Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland - Meat the Beef Brothe

Hey, it's Adam here. This is the debut episode of a new series featuring the legendary beef brothers Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruhland. Our goal is to regularly release episodes of 45 minutes or less. Rick and Jeff share their opinions on today's NBA before we go back in time to explore the wonders of NBA history. The Washington Bullets beef brothers were arguably the NBA's most fearsome duo

from 1982 through 1985. They teamed with Greg Ballad, Rustin Peace, to form an imposing front line. Select episodes may feature special guests, bullets here at teammates or adversaries from the Halcyon days of Ricks and Jeff's careers. The audio is delivered here in podcast form, but you can watch our conversations online. Full episodes will live on my YouTube channel, whilst an old school only edit will appear

on the Beef Brothers Channel. Yes, that's right. Rick and Jeff are on YouTube. Relevant links are in the show notes of your listening app and also appear beneath the video. We encourage your interaction, help steer the show, ask questions or add comments on YouTube and the beef brothers will respond in future episodes. If you prefer email, reach out to Rick and Jeff by contacting me in

all aernos at gmail.com. Rick and Jeff are terrific guys, very funny and offer up some great conversation. A quick warning that occasional language during this series is not safe for young ears. Now, I'm going to talk about the beef brothers. Let's meet the beef brothers. Let's say good day to the duo collectively known as the iconic beef brothers. We've got 1989 NBA champion and 18 year

veteran Rick Mahorn and 1982 all rookie first teamer and a two time NBA all star Jeff Ruland. How are you the 70 gentlemen? I'm glad to be here, but you could have left Jeff out of this dog on show. I'm just a little bit insisted on being here. All right, guys, my name is Adam. If my accent didn't already give it away, I live in Australia.

I've fired the NBA since 1989 when I was 13 years old. I host an NBA podcast called in all aernos. It's devoted to the history of basketball, particularly the 1980s and 1990s, but we'll get into all kinds of topics just for the benefit of our viewers and listeners today. Episodes will begin with a discussion. Today's NBA will cover some of the latest news and hear ricks

and Jeff's opinions. And then we'll turn back the clock as they reminisce about some of their experiences and life in basketball back in their playing days. I hope to ask them today about the first time they met. We'll examine the origins of their nicknames. And if we have time at the end, I might even give them a quick quiz on some Australian slang. See how they

go with knowing which words or phrases I'm talking about. It says and commenced on October 18 as we record this. It's the evening of the 24th of October in the US. And there's eight games on the schedule tonight. Four teams are undefeated. We've got Milwaukee that are two and oh. And then we have Boston, Utah and Portland who are each three and oh. I'll throw it

out to both of you. Which teams have impressed the most in the opening week of the season? They've been shipping even though they had the Emmy Adoka situation. They still focused in on what's going on. What they need to do. They went on the road, one down in Orlando. Really huge game. And I'll tell you they just playing lights out basketball right now. But the surprising

team to me is Utah jazz. I mean, they got rid of everybody. Damien's went old sale and all of the sudden it's like Utah's three and oh, I thought they were tankin' that's when you start looking around Jeff and Adam. You're going like, are they tankin'? Because Portland, Portland being undefeated doesn't, yeah, no Dame Lillard last year. But now that you come back, he's fully healthy

and the pieces, the additions that they have and Jeremy Grant signing, it's extending him. That team is competing. It's all about competing to me. I look around the league just a lot of parity. But what's my disappointing team? Is that hat that you got on there? Adam, them six is smooth. They smell like some poo. I haven't had a great starter off to 0 and 3.

One of the winless teams in the league. Jeff, what are your thoughts on the opening week of the season there? And which teams have stood out most to you? He had to run on the head with Utah. I'm flabbergasted. I'm looking forward to seeing them play now. They're coming out and they don't care. I like the one. I like the bulls that they could ever get

all the pieces healthy. I mean, there's someone to watch. And I, the big fan of Cleveland, believe it or not, even though it's a Bicker Staff. Coach for Bullets back in the day with us. What's funny with that, when you said that, the connections that we have with Wes Oncel, Jr. and also Bicker Staff and Cleveland, father coached us. And then, Wes Oncel's like my dad.

So basically, my little brother's coach, the Washington Wizards, which I'm excited for. They started out, lost the Cleveland to me. That's kind of like the sibling game. You see two, two guys that grew up around Bullets and, and you go, okay, Bernie, Bicker Staff, and you got Wes Oncel. Both guys has been around the league so long. But you know, it's fun. When you see the

namesakes keep going. That's just exciting because we get ready to play the Wizards tomorrow night. So I'm looking forward to it. The big fan of the season. I'm going to be the key. He's got to be more consistent. They win a couple games. He plays well. They lose the game. He doesn't play well. The big kid off the bench. Got to be in the starting. Yeah,

Fred. Yeah. At some point, get from Japan. I don't want to emulate his name. The winless teams thus far, we mentioned the sixes who I'm rocking their hat, which is the displeasure of both of you. Now, it's not that it's disappointing. But then again, it is. It's disappointing because you have a former MVP. You have Joel and B who is always talking like they cheated them

from last year being MVP. My thing is when I look at Philadelphia and, and, and also LA when you, when you look at those two teams, they got all the star power. Sometimes you don't need to have star power in order to be a good team. I, E example is the Utah Jazz and they like they got down of the mid to their Rudy Go bear

anymore. And boy, young boy. They don't want to be on the pitch, but they, they just got guys like who, and that's what to me. Sometimes I think the NBA is missing because when you look at it, right now, these young men, they come in 18, 19 years old. And it's depressing to them to get the money, they get the bag. And then it's like, okay,

I got the bag. What else do you want to do? So I know we'll get a refer the with that. But when I look at the disappointing with the Lakers and, and also the sixers, it's like you got LeBron James and shoot. I'm not even thinking Brooklyn is all that hot either. You know, they got all these guys, but then you got Milwaukee and you got

these guys just coming in with some bad attitudes and they ready to win some game. The kids from Utah, I think it's going to be an all-star. You know, I'm talking about it. You had a great world championship. Starts with an M market. Why do you say that? Why are you right next door to me anyway since you're telling everybody you're an all-star. You write next

door to me. So you look at it. But Zep, sometimes when I'm looking at these games and watch the game of the night, the pistons and the pacers game, you get two teams that are very young. And when I look at the young teams, you go, okay, it's going to be a lot of competitiveness. But then you go down to Orlando. I saw, I saw, Apollo.

Man, Apollo reminds me of Grant Hill super sized. He can handle the ball. And listen, I was like, whoa. But then I'm watching the Pacers and then one game. They have 15 bucks. I guess the pistol. And I'm like, you don't even have miles turn around there, but they block and shot. They're having fun. They're running up and down the court. So having young guys on

your team, you hope they develop quickly and respond. The kid I was talking about is the kid marketing. Mocking. Oh, or marketing. Marketing. Yeah. Marketing. What come on? I don't want to disrespect anybody with my pen on long-align. Well, no, but I can go on now. So I can barely get ruling out. They're gonna rename sometimes rule land. Anyway, I look at Lori marketing. And when

he was with Cleveland, Cleveland, I had that giant size plant line. It was him, it moldly and a Jared Allen. That's like, whoa, they're really big and long. But marketing has always been a good play. Just couldn't stay healthy. And that's the big key for him. He's got to stay healthy. He's, he can play. But it's just the fact that find and write tight. He'd have

been traded three times. When you look at most of the European players, a lot of them are fundamentally sound. And the reason why they're fundamentally sound. And I know people are gonna say, Oh, no, and I played overseas. And Jeff, but you played overseas. They have juniors. They're these kids. They're not playing a you per se. They're scrimmaging against that team that they played club basketball.

Kobe Bryant, the late great Kobe Bryant said a lot of European players are fundamentally sound. Not that one. That's what it is. Really, the job after the sixth grade, it's really most of them get hired by clubs or their families are hired by clubs. I'm very proud of the fact that one fact you got my degree. But I'm still one. What exactly it's gonna do for

me. But you know, it's got to have that degree. Jeff, because sometimes you, you want to be in a situation. They'll say that you all, you didn't finish college or you didn't get your degree. And then you go get your degree. Now what the hell are you gonna say? What the fuck they gonna say now? You got to get it. So apparently you don't want to

give me the job. Get been down to route two. Just to continue on the theme of the winless teams. There's also Orlando, Oklahoma City, Sacramento and Houston have all started. Oh, and three tripping in the four teams that don't have an action near. Utah Jazz. That's one. Don't have an ask me Orlando. Yeah, there you go. Good. Orlando Magic. What else you want rules? Okay. I'm

gonna go to the city. I'm gonna Oklahoma under one more. There's Orlando heat on Miami. Hey, wow, that was really difficult. Get it. Did you hold on? I got to go. Adam, when you say those teams are disappointing. There's other teams that you mentioned in Sacramento. And also you mentioned OAC in Orlando. You look at those teams and you say, well, is Oklahoma still trying to

find an action? Yes, it's true because most of the time they heard or they're looking to tank and they trying to get the guy Victor. I don't know how to say his name. Why? Yama. They already got a whole brand who's not gonna play this year. You look at your team and say we need to get back in the win and okay. See a one since

they traded Westbrook and all the players that they had it hard and to rank three MVP's right there that you go. Why do they keep them? Well salary tax. Hey, it's 30 teams in this league. They have the salary caps and they got these very lucrative contracts on that late. They're going to get paid regardless. I just don't see the excitement there. Quick question for you,

Rick. You're the longtime analyst on the Pistons Radio Network and you sit alongside Mark Champion, Play-by-Play-Man. Detroit R1 and 2, as we record this, what are your thoughts on the team's early season start and their fortunes as the season will progress? The thing is you're going to go through growing pains. You have Jay Naivey, you have new people there's no familiar ball movement as of yet.

It's a lot of bright spots. You have K-Cunningham, the number one pick from last year. You know, you're looking for him to have a step out year. Then you got Isaiah Stewart in the middle. It's the deep bay. So you have a very young starting lineup and hopefully that they can learn on the slide. Like I said, it's going to be growing pains for the team,

but they compete. What is it, Jayland Durant? He's been coming off the bench almost averaging a double, double rebound wise, very physical, still young. He's only 18. That's the crazy thing about it. You've already built like a grown man and you're just waiting for him to get a little better at increments. You'll see that's the thing about when you have a lot of young guys that

play one year and they come into pros. It's not like it's a lot of experience. Yeah, a lot to learn. Yeah, you still have a lot to learn. Now, unlike when we came in, it was when I came in shoot, it was only 22 teams and they just expanded the roster from 11 to 12. So I just had a chance to make the team myself. So

you got to figure the competition was thick, but now with 30 teams, you're drafting potential and not drafting the guys after that. I look at the Memphis Grizzlies all the time. They had a chair and Jay. They had Jackson Jr. A third pick and then they had John Marin at second pick, but all the other picks that they have, guys were in college three years, four

years. And then you all of a sudden you just see them have a breakout year because those guys been in college, get the experience of learning fundamental basketball at a high pace. I do notice, which I'm a big fan of their whole team about how well they play when that little dude isn't in there. Then how good he is. I mean, it's just a big thing.

Well, it's crazy because last year when he got hurt and sometimes I look at it in a football, when that star gets hurt, all of a sudden, how do you come back to get the team on the same page and still went look at the Dallas Cowboys. For example, they came with the backup quarterback, Cooper Rush. The next thing you know, they once re in a

row and then how to get that press got there. Then number one quarterback. But one thing that he learned. From watching from this from the sideline and also when you've sitting on a bench, you learn how you can help your other players get better. So that's why I know that you like the way Memphis plays. No question. I got a question for you, Jeff. When you

see guys take the night off. Does that upset you in some way, shape or form, or do you feel for the fans that bought that ticket to see that certain player, but he ain't playing that night. Is that kind of messed up to you? I don't try the judge it in that way. It was one like yourself. As they stayed low, I play broken ankles and

shit like that. And now I'm healthy for the first time in 25 years. I wish people would have told me, hey, maybe you shouldn't play today, but it's a different era. Sure. So far away in Australia, I know that there are Aussies that do go over to the States and actually go to maybe one or two games in their lifetime. And occasionally I do know of

some people and acquaintances, friends online that have gone over to see LeBron play or to see Durant play and they're sitting out because of that load management term. And obviously it's you can't please everybody, but it does seem that some of these players do tend to take your extra days off. One more for you out of when the Australian team came over here. And that game

in the preseason, were you excited or what was going through your mind? That's a great question. Yeah, the Adelaide 36 is when they upset the panic sons. There was a lot of publicity over here in Australia. Big news on most of the TV networks. We do have 25 million people or so in Australia. You got lots of air time. It was really surprising. I think they

played the game of their lives almost the Adelaide 36 is. They were hitting three points shots left, right in the center just dribbling over half court and just throwing them up. So it was pretty impressive. What did you guys make of it? I was embarrassed. That's what I was. We suppose they have the best players in the world. But some teams get lucky. They got lucky.

In fact, they they stepped in some dog poo and all they did was come on the court and they shot the lights out. That's all it takes is to make one. It felt like to me when the United States lost Olympic gold. That's where I was. You know, not with the players on that team. What do you think about that? Not the Mac Millenwell. Not the

boss against the tournament. I'm asking about I was still young. I didn't care about that. You gotta have a thought about that though. No, I don't really. They never accept that the silver medal or whatever. But your opinion on that. My opinion on it was just that a couple of referees needed some money or something. I don't know. They're at all. Yeah. Give him so many

chances. And at one time, I was trying to take rich. But my thing is it felt like when when the 36 is right. Yeah. That's it. Yeah. When they won, it felt like when the Olympic team went over the lost degrees. It felt like, okay, we're supposed to have the best players in the world. But this seems like it's going to be one anomaly where this

team is going to hit some threes. But also you take teams lightly. When you take teams, lately in this league, saying, oh, you're looking at, oh, we just playing them or we've, we ain't got to prepare mentally. Instead of taking them and choking them really quick. And taking care of your business early. And you knew that, Jeff, when we played as like, you want to establish

yourself. And you could be. Oh, easy night. And you could be embarrassed. It's a big surprise. Obviously it was only a pre-season game. But it was big news here in Australia. But you're right, Rick. They were on fire at a late front. From the three point range. And I don't think that'll probably ever happen again to that extent for sure. Well, let me go and knock

them on our next phone. There'll be revenge. Need to be sought just quickly before we start delving into your history. You're playing days, guys. The league leaders through the 23rd of October. We've got Jason Tatum, who's letting the league at almost 35 points per game. Rudy Gobeer, the newly acquired Minnesota Timberwolf 18 rebounds per game. And tray young over Atlanta as letting the league in assisted

almost. 12 per game. Anything you'd like to add before we just quickly talk about some old school basketball. Well, you know, I'm looking at teams trying to jockey for position. Some teams come in with the goal. Some teams come in with a semi goal, but may hit luck. Is it where I look at Boston? And I said a previous in the show. They're coming back with

a vengeance. They want to get back to where they were and try to win that chip. I think the best record in the league. So you really have to go through them. I just look at the league. You don't want to bury yourself. A whole like Philadelphia. And also the Lakers because now you're fighting uphill every time you come on the court. Your mental edge is

not there. But when you talk about guys leading the league and scoring that fluctuates to me. But then you look at the Rudy Gobeer. It's doing what Rudy Gobeer does. But then when I look at that, to the finals, he is the player I'll stick out for. So then the regular season. But Jeff, anything you'd like to add before we go back in time and talk

about your careers? No, no, no, no, I'm looking forward to the season and how it developed. Good. Somebody. Love the different story line. Based on my research before we chatted today, it's August of 1979. And you are both in Colorado Springs and purse some newspaper reports. I read that you were two of the 32 basketball players hoping to earn a What do you remember? I'm drinking

chorus late with the US volleyball team as Barthibs court. I'm a pal for the whole month. Well, that's after they cut me because Bobby Knight, look at the roster and said, Hampton Institute, what the hell is that? I was rebounded my butt off in there. I was some division two guy that was the kid coach. But I remember. And Anderson. Yes, yes. Training camp. I played

really well. But for some reason, all of a sudden, I don't know what is the altitude or something like killings were starting to bother me. They were going to cut me. But if I didn't practice the one day. One of the factors that I wanted to practice and we won the gold. As a matter of fact, they gave that medal to Jim Bell Vato and I'm

actually just spoke to Pam. If she still has it and it doesn't want to let you get it back. Oh boy. Do you want your stuff? Nothing. You want me to throw up. You're virtually. I got him to the all star, which I would play in. Oh, you want your look at us. I'm not a place. That's 100 years ago. I'm not going to go. I'll

bow you through the screen. I really. That's it. I'll bring back some of the BF brothers. You know, Adam, our friendship. It goes back to, yeah, we both were out there. It wasn't like a AAU where you're planning to get somebody every day. This was a friendship because he was a real genuine person. And that's why we're friends till this day. Forty plus years. Just knowing

this guy and knowing I got traded. He was more upset when I got traded. He called me to tell me I got traded. He said those motherfuckers traded you. And I was like, huh? I'll sleep in my, like, okay. Detroit. That's it. All right. But our friendship never left. But we also got on the court and we competed. It was like, yeah, fuck you. We're going

at each other. But it was also after the game. Let's go get something. He'd have a good time. A question, my friend. Many people are like you. I wish you would have back in the day. Got the credit that you deserve. It's like the defensive player. The year this guy could guard one through five. They talk about it now. It's pretty funny. It's pretty funny. He

guard Mark the guy one night. Dr. J the next dream. Moses. You name it. Thank you, sir. We should have won a lot more games. And it needs her a little stack. You were played for the Celtics. The Lakers or the Sixers and they have. The five or six Hall of Famers and the two dudes with the shirts. The reference. We'll say part of that. It's

not against five every night. When we would get on that court. Adam. It was the thing of beauty because it was like we would hit so hard. I'm a hit him harder than you. Damn. Next year. I'm a hit him harder than you. Damn. It is like, boy, this was fun. It got to the point. We were setting pick so hard that they didn't even want

to do it. It made it easier for guards to get layups and things like that because their bigs weren't that tough at that time. So. They're calling out the screens and they're demand. It should be managed your teammate. We're not calling the screens out. It's just for shit. I look forward to delving into your basketball history and talking a lot more about the Washington Bullets and

your years in the 1980s together. I believe that the beef brothers nickname was actually given to you by a sedric Maxwell during the non-anadis to playoffs. He might have dubbed you that after one of the playoffs games. Is that sound right? Or who actually originated that nickname? We had a couple of nicknames. Like nasty. You make filthy. That was the first one. Donnie Moes. I'll let

Rulant tell you that story. But the first most brothers. There was a guy with the beef sign in the thing. Like a USDA beef thing. And it said beef brothers. That's my first short. But I don't remember. Sedric. I don't know. He's not trope or not. It do be. And I'll talk about. I'm a man. Brad. Brad. I'm cool. Johnny Moes story is my mom used

to listen like Rick's mom. My mom was on my island. She listened to the game on the car radio. I was like to get her a satellite dish. And she's like, you know, I understand the old Homer. Thanks. There's a guy. Johnny. Most I just a little fucking too much. With the home in there. Shit. They said, all right. My I got you. So. We're warming

up and I see him sitting over there. I did not. There's normal. See that. I was like, Hey, Johnny. I got a message. Well, yeah. My mother thinks you're really suck. But the game. Johnny's like Mrs. Rulant. And he was swarming. And I'd be with that. And Mrs. Rulant, if you're listening, please turn your radio off. Every time we played, it was. Donnie. And hell. But

he was like, Oh my gosh. That's so dirty. I'm. They. They spit him out. He had him with a baseball bat. That my horn. They need to go to. I thought you're jumping in the air and stepping on your feet. Yeah. You got to go about 140 degrees. And the roach is in the rats are running around their plate. Card. That. Fucking dead spots on the

floor. That place was the shit hole. There's three showers. One worked. Once quirted out. Little sprinkles of water. Man. Boston. And I know we'll be talking more about it. But when I played with the pistons, we would come in there because we were getting better. They would do things to try to disrupt you mentally. I guess it was mental warfare. It was like, there were break

a window when it was like 20 degrees outside. But the shreds of glass were never inside their outside. So they're breaking a window inside. In order for it to get cold. And we said, they're going like, that's some backwards ass shit. It's so it's so petty. They would fuel me. That's why I never had a bag. I'm in that fucking dog. I pissed off about the

heat of the showers and the shit treatment. Ready. You got to get a reminder guy. The fans would call your hotel room hours at a night. You have to put the block. You do not disturb in your hotel room. Pulled out fire alarms. That band was just back. And the people are inviting me home for dinner. The people were great. Boston fans. Most of them. Well,

I'm white. Yeah. Yeah. I'm going to leave that one alone. Boston does have a reputation unfortunately for better or worse. Just in relation to the erenas. What were some of the favorite places you enjoyed playing in during your careers? For me. I used to love that teams with Boomi and my home team would cheer me back then out of the 22 teams 21 of them with

Boomi. And I would love it because if I was on their team, they would cheer for me. So that was my side. I'm good. Why is it going to be my side? I'm really going to be out there. I'm looking for you. And I'm going to be good. I'm going to be good. I'm looking for you. I'm looking for you. And my Punkte line to be

finished and, us, I'm vegan about it. It's OK. I'm also done. I like my distinal, I really like my game. Now. For these blows they're going to get a big forge. Thed for it to thrive and tochte say well before it to be tough. And and and but it's just. The last time I went to Austin,othing,thing and supermarket, I was swimming four in the Alabama. It

was him. It's fear. Oh, him is fear. In our yeah. Yeah. It's like my mom. And she cuts me out. She called me every fucking name in the book. I just couldn't laugh. It's kind of funny. The baseline bomb. Yeah. That was a eye. Look at how I look like a need it. I'm like a need it. Like you want the fuck. Well, you know what?

You got to love fans because whenever I hear Philadelphia, like they're booing the joellen beat and hard and all of the fans there, they just want to win. They don't give a damn. They want you to put out. They they want you because you can pay an absorbing of the amount of money. If you're running in the stands and going after you. You lose balls and

doing what you need to do. One thing about Philadelphia fans, I seen a fight Santa Claus. I'll give her. I'll man. I thought so bad because I couldn't play for them when I was hurt. But I would watch in my first year there. They beat the shit out of the red chicken guy. They put him in the hospital. They stopped the man. Hey, they call it

the city of brotherly love. I was like, yeah, they're gonna give a brother some love. They come in there with some boys. I'll think that dude. Every recover. Crazy. But you know, you know what? Fans make this game fun when they act accordingly. You remember when I washed and garnered and guys would face stuff and we just throw the gatorade or. Oh, yeah. I best one.

It was this guy at Marcus square arena in Indiana. You'd be under the basket and yelling and making. I said, you look like you need some new shoes. You pay all that money for their seat. You know, his wife was sitting next to him. I said, you kiss your wife with that mouth. And he looked at me. Fuck you. And I said, no, just tell your

wife. Mad is hell. That's it. You just don't know me because I got jokes too. If I can ask one thing about some Australian slang, a word or a phrase, any idea what it could mean. I'll tell you right now. I don't know any of it. I'm willing to learn that. How about this one? There's a phrase that we use in Australia that's called budgie smugglers.

Do you have any idea what you'd be wearing? I can't. You got it, Rick. You got it. Yeah. Budgie's a. Do you have speed eyes over there like the mouse women drunks? Hey, hey, Rulers still wear speedos. While there you go. And Jackie draws. Okay. Thank you. Just quickly. Thank you very much. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Me. Thank you very much. Right. Just quickly. We'd love interaction

with the show in future episode. You can ask Rick or Jeff questions about their careers. We'd love to hear from you. Podcast listeners send an email in all anis at jmail.com does one word in all anis at jmail.com. I can collate these emissions for the future shows. And you can also reach out on Instagram. Rick is Rick Mahorn 44 official. Jeff is ruling Jeff. Thanks very

much for your time today. Guys. It's been a pleasure. I look forward to chatting again soon. One more thing, Adam. Just knock on my door before you leave. Stop lying at you in Australia. I'm getting ready to go to sleep. You get ready to do something. I've been throttling right now. Get ready to go out of the beer. All right. See y'all. Bye. Thank you guys.

Bye. Bye.