward to seeing Karl Malone in a Utah Jazz jersey, Jazz Chairman and CEO Larry H. Miller said

“The train has arrived at the station, whatever analogy you want,” O’Connor said Tuesday morning. “Karl needs to jump on the train and let’s go; I have to keep the train moving.”
The Glen Simmons-Staves Associated Press contributed to this report.