Sports Poets Society

https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/12/13/a-tough-man-in-a-scramble THE BULLETS HAVE FLIPPED OVER 6'11" JEFF RULAND, WHO'S BETTER THAN HE WAS CRACKED UP TO BE BRUCE NEWMAN Sports Illustrated - December 13, 1982 Ruland's arms look so short and thick that it seems as if they're trying to retract into his body . Arms don't dangle gracefully at Ruland's sides; they hang from his shoulders like meat on a hook . In every way that arms are capable of being remarkable, these are not. And yet what makes Ruland's arms the kind that any NBA team would be happy to have hanging around is precisely what makes them appear so small to begin with—they are attached to the rest of Ruland. Since joining the Washington Bullets as a rookie last season, the 6'11", 260-pound center/power forward has used his size and strength to become one of the NBA's best sixth men (although he's lately been starting in place of injured Forward Spencer Haywood) and one of the...

https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/beef-brothers-the-story-behind-jeff-ruland-and-rick-mahorns-unbreakable-bond Luke Askew  ●  @luk3askew 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 o...