Bryant now says Malone welcome

Kobe Bryant would love to have Karl Malone back with the Los Angeles Lakers, and believes comments he made in a recent radio interview were misunderstood. Bryant said yesterday that he tried to call Malone "and square it all out." Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, said Tuesday that his client had ruled out a return to the Lakers because of what Bryant said and what the agent called "recent personal attacks made in private." Bryant said he was shocked by Malone's reaction. "I meant nothing by it. It wasn't directed toward him," Bryant said. "I'd love to have him back here, everybody would . . . Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman underwent emergency surgery for acute appendicitis during a visit to his hometown. Kaman had the Clippers' permission to be in Wyoming, Mich., to have his high school jersey retired. He had surgery and is expected to be out at least two weeks . . . Cleveland Cavaliers forward Robert Traylor will miss 3-4 weeks after breaking his left pinkie in Tuesday night's 103-97 victory over the New Jersey Nets . . . Forward Kaniel Dickens, the CBA's leading scorer, averaging 29.4 points and 9.6 rebounds for the Idaho Stampede, was signed by the Nets . . . Florida assistant basketball coach Major Parker was arrested on charges of selling half a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover Gainsville police officer for $12,800. Parker, 26, was suspended indefinitely . . . Teenager Michelle Wie enjoyed her experience of playing in a PGA Tour event so much last year, that she'll do it again. The 10th-grader accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in next month's Sony Open in Honolulu. Wie came within one shot of making the cut at the tournament last year.

MISCELLANY
White repeats as Heisman finalist
Jason White has a chance to join Archie Griffin as a two-time Heisman Trophy winner. The Oklahoma quarterback, who won last year's Heisman, was chosen as one of five finalists for college football's most prestigious award. Joining White for Saturday's award ceremony in New York will be his Oklahoma freshman teammate, running back Adrian Peterson, Southern California teammates quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush, and Utah quarterback Alex Smith. Griffin, Ohio State's great running back, won the Heisman in 1974 and 1975 and is the only two-time winner. Among Heisman contenders who did not make the top 5 were Texas running back Cedric Benson, Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell, and California teammates Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Arrington . . . Georgia defensive end David Pollack won the Lombardi Award as the nation's top college lineman, a year after being runner-up for the honor . . . The Black Coaches Association wants prospective football recruits and assistant coaches to stay away from South Carolina because the school ignored the group's recommendation for a more open coaching search. Director Floyd Keith said South Carolina never contacted the BCA although the group sent the school search guidelines before Steve Spurrier was hired to replace Lou Holtz last month . . . Lance Armstrong will decide in May whether he will race in next summer's Tour de France, which he has won the last six years . . . Danica Patrick will become the third woman to race in the IRL, joining Indy 500 champion Buddy Rice and Vitor Meira as drivers on the Rahal-Letterman team next season, co-owner Bobby Rahal said.