June 28, 2023 • 21 mins
Ron chats with NBA great Muggsy Bogues on his amazing career and opinions on pro basketball.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Ron Barr, and this is today's edition of
Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast on the eight Side Network.
Muggsy Bogues joins us on Sports Byline. He played point
guard for four teams during his fourteen season NBA career,
and of course he's best known for his ten seasons
with the Charlotte Hornets, but he also played for the Bullets, Warriors,
and the Toronto Raptors. And Muggsy is the shortest player
(00:23):
ever to play in the NBA at five to three,
and after playing his college ball at Wake Forest, he
was a first round pick by the then Washington Bullets.
First of all, Muggsy, You've got to tell me how
Tyrone Curtis Bogues became Muggsy Bogues.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Well, yeah, MAMAA named me Tyrone. And as a kid
grown up in in the city at Bottimore, and you know,
playing basketball or pursuing any type of hobby that I
had interested in, you know, you just kind of developed
the nickname of basketball was something that you know, I
gravitated to. Was and being small and they seems still
in the basketball and they say, well, God, this kid's
(00:59):
mugging anybody. And at the time, there was a show
on called The Balie Boys and Uh, and there was
one character in that by the name of Muggsy. And
he was the kind of small character, the leader of
his crew, and so they kind of tied his character
in me the way I played the basket where I
was still in the ball mugging everybody. And when I
was eight nine years old, I was called Muggy, which
I hated at the time because I thought they were
(01:21):
talking about my mug and uh. But uh, but that's
where you know, that's where all stems from. He still
was balled in. This character used to come on The
Balie Boys by the name of Muggy, So that's when
Muggy was created.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You were born in Baltimore, Maryland. You grew up in
the Lofayette Court housing projects. Tell me a little bit
about life in Lafayette Court.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Well, it was challenging, you know, outside the door was
a lot of violence, a lot of drugs taking place.
But at the same time it was the place to
be in terms of outdoor activities. We didn't have the
PS four, the PlayStation or the Xbox back then. We
were more like us outdoors, you know, trying to find
that way. So at the early age at five years old,
(02:05):
unfortunately for myself, I got shot being at the wrong
place at the wrong time, and you know, and that
was got a lot of buck shots in my arms
and legs. Unfortunately, luckily I didn't get hit with the
bullet itself. So but I think that kind of changed
my mindset, you know, as a kid, and allowed me
to not even care about what people thought. And there's
(02:26):
me pursued the dreams that I had floating around in
my head.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
One of the things I've always known when I've talked
to athletes, particularly African American athletes, is that the woman
is a very strong character in a family. And in
your case that was particularly so because your dad went
to prison, and of course you were raised by your mother.
Tell me a little bit about her.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, she was the backbone of the family, you know, five,
one of everything, a little pistol, and she was something special.
Watching her when my pops had digged, you know, get
sent to prison. How she was resilient in terms of
making sure that how family will be successful. And she
went back got a ged because she had dropped out
(03:10):
in elefth grade. I went and got a ged and
provided got a job and made sure that you know,
we was comfortably looked after. And that did something for
me because it let me know that I got to
stay focused then to make sure that I can do
something you know, positive to help her one day in
life to get out this situation. And luckily, you know,
(03:33):
basketball created that out and change for our family.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
One of the things that I know because I spent
my youth years in Washington, d C. Is that the
playground game, the inner city game, is something very special.
I want you to describe for me a summer night
in which the temperature during the day and that night
was about ninety degrees. He's relative humidity is ninety percent,
and there's ten guys on the court, five skins and
(03:57):
five shirts. Tell me about a game.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Like that, Oh, that's what that's when when your name
get made, that's when you get created. You know, before
you get shirts and skins. You know, two guys got
to make it to get to choose who they're going
to play. And so once that game starts, I mean,
as you said, the temperature, it could be tied outside,
it could be snowing a ground. Regardless of the situation,
(04:20):
we out there competing having fun. You got the people
in the neighborhood watching the game take place, and so
it's always a crowd around, and you know you're trying
to make your name. And that's where Muzbee was created,
you know. And the Reggie Williams and the David Wingates
and the world Reggy Loss late Reggulaws, they rest to
(04:42):
piece the trucks, as we call them. That's how it
gets to become the game, you know. And ain't nothing
like it.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, no no blood, no foul right in that game, No.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Blood, no foul. You know, it's say, if you got
to go down really hard in order to get that
foul call, and that's what the day I mean. And
then you know we got change. We don't have a net.
We got changed as on the backs on the baskets,
and so you know we out there floor the ground,
(05:16):
a lot of cracks in the court, so nothing to
move out there. We got to maneuver through everything. But
that's how it all take place under the dome.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
You played your high school ball at Dunbar High School
in Baltimore. Junior season twenty nine and oh senior season
thirty one, and oh why were they so good?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, because we had a coach that understood what talent
was all about and the talent that came to those doors.
They was able to check those egos and we was
able to accomplish something very special. You know. Again, like
I mentioned the late regulars, the David Wingates, the Reggie Rams,
the Tim Duncans, Gary Graham's guys of that nature. I mean,
(05:57):
we were stacked. We was really from ten deep, and
every time we stepped on the court, we took no prisoners.
And I think that you know, allow us to become
the as they say, one of the best teams probably
was ever a symbol.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Tell me about Bob Wade. Your coach.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Coach was special. You know, coach understood what those young
men needed. You know, growing up, everybody was totally different,
everybody needed something, but he understood what that individual needed.
And uh, and that's what coaching and you know, mentoring
and understanding and having a pulse on your team is
all about. Because it had become more than just ex
as and os. It's all about treating that individual. That
(06:39):
person and what's going on their lifestyle, especially at that age,
was so well, we were so impressionable and uh, and
he understood that and the example that he set, you know,
because of where he came from, you know what he represented,
you know, we want to follow that, and now we're
so thankful that we had him in that corner.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I mentioned that you were the shortest player ever to
play in the at five to three, and I'm just
wondering how you embraced your height. How did you look
upon it?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well? I embraced it because I accepted it. I knew
who I was. I didn't try to be something that
I wasn't. I understood the strength as well as the
weaknesses that I was dealt with, and I tried to
more or less stay more to my strength, which allowed
me to play those fourteen years. And and that's what
that's what I take away from it, you know. But
the knowledge of the game for me became something very
(07:32):
very valuable, you know because without that understanding of that game,
you know, your talent, along a lot of people, was talented,
but I think the understanding of it was was able
and was allowed me to climb the ladder further as
far as I did.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Muggsy Bogues is with us, And how did you end
up at wake Forest?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Well, of course there's a long way from home and
definitely a culture shop. I wasn't know so much a
culture shop, but the culture changed and sort of you
know where I came from, But it was a school
that was challenging something that I really definitely needed. ACC
school very talented, one of the top conference in the
(08:15):
in the in the country, and it was easy for
my mom to just turn on the TV every weekend
and watch our son play as opposed to trying to
travel to the game. So I knew it was a
challenge for me on and off the court. And this
things didn't work out for me on the court that
I know off the court would be very beneficial. So
that's one of the reason I chose way for us,
because the situation was very, very suitable for myself.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Muggsie. One of the things I've always heard when I've
talked to athletes that have come from the type of
background that you had, is that there was always somebody
in the community that put their arm around them or
protected that very talented athlete with their knowledge of knowing, hey,
this kid has a chance of doing something special. Who
was that for you growing up?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Well, for me, you know, ain't nobody knew that I
was going to put to or make it to where
I made it to. But I had a whole village
of our neighborhood really too much looking up for. And
that's the type of area that we grew up in,
my neighbors. But more so, I'll say a gentleman by
the name of Miss Bill Howard Leon Howard understood. He
(09:17):
taught me the game of basketball. He gave me that
understanding of it, and with him, you know, that really
stood out very deep for me. But my sister, you know,
my sister was a big influence on me. She took
me everywhere she went and so I was just like her,
you know, wanted to play basketball. So our credit give
all that to pretty much the neighborhood, but more so
(09:38):
my coach Howard and my sister.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
What's the best piece of advice. Coach Howard ever, gave.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
You well to continue to believe and no matter how
because he was a short, diminutive point guard as well,
played at Johnson C. Smith University, And I mean he
just told me the knowledge wi would be allowed me
to overcome anything my skill set probably wouldn't. So that's
(10:03):
what I really took away from it, and that's why
I studied the game and became a student of it
and under still with their position called for and played
at both ends of the fall, and that allowed me
to become the play that was.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
We're talking with Muggsy Bogues, and when we come back
on the other side, we'll talk about his college career
and also his NBA career and the things he's doing
in his community to give back. We do all of
that as we continue across the country and around the world.
Good to have you with us here on America's sports
talk show sports Byline. You're listening to Ron Bar's Sports
Byline USA podcast. Muggsy Bogues has joined us here on
(10:39):
Sports Byline fourteen year career in the NBA, most notably
with the Charlotte Hornets, where he played for ten seasons.
Also played with the Bullets who drafted him in the
first round, the Warriors, and also Toronto. When you got
down to Wake Forest, that's an academic school down there,
and sometimes for a kid that comes from your background
and the inner city, that can be a very difficult
(11:00):
call adjustment. How did you deal with that?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah, it was, as you mentioned, it was an adjustment.
It was something that I really had to adjust to
because it was a culture shot. You know, coming from
where I came from, I really wasn't accustomed of operating
around you know, the Caucasians in that regard. But it
really was educational for me because it allowed me to grow.
(11:24):
It allowed me to explore in terms of what the
difference of people and but how you know, concerning it
was uh wayfas you know, I had some challenges theres
as well. I felt a little you know, dealt with
little racism when I was there with some with the professor,
But that allowed me, you know where I came from,
(11:44):
you know, that's the challenge. You know. It was a
mindset to where I wasn't gonna quit, wasn't gonna give up.
But it prepared me for life within itself. And that's
what I'm so thankful because I chose Wakefather is because
of life and that's what you have to deal with,
and it is allowed me to come again the young
man that I was at that time.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
I might point out to everybody that when your career
ended at Wake Forest, you were the acc career leader
in steals and assists. But the one thing I know,
when you go the next level, meaning professional basketball. They
always label athletes. If it's football, maybe they're too slow.
If it's basketball, maybe they're not tall enough. Did you
have to deal with that as you prepared for the
(12:23):
next level of competition after college, Well, unfortunate for me.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I'd tell with it on heavy level. You know, from
middle school to high school to kig college. You know,
he's too small. He ain't gonna make that level. You know,
they're bigger. And then of course once the NBA, once
college was over, it was time to make to that
next level. You know, he's too small. No one ever
been able to do that, you know. Thankful for me,
I was able to go in like any other like
(12:50):
the big guys, you know, being able to be drafted,
you know number twelve. Give it over there, shake commission
David Stern and delete, you know, Commission Davis Stern hand,
put my hat on and and get that whole experience,
you know, just like those guys gotten. So it was
a way of the world was just about my shoulders
on that day. So it was an opportunity to let
(13:11):
folks know that the game of basketball tall small. It
was a game for us all. So I wanted to
make sure that the little folks or the smaller folks
had understand that it can happen to them as well.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
You know, when I think back, Muggsy about that nineteen
eighty seven NBA draft, Wow talent laden, that's an understatement.
You had David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, and Kevin Johnson.
When you were there getting ready to be drafted and
you looked around at all the guys that were going
to also be drafted, what did you think.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I mean, that was your peers. You know, those are
the guys that you've been going against during your college career,
and I mean you understood they were just as good,
you know, if not you know, the top of their
professions as well. So we understood that and that's one
of the reason why we all got invited. But ain't
them names that you just rolled off the tongue. You're
just mind boggling, you know, because you just rolled off
(14:04):
hall of famous, you know that. And the harsh Grant
was in that draft, you know, the Reggie Whims was
in that draft as the Horse Grant. You know, so
many guys you mentioned, Scottie pipp and Kenny Smith. Uh,
you go on down, Reggie lost, May you know rest
in peach. We just had so many guys in the
eighty seventh draft that really had a great career. Arm
(14:27):
and Gilliam, may he rest in peace. So that was
a great draft, and you know seeing those guys uh today,
it's such a blessing as well.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
You know when I think of names like that, I
always wonder about what the commonality is of the great
players like yourself and all the ones we were just
talking about. What's the thing that they all do that
made them so great.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Humility? They were some humble young men, you know, That's
what I always knew about them. They understood who they were,
They cared themselves well on and off the thought. They
was very professionals and they're all right. And then they
became philanthropists and you know, they givers, they all service,
making sure they can Learndee and the people that were
(15:13):
there for them during their times. You know. So you
always just appreciate those type of young men that you
was able to go to war with, share a lot
of joy, you know, times with as well. But see
him now, the things that they do and the way
they live their lives, it's such a great treat for me.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
In your rookie year you were with the Washington Bullets,
and I saw the magazine cover and I still laugh
every time I think of it. You know what I'm
going to say about you standing along with Mannut Bowl
who was seven to seven and you were five to three.
You've got to talk to me a little bit about
this this athlete, this person, because I got to know
him a little bit when he was out here on
(15:55):
the West coast. Tell me a little bit about him
that made him so unique, special, big nunity.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Yeah, minew Bolls was a special individual and they made
rest in peace. So she was dounded. I mean it
was talented. Kid could block shot with the best of them.
You know, people was afraid to go in there and
believe it or not, he had a little sling shot
that they loved to shoot, a three point shoot shot.
So manew he on the court was just a joy
(16:25):
be around. But you know, people used to really have
a lot of last of us, especially when we go
through the airport, because you know, during our rookie early years,
we didn't have h We flew commercial, we didn't have
private planes, and going through the airport seeing you can
imagine the height of us to walking through the airport
and Moses. I'm in the middle and Moses on the
(16:47):
other side. And uh, but really the front came when
we had to get on the airplane. It was always
uh seniority in terms of who got first class seats
and they only had eight of them, and so to
myself always had to go on the back. And you know,
his knees are always get in his chest when we're
(17:07):
back there sitting in the seats because you know, uh,
the seats wasn't you know, comfortable for him, you know,
being set to six and we just had so much money.
Always tell uh stories about how I used to kill
lines with a spear. Uh, I mean killed lines with
spill mole, like he killed alone, SPI what kind of
lines y'all have? You know, no keeth in the mouth.
(17:28):
But he was such a joy to be around, very funny,
talented and I'm so grateful to be watching the sun
little bowbow down. Uh take on his uh his legacy
and uh so, uh those are the memories that you
have with guys like that.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Now you've got to set the scene and tell me
what happened in this situation. As a pro you block
thirty nine shots, including one by seven foot Patrick Ewing.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
What were the circumstances, Well, that was that was a
situation where that was of fading away. You know, he
loved the fadeaway on the jump shot. And Alonso was
kind of garden and we was kind of I was
in the vicinity right there by the free throw line,
and I could get up a little bit. I did
have a forty four inch vertical jump, so I can
get off the floor. And he decided to fade back
(18:17):
and go for attempted to jump shot, and when I
blocked it right than there, I let him know he
was on my highlight them and so he had a
big kick out of there as he was going down
the floor.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
You know, as I said before, those ten years with
the Charlotte Hornets were very very special. The community really
embraced you. But you had a couple of teammates that
I always admired and enjoyed watching play. And that was
Alonzo Morning and Larry Johnson. Tell me a little bit
about them.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Two special gymnasts right there. I mean, we really enjoyed
the time we was here. We really had the city
Electric fund and was exciting. Two young, exciting players, two
different positions, one a center, one a power forward. Both
are very explosive and they both had characters, you know,
and that's what you loved about them, and they was
(19:06):
very giving as well as off the court. And I
just said that we weren't able to you know, play
for a long period of time, and that's what the
nature of the NBA business is all about. But the
time we were together and Charlotte, it was such a treat,
you know, Grandma Ma that's what they called them. And
seeing him operate, you know, in address on the commercial,
(19:29):
it was something that we had a big kick about.
But that was still you know, some really exciting time
playing with him and the Dale Carriage and those guys.
I mean, we had the city every night, twenty four
of us thousand screaming fans night and night out just
supporting them Hornets and those.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Guys that were the reason why they was out there
shouting we've only got a little less than ninety seconds left.
Tell me about your campaign. Thirty for thirty.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
By thirty for thirty campaign is something that my organization
among the both Family Foundations, created a that we added
it helps the necessity for the kids for family, providing
food for them. We want to feed them three mails
a week. So we have a thirty thousand dollars campaign
that we're trying to raise money to. So if people
(20:14):
want to go to the Muggy Boats Family Foundation dot org,
they can go in and check it out and donate.
And that's what we're all about. Scholarship programs as well
as giving back to the less fortunes, just trying to
make sure, especially during this time, make sure that people
have resources where they can reach out to.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
In about thirty five seconds, tell me about that one
moment that is engraved in Muggsy Bogues's mind forever that
he'll never forget about his life or a career.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Well, probably today I got drafted. You know, that was
the special moment that it all changed the narrative of
the Bogue family. You know, when he got selected by
the Washington Bullets going back home number twelve timeone, Curtis,
Muggsy Bogues, Well like.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
How to tell you? I always enjoyed watching you play.
I always enjoyed broadcast games when you were in town
playing against the Sonics, and I appreciate the time that
you've given us here. Take care, Muggsy, You're welcome here
anytime on Sports Byline.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Oh thanks for having me appreciate.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Muggsy Bogues again. He played point guard for four teams
during his fourteen season NBA career, probably best known for
those ten seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, but he also
played for the Bullets, the Warriors, and the Toronto Raptors.
And you heard him say about how he embraced and
how he looked at his playing height of five to three.
He was the smallest player in the NBA. And one
(21:31):
of the things I remember is he was fearless, and
you have to be when you're five to three. We
continue with more of you in America's sports talk show.
You have been listening to Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA
podcast on the eight Side Network
Hi, I'm Ron Barr, and this is today's edition of
Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast on the eight Side Network.
Muggsy Bogues joins us on Sports Byline. He played point
guard for four teams during his fourteen season NBA career,
and of course he's best known for his ten seasons
with the Charlotte Hornets, but he also played for the Bullets, Warriors,
and the Toronto Raptors. And Muggsy is the shortest player
(00:23):
ever to play in the NBA at five to three,
and after playing his college ball at Wake Forest, he
was a first round pick by the then Washington Bullets.
First of all, Muggsy, You've got to tell me how
Tyrone Curtis Bogues became Muggsy Bogues.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Well, yeah, MAMAA named me Tyrone. And as a kid
grown up in in the city at Bottimore, and you know,
playing basketball or pursuing any type of hobby that I
had interested in, you know, you just kind of developed
the nickname of basketball was something that you know, I
gravitated to. Was and being small and they seems still
in the basketball and they say, well, God, this kid's
(00:59):
mugging anybody. And at the time, there was a show
on called The Balie Boys and Uh, and there was
one character in that by the name of Muggsy. And
he was the kind of small character, the leader of
his crew, and so they kind of tied his character
in me the way I played the basket where I
was still in the ball mugging everybody. And when I
was eight nine years old, I was called Muggy, which
I hated at the time because I thought they were
(01:21):
talking about my mug and uh. But uh, but that's
where you know, that's where all stems from. He still
was balled in. This character used to come on The
Balie Boys by the name of Muggy, So that's when
Muggy was created.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You were born in Baltimore, Maryland. You grew up in
the Lofayette Court housing projects. Tell me a little bit
about life in Lafayette Court.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Well, it was challenging, you know, outside the door was
a lot of violence, a lot of drugs taking place.
But at the same time it was the place to
be in terms of outdoor activities. We didn't have the
PS four, the PlayStation or the Xbox back then. We
were more like us outdoors, you know, trying to find
that way. So at the early age at five years old,
(02:05):
unfortunately for myself, I got shot being at the wrong
place at the wrong time, and you know, and that
was got a lot of buck shots in my arms
and legs. Unfortunately, luckily I didn't get hit with the
bullet itself. So but I think that kind of changed
my mindset, you know, as a kid, and allowed me
to not even care about what people thought. And there's
(02:26):
me pursued the dreams that I had floating around in
my head.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
One of the things I've always known when I've talked
to athletes, particularly African American athletes, is that the woman
is a very strong character in a family. And in
your case that was particularly so because your dad went
to prison, and of course you were raised by your mother.
Tell me a little bit about her.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, she was the backbone of the family, you know, five,
one of everything, a little pistol, and she was something special.
Watching her when my pops had digged, you know, get
sent to prison. How she was resilient in terms of
making sure that how family will be successful. And she
went back got a ged because she had dropped out
(03:10):
in elefth grade. I went and got a ged and
provided got a job and made sure that you know,
we was comfortably looked after. And that did something for
me because it let me know that I got to
stay focused then to make sure that I can do
something you know, positive to help her one day in
life to get out this situation. And luckily, you know,
(03:33):
basketball created that out and change for our family.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
One of the things that I know because I spent
my youth years in Washington, d C. Is that the
playground game, the inner city game, is something very special.
I want you to describe for me a summer night
in which the temperature during the day and that night
was about ninety degrees. He's relative humidity is ninety percent,
and there's ten guys on the court, five skins and
(03:57):
five shirts. Tell me about a game.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Like that, Oh, that's what that's when when your name
get made, that's when you get created. You know, before
you get shirts and skins. You know, two guys got
to make it to get to choose who they're going
to play. And so once that game starts, I mean,
as you said, the temperature, it could be tied outside,
it could be snowing a ground. Regardless of the situation,
(04:20):
we out there competing having fun. You got the people
in the neighborhood watching the game take place, and so
it's always a crowd around, and you know you're trying
to make your name. And that's where Muzbee was created,
you know. And the Reggie Williams and the David Wingates
and the world Reggy Loss late Reggulaws, they rest to
(04:42):
piece the trucks, as we call them. That's how it
gets to become the game, you know. And ain't nothing
like it.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, no no blood, no foul right in that game, No.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Blood, no foul. You know, it's say, if you got
to go down really hard in order to get that
foul call, and that's what the day I mean. And
then you know we got change. We don't have a net.
We got changed as on the backs on the baskets,
and so you know we out there floor the ground,
(05:16):
a lot of cracks in the court, so nothing to
move out there. We got to maneuver through everything. But
that's how it all take place under the dome.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
You played your high school ball at Dunbar High School
in Baltimore. Junior season twenty nine and oh senior season
thirty one, and oh why were they so good?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well, because we had a coach that understood what talent
was all about and the talent that came to those doors.
They was able to check those egos and we was
able to accomplish something very special. You know. Again, like
I mentioned the late regulars, the David Wingates, the Reggie Rams,
the Tim Duncans, Gary Graham's guys of that nature. I mean,
(05:57):
we were stacked. We was really from ten deep, and
every time we stepped on the court, we took no prisoners.
And I think that you know, allow us to become
the as they say, one of the best teams probably
was ever a symbol.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Tell me about Bob Wade. Your coach.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Coach was special. You know, coach understood what those young
men needed. You know, growing up, everybody was totally different,
everybody needed something, but he understood what that individual needed.
And uh, and that's what coaching and you know, mentoring
and understanding and having a pulse on your team is
all about. Because it had become more than just ex
as and os. It's all about treating that individual. That
(06:39):
person and what's going on their lifestyle, especially at that age,
was so well, we were so impressionable and uh, and
he understood that and the example that he set, you know,
because of where he came from, you know what he represented,
you know, we want to follow that, and now we're
so thankful that we had him in that corner.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I mentioned that you were the shortest player ever to
play in the at five to three, and I'm just
wondering how you embraced your height. How did you look
upon it?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well? I embraced it because I accepted it. I knew
who I was. I didn't try to be something that
I wasn't. I understood the strength as well as the
weaknesses that I was dealt with, and I tried to
more or less stay more to my strength, which allowed
me to play those fourteen years. And and that's what
that's what I take away from it, you know. But
the knowledge of the game for me became something very
(07:32):
very valuable, you know because without that understanding of that game,
you know, your talent, along a lot of people, was talented,
but I think the understanding of it was was able
and was allowed me to climb the ladder further as
far as I did.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Muggsy Bogues is with us, And how did you end
up at wake Forest?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Well, of course there's a long way from home and
definitely a culture shop. I wasn't know so much a
culture shop, but the culture changed and sort of you
know where I came from, But it was a school
that was challenging something that I really definitely needed. ACC
school very talented, one of the top conference in the
(08:15):
in the in the country, and it was easy for
my mom to just turn on the TV every weekend
and watch our son play as opposed to trying to
travel to the game. So I knew it was a
challenge for me on and off the court. And this
things didn't work out for me on the court that
I know off the court would be very beneficial. So
that's one of the reason I chose way for us,
because the situation was very, very suitable for myself.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Muggsie. One of the things I've always heard when I've
talked to athletes that have come from the type of
background that you had, is that there was always somebody
in the community that put their arm around them or
protected that very talented athlete with their knowledge of knowing, hey,
this kid has a chance of doing something special. Who
was that for you growing up?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Well, for me, you know, ain't nobody knew that I
was going to put to or make it to where
I made it to. But I had a whole village
of our neighborhood really too much looking up for. And
that's the type of area that we grew up in,
my neighbors. But more so, I'll say a gentleman by
the name of Miss Bill Howard Leon Howard understood. He
(09:17):
taught me the game of basketball. He gave me that
understanding of it, and with him, you know, that really
stood out very deep for me. But my sister, you know,
my sister was a big influence on me. She took
me everywhere she went and so I was just like her,
you know, wanted to play basketball. So our credit give
all that to pretty much the neighborhood, but more so
(09:38):
my coach Howard and my sister.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
What's the best piece of advice. Coach Howard ever, gave.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
You well to continue to believe and no matter how
because he was a short, diminutive point guard as well,
played at Johnson C. Smith University, And I mean he
just told me the knowledge wi would be allowed me
to overcome anything my skill set probably wouldn't. So that's
(10:03):
what I really took away from it, and that's why
I studied the game and became a student of it
and under still with their position called for and played
at both ends of the fall, and that allowed me
to become the play that was.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
We're talking with Muggsy Bogues, and when we come back
on the other side, we'll talk about his college career
and also his NBA career and the things he's doing
in his community to give back. We do all of
that as we continue across the country and around the world.
Good to have you with us here on America's sports
talk show sports Byline. You're listening to Ron Bar's Sports
Byline USA podcast. Muggsy Bogues has joined us here on
(10:39):
Sports Byline fourteen year career in the NBA, most notably
with the Charlotte Hornets, where he played for ten seasons.
Also played with the Bullets who drafted him in the
first round, the Warriors, and also Toronto. When you got
down to Wake Forest, that's an academic school down there,
and sometimes for a kid that comes from your background
and the inner city, that can be a very difficult
(11:00):
call adjustment. How did you deal with that?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah, it was, as you mentioned, it was an adjustment.
It was something that I really had to adjust to
because it was a culture shot. You know, coming from
where I came from, I really wasn't accustomed of operating
around you know, the Caucasians in that regard. But it
really was educational for me because it allowed me to grow.
(11:24):
It allowed me to explore in terms of what the
difference of people and but how you know, concerning it
was uh wayfas you know, I had some challenges theres
as well. I felt a little you know, dealt with
little racism when I was there with some with the professor,
But that allowed me, you know where I came from,
(11:44):
you know, that's the challenge. You know. It was a
mindset to where I wasn't gonna quit, wasn't gonna give up.
But it prepared me for life within itself. And that's
what I'm so thankful because I chose Wakefather is because
of life and that's what you have to deal with,
and it is allowed me to come again the young
man that I was at that time.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
I might point out to everybody that when your career
ended at Wake Forest, you were the acc career leader
in steals and assists. But the one thing I know,
when you go the next level, meaning professional basketball. They
always label athletes. If it's football, maybe they're too slow.
If it's basketball, maybe they're not tall enough. Did you
have to deal with that as you prepared for the
(12:23):
next level of competition after college, Well, unfortunate for me.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I'd tell with it on heavy level. You know, from
middle school to high school to kig college. You know,
he's too small. He ain't gonna make that level. You know,
they're bigger. And then of course once the NBA, once
college was over, it was time to make to that
next level. You know, he's too small. No one ever
been able to do that, you know. Thankful for me,
I was able to go in like any other like
(12:50):
the big guys, you know, being able to be drafted,
you know number twelve. Give it over there, shake commission
David Stern and delete, you know, Commission Davis Stern hand,
put my hat on and and get that whole experience,
you know, just like those guys gotten. So it was
a way of the world was just about my shoulders
on that day. So it was an opportunity to let
(13:11):
folks know that the game of basketball tall small. It
was a game for us all. So I wanted to
make sure that the little folks or the smaller folks
had understand that it can happen to them as well.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
You know, when I think back, Muggsy about that nineteen
eighty seven NBA draft, Wow talent laden, that's an understatement.
You had David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, and Kevin Johnson.
When you were there getting ready to be drafted and
you looked around at all the guys that were going
to also be drafted, what did you think.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I mean, that was your peers. You know, those are
the guys that you've been going against during your college career,
and I mean you understood they were just as good,
you know, if not you know, the top of their
professions as well. So we understood that and that's one
of the reason why we all got invited. But ain't
them names that you just rolled off the tongue. You're
just mind boggling, you know, because you just rolled off
(14:04):
hall of famous, you know that. And the harsh Grant
was in that draft, you know, the Reggie Whims was
in that draft as the Horse Grant. You know, so
many guys you mentioned, Scottie pipp and Kenny Smith. Uh,
you go on down, Reggie lost, May you know rest
in peach. We just had so many guys in the
eighty seventh draft that really had a great career. Arm
(14:27):
and Gilliam, may he rest in peace. So that was
a great draft, and you know seeing those guys uh today,
it's such a blessing as well.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
You know when I think of names like that, I
always wonder about what the commonality is of the great
players like yourself and all the ones we were just
talking about. What's the thing that they all do that
made them so great.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Humility? They were some humble young men, you know, That's
what I always knew about them. They understood who they were,
They cared themselves well on and off the thought. They
was very professionals and they're all right. And then they
became philanthropists and you know, they givers, they all service,
making sure they can Learndee and the people that were
(15:13):
there for them during their times. You know. So you
always just appreciate those type of young men that you
was able to go to war with, share a lot
of joy, you know, times with as well. But see
him now, the things that they do and the way
they live their lives, it's such a great treat for me.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
In your rookie year you were with the Washington Bullets,
and I saw the magazine cover and I still laugh
every time I think of it. You know what I'm
going to say about you standing along with Mannut Bowl
who was seven to seven and you were five to three.
You've got to talk to me a little bit about
this this athlete, this person, because I got to know
him a little bit when he was out here on
(15:55):
the West coast. Tell me a little bit about him
that made him so unique, special, big nunity.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Yeah, minew Bolls was a special individual and they made
rest in peace. So she was dounded. I mean it
was talented. Kid could block shot with the best of them.
You know, people was afraid to go in there and
believe it or not, he had a little sling shot
that they loved to shoot, a three point shoot shot.
So manew he on the court was just a joy
(16:25):
be around. But you know, people used to really have
a lot of last of us, especially when we go
through the airport, because you know, during our rookie early years,
we didn't have h We flew commercial, we didn't have
private planes, and going through the airport seeing you can
imagine the height of us to walking through the airport
and Moses. I'm in the middle and Moses on the
(16:47):
other side. And uh, but really the front came when
we had to get on the airplane. It was always
uh seniority in terms of who got first class seats
and they only had eight of them, and so to
myself always had to go on the back. And you know,
his knees are always get in his chest when we're
(17:07):
back there sitting in the seats because you know, uh,
the seats wasn't you know, comfortable for him, you know,
being set to six and we just had so much money.
Always tell uh stories about how I used to kill
lines with a spear. Uh, I mean killed lines with
spill mole, like he killed alone, SPI what kind of
lines y'all have? You know, no keeth in the mouth.
(17:28):
But he was such a joy to be around, very funny,
talented and I'm so grateful to be watching the sun
little bowbow down. Uh take on his uh his legacy
and uh so, uh those are the memories that you
have with guys like that.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Now you've got to set the scene and tell me
what happened in this situation. As a pro you block
thirty nine shots, including one by seven foot Patrick Ewing.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
What were the circumstances, Well, that was that was a
situation where that was of fading away. You know, he
loved the fadeaway on the jump shot. And Alonso was
kind of garden and we was kind of I was
in the vicinity right there by the free throw line,
and I could get up a little bit. I did
have a forty four inch vertical jump, so I can
get off the floor. And he decided to fade back
(18:17):
and go for attempted to jump shot, and when I
blocked it right than there, I let him know he
was on my highlight them and so he had a
big kick out of there as he was going down
the floor.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
You know, as I said before, those ten years with
the Charlotte Hornets were very very special. The community really
embraced you. But you had a couple of teammates that
I always admired and enjoyed watching play. And that was
Alonzo Morning and Larry Johnson. Tell me a little bit
about them.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Two special gymnasts right there. I mean, we really enjoyed
the time we was here. We really had the city
Electric fund and was exciting. Two young, exciting players, two
different positions, one a center, one a power forward. Both
are very explosive and they both had characters, you know,
and that's what you loved about them, and they was
(19:06):
very giving as well as off the court. And I
just said that we weren't able to you know, play
for a long period of time, and that's what the
nature of the NBA business is all about. But the
time we were together and Charlotte, it was such a treat,
you know, Grandma Ma that's what they called them. And
seeing him operate, you know, in address on the commercial,
(19:29):
it was something that we had a big kick about.
But that was still you know, some really exciting time
playing with him and the Dale Carriage and those guys.
I mean, we had the city every night, twenty four
of us thousand screaming fans night and night out just
supporting them Hornets and those.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Guys that were the reason why they was out there
shouting we've only got a little less than ninety seconds left.
Tell me about your campaign. Thirty for thirty.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
By thirty for thirty campaign is something that my organization
among the both Family Foundations, created a that we added
it helps the necessity for the kids for family, providing
food for them. We want to feed them three mails
a week. So we have a thirty thousand dollars campaign
that we're trying to raise money to. So if people
(20:14):
want to go to the Muggy Boats Family Foundation dot org,
they can go in and check it out and donate.
And that's what we're all about. Scholarship programs as well
as giving back to the less fortunes, just trying to
make sure, especially during this time, make sure that people
have resources where they can reach out to.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
In about thirty five seconds, tell me about that one
moment that is engraved in Muggsy Bogues's mind forever that
he'll never forget about his life or a career.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Well, probably today I got drafted. You know, that was
the special moment that it all changed the narrative of
the Bogue family. You know, when he got selected by
the Washington Bullets going back home number twelve timeone, Curtis,
Muggsy Bogues, Well like.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
How to tell you? I always enjoyed watching you play.
I always enjoyed broadcast games when you were in town
playing against the Sonics, and I appreciate the time that
you've given us here. Take care, Muggsy, You're welcome here
anytime on Sports Byline.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Oh thanks for having me appreciate.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Muggsy Bogues again. He played point guard for four teams
during his fourteen season NBA career, probably best known for
those ten seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, but he also
played for the Bullets, the Warriors, and the Toronto Raptors.
And you heard him say about how he embraced and
how he looked at his playing height of five to three.
He was the smallest player in the NBA. And one
(21:31):
of the things I remember is he was fearless, and
you have to be when you're five to three. We
continue with more of you in America's sports talk show.
You have been listening to Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA
podcast on the eight Side Network
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Ron Barr
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