STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

It took some finesse getting the photo ops, what with the 6-foot-9 Karl Malone towering over most everyone who turned out for the Grand Opening of the Karl Malone motorsports store in Bellevue Saturday.

But countless proud parents lined up to get pictures of their children with “The Mailman”—some of the youngsters sporting their basketball jerseys and basketballs in hand—as dozens of other children shot basketballs into a hoop outside.

Sue Woodyard thanked the former Utah Jazz record holder for his hard work as a Utah Jazz player.

Karl Malone wannabes shot hoops during the four-hour Grand Opening.

Hard work? It was nothing, he told her. It was all play.

Malone spent 18 years with the Utah Jazz, during which he scored 36,928 points—third mot in NBA history. He also set the records for most free throws made and attempted and was tied for the second-most first team All-NBA selections with Kobe Bryant. LeBron James had two more selections with 13.

Basketball players came from as far away as Boise to meet The Mailman.

Inside the Karl Malone store speed and durability of a different sort reigned supreme.