Jazz forward Karl Malone says he never meant to suggest that he was willing to carry the Olympic torch only if he was allowed to carry the flame into the Opening Ceremony. Yet he expressed frustration with the secretive nature of the Olympic organizers, saying he needs to make plans for a break in the NBA schedule that weekend.
   
The Salt Lake Organizing Committee said Tuesday that Malone would not be part of the Opening Ceremony. "Those positions were identified and slotted many months ago," according to SLOC spokeswoman Caroline Shaw. "We're keeping it secret to have an element of surprise."
   
Malone spoke last week of the thrill of carrying the torch into the stadium, as opposed to running "through the desert" somewhere during the torch relay. He says he was laughing when he used that expression.