When we learned that Buffalo Bills draft pick Demetrius Bell was the son of NBA legend Karl Malone, and that Malone played no part in Bell's upbringing, it was a story that made a lot of people sad. And then when the Buffalo News reported that Bell's mother was 12 or 13 when Malone got her pregnant, it was a story that made a lot of people angry.But it's a story that the mainstream media has almost completely ignored. As far as I can tell, only two newspapers, the Buffalo News and Los Angeles Times, have made any mention of the report that Gloria Bell was 13 years old when she gave birth to Demetrius. A couple of other news sources, including BET.com, have mentioned the story, but I have been unable to find it mentioned in Sports Illustrated or on ESPN or ABC or TNT or Fox or any of the other media outlets that cover the NFL or the NBA.
Malone was 20 when Demetrius Bell was conceived. It is a very serious crime for a 20-year-old man to have sex with a 12- or 13-year-old girl. I can't say whether Malone committed that crime -- I don't have a DNA test or a birth certificate -- but no one has disputed the original Buffalo News report.
An all-time NBA great committing a sex crime that resulted in the birth of a boy who is now in the NFL would seem like the kind of thing the media would be all over. Why is this story being thoroughly ignored?
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I've noticed this same unwillingness to discuss the Malone story. When you consider the coverage of the Clemens affairs, where no crime was committed, it seems inconsistent at best to ignore possible rape allegations against an nba legend.
Posted at 8:34AM on May 2nd 2008 by Ben
2. BET counts as a news source? Using the word 'news' pretty liberally these days, eh? They haven't done a news story since Tavis Smiley left, taking with him their only shred of credibility.
As for Malone, it's crazy that this hasn't gotten more play, and I honestly have no idea why the MSM doesn't seem to care... of course we could have the EXACT same discussion about R. Kelly and Aliya (they married when she was 15, then got it annulled once they were exposed), but the MSM just chooses not to talk about that as well!
Where's Chris Hanson when ya need him!
Posted at 9:28AM on May 2nd 2008 by August West
3. You don't see the main stream media reporting on Clemens.
Posted at 9:42AM on May 2nd 2008 by Randolph J.
4. Esasy answer is its a retired old dude and wont move ratings...hard answer is mainstream media wants to blur the line between young and old and spends so much time telling us that kids are sexual beings so its their chickens coming home to roost..Who owns Sports Illustrated? Time Warner..who owns CW that has Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill..teen sex shows? That would be Time Warner...and so it goes..one vicious circle
Posted at 9:57AM on May 2nd 2008 by carl
5. Easy answer is its a retired old dude and wont move ratings...hard
answer is mainstream media wants to blur the line between young and
old and spends so much time telling us that kids are sexual beings so
its their chickens coming home to roost..Who owns Sports Illustrated?
Time Warner..who owns CW that has Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill..teen
sex shows? That would be Time Warner...and so it goes..one vicious
circle
Posted at 10:03AM on May 2nd 2008 by carl
6. What a sad and sordid story about this man, a great NBA player with the Jazz and the skeletons rattling in the closet. He married Miss Idaho and has many businesses in Utah.
Is he going to watch his son play football? How can he live with himself or look in the mirror and see this red ugly gash he keeps hidden?
You're a pig and everything you have accomplished sickens me. Taking advantage of a juvenile is repulsive. I hope you rot in hell.
Posted at 10:22AM on May 2nd 2008 by Jan
7. Hello.... Reason Number one, Black on Black crime the media thinks no one cares. Number two, In the lower socio economic strata and I am making the assumption Bells Mom was/is, it is a sad truth that 12 and 13 year old girls are considered ready to become women. therefore the media and society really does not see the crime. Personally if I was her I would sue him for 18 years back child support and live very comfortably for the rest of my life. Yes he is not a role model as he has said, just a predator and pedophile
Posted at 10:34AM on May 2nd 2008 by Cyndi
8. Now do we believe Kobe when he says that karl Malone was harassing his young wife??????????????? He has another kid that he paid to not take the paternity test as well. that's 2 bastards from him. Probably about the going average for a black man in america today. Fatherlessness is what has plagued the black man more than anything. It doesn't really matter how society thinks.... If you start life with no father you are at a disadvantage. It is very sad. Especially since money is not the issue. What does Karl's dad think about this.... Oh he's not around either, big surprise.
Posted at 11:51AM on May 2nd 2008 by JB
9. Why is it being ignored?
Because the story came out exactly ten years ago, and those who were paying attention to it dealt with it then.
Posted at 12:04PM on May 2nd 2008 by KD
10.
It is ironic that Malone and Kobe were once, teammates.
Posted at 12:20PM on May 2nd 2008 by DM
11. So the postman really does ring twice!!! Didn't Malone abandon his daughter as well? Well that is until she became a star in her own right. Weather this was a story way back when or not is not the point. The point is Malone is a sick man who should have been in prison not playing in All star games and for NBA titles...Maybe now that his son (and I use that term in the loosest manner) is on the verge of becoming a Pro Athlete himself, daddy dearest will get to know him as well
Murph
Posted at 12:42PM on May 2nd 2008 by murph207
12. Funny, I just wonder how many of you live in Utah. Its like polygamist trying to call a pedophile a rapist...You talk about Malone, why not talk about Clemens, and many other men who aren't black who have kids by younger women, and leave those women. The one House republicon Mark Foley was preying on young boys, under the age of 18...Its not a Black or White Issue, its an Sex issue...
Posted at 2:49PM on May 2nd 2008 by Randolph J.
13. I think the MSM is waiting for an actual conformation on the age. Even the Buffalo News report says "reportedly". I'm sure when the age is confirmed, ESPN and likes will be all over it.
Posted at 3:02PM on May 2nd 2008 by BlueGuy
14. I've sent every post that fanhouse has done on this to a couple of talk radio shows and they haven't said one word about it on air.
Ben Maller who used to do a radio show here in L.A. with Malone...NOTHING...although in fairness he's afraid to say boobies on air and his show sucks.
The First team on Fox with Steve Czaban...NOTHING...and Czabe loves stuff like this.
The only one I've heard mention it was Dan Patrick, and he didn't spend much time on it.
Obviously some sort of memo has gone out that this persona non grata.
Posted at 4:44PM on May 2nd 2008 by Lakergregg
15. Karl Malone didn't play in a major media market like New York, Boston or Los Angeles and Karl isn't a major sports icon with championship rings on his fingers.
Posted at 12:32AM on May 4th 2008 by George B Vieto
16. because he's karl malone...simple fact, they don't know that any of this story is true. until someone tried to arrest him for a crime, they will leave him alone...
and Karl did play in los angeles. and kobe did accuse him of hitting on his wife...no one listened to kobe then..should they now..yes.
the mainstream media is reporting on clemens. but again, no sex was involved apparently (with mindy mccready at least), and he didn't father any kids. but he's being ripped apart for what he's done. no one cares about Karl until someone tries to arrest him. the mom should have said something then. who knows, until we know the whole story, don't get involved.
m
Posted at 2:12PM on May 4th 2008 by MIKE ARING
17. Jorge Posada's new relaity show:
To Catch a Predator
Posted at 1:39PM on May 5th 2008 by 2CarolChilds