Considering all the storylines swirling Thursday night, what with Bryon Russell having taken some shots at the Jazz on Wednesday and Michael Jordan having hit just a few big ones over the years against them, it's little wonder, really, that at some point during the Washington Wizards' 105-102 win over the Jazz, things sure did seem to become personal.
     
Several of the principals involved, including Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and point guard John Stockton, essentially denied that it would, or did.
     
But Karl Malone, for one, did not.
     
"Everything's personal when you're playing against somebody," said Malone, whose 26 points on 9-of-10 shooting were a game-high at the sold-out MCI Center.
     
And there were plenty of notable "somebodies" on the floor Thursday, not the least of whom was Russell.