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Sunday, January 17, 1999
By Dave Del Grande
STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND -- In their quest to provide the type of entertainment that will draw fans back to NBA arenas, the Golden State Warriors have an advantage over most teams.
They have a Thunder & Lightning show.
The Bay Area was introduced to Thunder, the team's superhuman mascot, last season. His act during timeouts and halftime -- as well as in the stands during the action -- was an immediate hit.
But if the Warriors are going to recapture the level of fan interest that produced seven consecutive years of sellouts in the early 1990s, they're going to have to do it on the court.
And that's where Lightning comes in.
Lightning is Muggsy Bogues, who is the closest thing the NBA has to a player/mascot. In fact, at 5-foot-3, he is smaller than most of the fuzzy creatures around the league.
But with 6,288 career assists and 1,259 steals, it's clear the little guy is much more than a sideshow.
How quick is he? In a flash last season, the first-year Warrior blazed into town and bailed out a franchise whose marketing slogan was "No More Mr. Nice Guys."
Quickly, P.J. Carlesimo was whitewashed from the billboards and the likable Bogues was made the center of attention.
"I wasn't surprised," Bogues said of the Warriors' request. "I did whatever I could do for my organization ... to put an identity on the organization. I felt it was a plus for them, just like I felt it was a plus for Charlotte."
Bogues spent nine of his first 10 pro seasons with the Hornets, helping them make the transition from an expansion team to a 50-game winner.
He finds himself back at square one with the Warriors, who won an expansion-like 19 games last season.
"I know we're rebuilding. I want to be a part of that because it's a challenge," he said. "We're bringing character back to this team. It makes you feel good to be a part of something so wonderful."
On the court, the Warriors did Bogues no favors last season. He started barely half the 61 games in which he played and his high-energy style was dragged to a crawl by Carlesimo's set-it-up style.
He did average 6.6 points and 6.2 assists in his 31 starts, yet remains uncertain what his role will be this year.
"They've got to get a group of guys together and let them develop," he assured. "I know they've got to bring in a younger guard. I just want to help out in whatever way I can."
And if that's once again coming off the bench, where he was far less effective last season?
"If that's what they feel they need to do, that's fine," he said. "Because I know over the course of the game, they'll need Muggsy."
No matter who suits up for the Warriors this season, they'll certainly need him off the court as well. And as opposed to last year, he knows he can't do it alone this time around.
"We have other guys who have to step up and be a part of it," he said. "You have a (Antawn) Jamison. You have a (Erick) Dampier. They're the future.
"Everybody is going to have to do a little more than what they've done before. I'd tell them: You've got to take that next step. It just takes a second to sign an autograph. Let people see another side of you. Let them see you're not just a basketball player.
"I don't think anybody is going to say the NBA is 'Fan-tastic' right now. We've got to reach out ... try to bring back the love and affection we've always had with the fans."
Bogues, 34, is in the final year of his contract. Is it possible NBA fans will see his swan song this season?
"I can still play basketball for a couple of years," he insisted. "I feel like (Michael) Jordan. I want to out on my own terms."
His terms almost always include a smile. He just hopes more Warriors fans than ever will be watching.
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