Mailman’s House Is Bigger Than Post Office

Karl Malone is living in Newport Beach and dazzling the front-row Hollywood set at Staples Center these days, but he’s likely to have a strong connection to Salt Lake City for some time.

Malone still has a house -- OK, mansion -- to sell and it’s going to take a big spender to move in to the 17,230-square-foot hunting-lodge style home built in the hills above the city. It’s listed at $6.1 million and the annual property taxes are almost $28,500.

It could take “two or three years to sell,� according to real estate agent Linda Secrist, who specializes in high-end homes.

It sits on two acres, has eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a 30-foot-high river-rock fireplace, a six-car garage, indoor and outdoor sports courts, three guest suites, a pool house and a water park with a 100-foot slide.

Trivia time: What San Antonio guard led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (.345) during the 1982-83 season?

Where’s the gecko? Morning Briefing understands about temptations and human frailties, and so it’s possible to sometimes sympathize with athletes who run afoul of the law ... but this one is just plain stupid.

Trail Blazer forward Rasheed Wallace, who makes tens of millions to play basketball, was stopped in Portland and cited for driving without insurance.

On a role: Michelle Kwan is going to star on Broadway ... although she’s sharing top billing with Kermit the Frog.

The five-time world champion figure skater will appear on a Times Square billboard sponsored by the Foundation for a Better Life. The “Pass It On� campaign promotes positive values. Nancy Fletcher, of Outdoor Advertising Assn. of America, says Kwan and Kermit “provide a unique opportunity to inspire young people with great role models.�

OK, but how many young New Yorkers figure to grow up to be champion ice skaters or famous puppets?

Posse pals: Greek Olympic officials have decided to allow athletes competing in the 2004 Athens Games to bring along personal security, as long as they’re not carrying any weapons. The United States reportedly is going to be permitted as many as 100 bodyguards.

Heck, that won’t even be enough for the 12 NBA players scheduled to be there.

Hasslin’ hounds: A sports marketing group in Atlanta conducted a poll recently to find out the most-hated sports.

And the winner is ... dog fighting?

You think that answer was provided by the pollsters or people came up with that deplorable “sport� on their own?

Pro wrestling was second, followed by bullfighting, boxing, PGA Tour golf, PGA Champions Tour golf, LPGA Tour golf, NASCAR, Major League Soccer and men’s tennis.

Apparently, respondents didn’t like sports that are too violent, or too affable.

Trivia answer: Mike Dunleavy.

And finally: Dallas wide receiver Joey Galloway, describing Coach Bill Parcells’ tough-love approach to ESPN: “If you can eliminate the yelling and listen to the message, there’s a great message there.�