He began life prematurely by three months and most of his first 2 1/2 years were spent in Primary Childrens Medical Center in Salt Lake, and living wasnt a certainty.

It was there that he met Jazz basketball great Karl Malone, who would become his hero. Karl and his wife, Kay, made several appearances in Brackens young life while he was living in Salt Lake City, and Bracken loved watching the huge star play on television.

The frail little boy said often that he wanted to be big and tough like Karl. But Bracken had to have growth hormone shots a painfully excruciating experience for the then-five-year-old. To get through the daily shots, his parents got him a life-size poster of Malone with a ruler up the side.

Frequent illnesses plague the boy, although he is doing well, his mother says.

Last winter he played Junior Jazz basketball wearing a wristband given to him by Kay Malone several years ago. He says it gave him courage to play against the big guys and helped him make baskets.

Brackens teammates from Downey Elementary, where he is a student of Mrs. Twyla Heath, also helped him make baskets and then lifted him up to their shoulders after the championship game this season.

Last week he had a dream come true when he and brothers Landon and Ryan got to meet the Jazz team at the Delta Center and attend a game.

Arranged by a friend from Preston, the family, escorted by Ann, entered where the Jazz team members come in. Their guide was Patty, who took them to meet individual members of the team so they could sign a basketball she gave Bracken. This went on as the team walked from the locker room to the court, and giant Greg Ostertag was the first.

Ann says his huge hand covered Brackens hand all the way up to his elbow. Five other players came out and surrounded the youngster, and then a voice asked from behind, What you doin in my house?

It was Malone, and he stammered, I came to see you! The star took over and invited the boys into the locker room with the other players for a tour, a chat and photos.

Players Bryon Russell, Donyell Marshall, John Amaechi and others kidded the little boy, and he came out of the locker room with Mailman wristbands, treats and Malones warm-up jersey.

Bracken was led out to the basketball floor behind the players and was seated in the players seats to watch the warmup. John Stockton, Andrei Kirilenko and others came over to meet him and sign his basketball.

This is the best day of my life! Bracken told his mother.

In his own words, Bracken says, Watching Jazz games on TV has taught me a lot. At school, math percentages were really hard until I started keeping track of the players stats in my notebook. Pretty soon I started to understand them because I wanted to figure it out.

Exercise is hard for Bracken but he wants to be a Jazz player, so he shoots baskets every chance he gets.

Sometimes kids at school say mean things to me because Im not as strong as them, but I stick up for myself because Karl doesnt let anyone push him around, Bracken explains. Trying new things isnt easy for me, but since Karl dares to wrestle and drive big trucks, even when people make fun of him, I dare try too.

Sometimes, Bracken says, no matter how hard I try, I get bad grades. Karl has bad games, but he practices some more and comes back the next game and tries again. Ive even learned to work hard doing housework to save my money so I can buy a ticket close to the Jazz team at games.