Beef Brothers: The story behind Jeff Ruland and Rick Mahorn's unbreakable bond
March 14, 2023 - 3:04 PM EDT
The Washington Wizards franchise has a rich history of individual and team success. As the Wizards celebrate the 25th anniversary of the nickname ‘Wizards’ (formerly the ‘Bullets’), the franchise is honoring a variety of alumni ranging from former players like Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, and Gilbert Arenas to former broadcast duo Phil Chenier (also a retired player) and Steve Buckhantz.
Now, teaming up with Mitchell & Ness, the Wizards are honoring two franchise greats from the 1980s, Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland, with a nostalgic shirt paying homage to their friendship and iconic nickname, “The Beef Brothers.”
Jeff Ruland was drafted out of Iona College in 1980 by the Golden State Warriors. His draft rights were later traded to the Washington Bullets, but before joining the NBA, Ruland opted to play overseas (Barcelona, Spain) for one season. In 1981, Ruland returned to the United States and made his NBA debut for the Bullets.
"For me, I was coming back from Spain," said Ruland. "I came back, and I had a new wife, and was eventually going to have a couple of kids. So when I stepped on the court, it was about feeding my family."
Ruland went on to play five seasons in Washington, where he averaged nearly 19 points and 11 rebounds per game. In 1984, he was selected to his first All-Star game after averaging 22.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in a league-leading 41.1 minutes per game. In 1985, he made his second-consecutive All-Star game, posting 18.9 points per game to go along with 11.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
Rick Mahorn was drafted by the Bullets with the 35th overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft out of Hampton University. After appearing in 52 games during his rookie season, Mahorn made a major leap in his second year as a professional, starting in 80 games and averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Mahorn’s specialty was his defensive prowess, which helped him carve out a role in the NBA for a long time to come.
"For me, it was just getting in the NBA -- getting a job," said Mahorn. "Sometimes your chances aren't high, especially going to a Division II school. Your chances are not high."
After five successful seasons with the Bullets, Mahorn went to the Detroit Pistons where he would later win an NBA Championship.
BIRTH OF "THE BEEF BROTHERS"
Ruland and Mahorn first met in college. They didn't attend the same school, but as they were both from the Northeast, they crossed paths multiple times as they made their way through their pre-NBA basketball journeys. They took an immediate liking to each other and a friendship formed. Their first impressions of each other were a little different, but both perfectly describe the tender, tough, and jab-filled nature of their bond.
"It was my alter ego," said Mahorn when asked about his first impression of Ruland. "We clicked, man. It was like it was meant to be, which it was and still is."
On the flip side, Ruland simply recalled his first impression being: "Who is this ugly dude?" On a more serious note, Ruland noted, "I met Rick in college. I knew right then and there that Rick had game. More importantly, he was a lifelong friend."
On the court, their chemistry was just as strong as it was off the court. While Ruland was more of a weapon on the offensive side than Mahorn, both guys were known for their tough, physical, bruting style of play, especially when it came to defending the paint and their teammates. Whether it was hard-nosed defense or throwing elbows, they didn't let anything come easy for opponents.
"We were smart on the court," said Mahorn. "We were very tactical in what we did. And the fact of the matter is if somebody messed with him, it was my problem. If somebody messed with me, it was his problem as well... You can start it, but we're gonna finish it."
Their partnership became a talking point for fans, media, and opposing teams. If you drove into the lane, you were going to feel their presence. If you tried to post them up, you were going to take some bumps and bruises. If you thought about getting in a scuffle, you were going to have to go through both of them. Ruland even recalls one time he got a mid-game souvenir from Sixers guard Lionel Hollins courtesy of Mahorn -- one that Hollins didn't intentionally gift.
"We're at the Spectrum. It's cold as hell in there. They got the ice working overtime -- you can't even get a sweat going. It's a free throw. The ball goes up... Rick rebounds it, throws an elbow, and then I caught three of Lionel Hollins' teeth in my hands," said Ruland. "That always resonates with me."
Mahorn remembers it, too, saying, "Every time I see [Hollins], he thanks me for the new veneers he's got in his mouth."
Because of their physical, never-back-down style of play, most people didn't try any funny business with Ruland and Mahorn. "I don't remember us ever being trash-talked by anybody," said Ruland. "No one ever opened their pie-hole."
Individually, Ruland was known as "McFilthy" and Mahorn was known as “McNasty." Together, they were dubbed “The Beef Brothers.” That’s the nickname that inspired the new shirt from Mitchell & Ness (which is available for purchase in the Wizards' team store). The shirt was designed by Jay Kopicki, son of Joe Kopicki (former Bullets teammate of Ruland and Mahorn). "He's an exceptional artist. He's better than his dad was on the court," said Mahorn with a laugh.
As far as the origins of the nicknames go. Ruland remembers seeing "The Beef Brothers" displayed on a sign during a playoff game with the Celtics, and Mahorn remembers "McFilthy" and "McNasty" coming from Johnny Most, the former radio voice of the Celtics.
"For me, I remember 'McFilthy' and 'McNasty,'" said Mahorn. "That was from Johnny Most... I never ever really realized they started calling us 'The Beef Brothers'... Someone took that moniker and labeled us. That's how you do it in the NBA. I like organic nicknames."
A CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP
To this day, "The Beef Brothers" remain air-tight. Despite being retired from the game of basketball and no longer being teammates on the court, their friendship is as strong as ever. "He calls me, and I call him. He gets on my nerves," said Mahorn with a deadpan and hilarious look that only he can accurately convey.
"The Beef Brothers" even have a podcast and a YouTube channel where the guys still get together, tell old stories, and just simply talk hoops.
"I love [the podcast] because it just makes me laugh," said Mahorn. "The memories coming back. You have to share that heritage with people because you'll forget about the George Mikan's. You'll forget about the Bob Cousy's. You just don't want them to forget about us."
Ruland and Mahorn are prime examples of the everlasting bond that is formed when playing professional sports -- both with teammates and with the cities they represent. "I just miss my comradery with my teammates," said Mahorn. "I miss the cultures of D.C. ... Just all the history that's there in D.C. And not only in D.C., but in the DMV (for District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, or Washington metropolitan area)... I sit back, and I just say, 'Man, it was a beautiful city.'"
Ruland and Mahorn both summed up their unbreakable bond perfectly. "It didn't need words," said Ruland. "I know he had my back, and I had his."
"You get to know one guy, and then all of a sudden you become a partnership," said Mahorn. "And this partnership and this bond that we've had for a long time is always going to last forever between our families."
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