Eagles Bell doesnt speak to father Karl Malone NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles' newest offensive lineman, Demetress Bell, doesn't speak to his father. It's something that is sad, no doubt, but happens quite often and is normally overlooked or never found out when dealing with professional athletes. This time, it's a little different.

Bell's father is NBA great Karl Malone.

In this May, 2008 story from ESPN.com's Jemele Hill, we find out that Bell has no relationship with his father.

"I treat it as if my mother went to the sperm bank," Bell said. "I don't hate him for not being in my life. It made me a better person."

The story is an interesting one. Bell grew up in Malone's hometown of Summerfield, La., earned a basketball scholarship to Northwestern State and didn't play football until later in life.

Bell is actually one of three (known) children Malone had outside of wedlock. The other two are fraternal twins Daryl and Cheryl Ford, who both played basketball at Louisiana Tech. Unlike Bell, both Fords have a relationship with their father.

The Fords also have a relationship with Bell.

But Bell has no relationship with Malone. At least he didn't at the time of this 2008 article.

"I grew up around good people," Bell said. "I never turned to a father figure. I was lucky. I didn't need one. I'm happy. I don't need anything else."

E-mail Dave Zangaro at dzangaro@comcastsportsnet.com

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