No dream too big for ‘Muggsy’ Bogues as he looks to inspire basketball fans at NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024

No dream too big for ‘Muggsy’ Bogues as he looks to inspire basketball fans at NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024
Former NBA and Charlotte Hornets star 'Muggsy' Bogues. (Supplied)
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Updated 18 September 2024
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No dream too big for ‘Muggsy’ Bogues as he looks to inspire basketball fans at NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024

No dream too big for ‘Muggsy’ Bogues as he looks to inspire basketball fans at NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024
  • Shortest player in NBA history enjoyed a long NBA career that included an 11-year run with Charlotte Hornets
  • Bogues expects a fierce contest between the Celtics and Nuggets for early bragging rights on Oct. 4 and 6 at Etihad Arena

ABU DHABI: Few figures embody the spirit of overcoming odds and inspiring future generations as powerfully as Tyrone Curtis “Muggsy” Bogues.

At just 1.60 meters, Muggsy may be the shortest player in NBA history, but his impact on the game has been monumental.

The former NBA star enjoyed a 14-year career playing for the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors.

This October, basketball fans in the UAE and the region will have the chance to see the “man who made a dream come true” up close during the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024, presented by ADQ.

Bogues will be in the UAE capital as a part of the basketball experience that sees the Boston Celtics take on the Denver Nuggets twice in three days.

Sharing his story of perseverance and the power of the game to inspire, as well as his pride in the global growth of basketball, the 59-year-old spoke with Arab News just weeks ahead of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games.

Bogues said of representing the NBA in Abu Dhabi: “I’m excited to be part of it. It’s not just about basketball; it’s about inspiring kids to think that maybe one day they could be on that court, pursuing a career in the sport.”

For Bogues, this international event is more than just pre-season games. It is about showcasing the global appeal of basketball in places where the sport might not be dominant.

“People love seeing what it’s like on the other side of the world, and social media helps share all the stories leading up to the games,” he said.

“To be able to showcase great basketball worldwide, especially in places where basketball isn’t the No. 1 sport, it creates interest. Kids see these games and dream of pursuing basketball, even if it’s not the first option in their country.”

Bogues has witnessed firsthand how the NBA has evolved: “The game has become truly global. In my time, there weren’t as many overseas players, but now you see players from all over the world bringing their unique styles.

“European players, for example, are known for being more fundamentally sound, while in the US we tend to rely more on athletic ability. Now you see a combination of both in the NBA, and it makes the game even more exciting.”

Bogues is living testament to the idea that size does not determine success: “No matter your size or where you come from, like in my case, being 5 feet, 3 inches, you can dream of making it to the NBA. It’s all about mastering the game and believing in yourself.”

While these games are part of the NBA’s pre-season, Bogues stressed their significance for teams. “Pre-season games are very important. After a long summer, teams come back with a short training camp, and these games give them a chance to rebuild the bond and create unity,” he explained.

“It’s all about getting that cohesion back, creating a culture, and familiarizing with one another again. These games are also key in helping to prevent injuries by getting players back into the rhythm.”

With both the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics vying for early bragging rights, the matchups in Abu Dhabi are bound to be intense. “There’s definitely going to be a lot of pride on display,” Bogues said.

“You have this year’s champions, the Denver Nuggets, going up against last year’s champions, the Boston Celtics. These teams haven’t won back-to-back titles in a while, so they’ll be playing for bragging rights.

“Even though it’s a pre-season game, it’s not taking place in their hometown, so they’ll want to show their best basketball early on.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the Celtics and Nuggets in the Finals again. They’ve got the talent, and they haven’t made too many changes to their rosters.”

Bogues says he is “honored and grateful” to be spreading the game globally. “It gives kids the opportunity to dream and believe that maybe one day, it could be them,” he said.

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games, presented by ADQ, will feature two pre-season matchups between the Celtics, the 17-time NBA champions, and the Nuggets, the reigning NBA champions, on Friday Oct. 4, and Sunday Oct. 6 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

Fans can meet Bogues at the NBA District from Oct. 3 to 6 at Manarat Al-Saadiyat, where there will be basketball activities, interactive experiences, and exclusive merchandise.

He will also appear at NBA Fan Appreciation Day on Oct. 5 at Etihad Arena, alongside other NBA legends, as well as Celtics and Nuggets players.


Guardiola wants close friend Arteta to explain himself after cryptic comments about Man City

Guardiola wants close friend Arteta to explain himself after cryptic comments about Man City
Updated 28 September 2024
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Guardiola wants close friend Arteta to explain himself after cryptic comments about Man City

Guardiola wants close friend Arteta to explain himself after cryptic comments about Man City
  • Arteta seems certain their relationship won’t be damaged
  • Guardiola, however, might have gotten irritated

MANCHESTER: The friendship between Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could come under strain with the rivalry between their title-chasing Premier League clubs intensifying in recent days.
Arteta seems certain their relationship won’t be damaged.
Guardiola, however, might have gotten irritated.
Arsenal’s tactics, and use of soccer’s so-called “dark arts,” brought some criticism from a number of City players after the feisty 2-2 draw between the teams last weekend.
Arteta responded rather cryptically by saying he has “all the information” about City owing to his time there as an assistant to Guardiola from 2016-19.
“So I know, believe me,” Arteta said.
Those remarks were sufficiently vague for Guardiola to wonder whether Arteta may actually be alluding to the off-the-field issues at City, which are currently defending themselves against 115 charges of breaching Premier League regulations following an investigation into the club’s financial affairs.
“Next time he has to be more clear exactly what does he mean,” Guardiola said of Arteta. “He said he was here four years and we know exactly what happened here.
“It can be related (to) the process now with 115 charges, maybe it’s about that. He knows information about that maybe, or maybe he has something like ... I don’t know. OK, next time, like a good relation I have with him, hopefully this question has been asked. He can answer exactly what does it mean when he said he was here and ‘I know what’s happening here.’“
Guardiola was speaking Friday in a news conference that took place about the same time as Arteta was holding one at Arsenal’s training base.
Asked about his relationship with Guardiola, Arteta said: “I love him, I respect him, I admire him and I admire his team and everything that he does. This is sport. One thing is our profession, another is our personal relationship.
“If our relationship was damaged because one draws and the other one wins or the amount of times that they’ve beaten us, I would not talk to him anymore. So that’s not our relationship, especially the relationship that I consider both of us have. In sport it will never get in my way, a personal relationship, that’s for sure.”
Guardiola said he feels Arsenal might be provoking his players into a rivalry, picking up especially on post-match comments by Arsenal defender Gabriel.
“Gabriel said it perfectly after the match — so this is a war, we are here to provoke the opponent, to push them,” Guardiola said. “At the end what can you do? OK, you provoke me — I’m there. You want a war? I’ll do a war.”
Arsenal have finished runner-up to City in the league the last two seasons.


MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Updated 28 September 2024
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MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • Round 3 No-Gi takes place from Sept. 27-29 at Al-Bait Metwahid in Sharjah

SHARJAH: MOD UAE emerged as the frontrunner on the opening day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Round 3 No-Gi, which is being held from Sept. 27-29 at Al-Bait Metwahid in Sharjah.

Friday’s action saw athletes from the Adults and Masters divisions take to the mat, with MOD UAE competitors delivering commanding performances to firmly establish their lead. Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club followed closely in second place, while Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club secured third spot.

The championship continues over the weekend, with U-12 and U-14 athletes competing on the second day, followed by the U-16 and Youth categories on the third. The competition is part of a five-round series held across the Emirates throughout the season.

Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a great platform to promote jiu-jitsu and support its growth among different categories of athletes. It shows our ongoing efforts to achieve excellence and reflects the strong support from our leadership to advance various sports, especially jiu-jitsu, as it plays a key role in promoting values like determination, persistence and patience.”

He added: “We’re pleased to see the large turnout and strong support from the audience, which has added excitement to the championship and motivated the athletes to give their all to win. It also highlights the special place jiu-jitsu holds in everyone’s hearts.”

Haitham Hanawi of MOD UAE, who won gold in the Men’s Adults/Masters Brown/Black 56kg category, said: “Competing in this championship was tough, especially with the different strategies needed for No-Gi competitions. I won gold thanks to the hard training and support from my teammates and coaches. The matches were difficult, but it was a great way to test my skills. I believe this tournament will keep helping jiu-jitsu grow in the UAE.”


Champions Al-Nassr kick off new Saudi Women’s Premier League with win over AlUla

Champions Al-Nassr kick off new Saudi Women’s Premier League with win over AlUla
Updated 28 September 2024
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Champions Al-Nassr kick off new Saudi Women’s Premier League with win over AlUla

Champions Al-Nassr kick off new Saudi Women’s Premier League with win over AlUla
  • Al-Shabab overcame Al-Taraji 4-0 while Al-Ahli comprehensively beat Al-Amal 6-2

RIYADH: Reigning champions Al-Nassr kicked off their defense of the Saudi Women’s Premier League title with a 3-1 win over AlUla in Riyadh on Friday night.

It was one of three matches that got the 2024-25 season underway, with AlUla shocking the home team when they took the lead through Jaine Lemke on 23 minutes. However, Clara Luvanga equalized for Al-Nassr five minutes later to ensure the teams went into half-time on level terms.

Second half goals from Ruth Kipoyi (52) and Lina Boussaha (64) completed Al-Nassr’s comeback.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabab defeated Al-Taraji 4-0 at Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Qatif with goals from Fatima Al-Sadah (9), Nataša Andonova (40, 63) and Al-Bandari Mubarak (76).

In Friday’s third match, Al-Ahli completed a comprehensive 6-2 win over Al-Amal at King Fahad Sport City Stadium in Taif to top the table with two more matches remaining in the opening round.

Al-Ahli’s goals came from a hat-trick by Naomie Kabakaba (11, 18, 87) and one each by Elodie Nakkach (45), Ayah Al-Majali (64) and Alice Kusi (71). Al-Amal’s consolation strikes came from Mariam Sidibe (74) and Stephanie Gbogou Tape (85).

On Saturday night, Al-Hilal will welcome Eastern Flames to Inaya Medical Colleges Stadium in Riyadh, while Al-Ittihad will play host to Al-Qadsiah in Jeddah.


Al-Ittihad beat Khaleej to go top of Saudi Pro League

Al-Ittihad beat Khaleej to go top of Saudi Pro League
Updated 28 September 2024
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Al-Ittihad beat Khaleej to go top of Saudi Pro League

Al-Ittihad beat Khaleej to go top of Saudi Pro League
  • Angelo Gabriel and Cristiano Ronaldo score as Al-Nassr defeat Al-Wehda 2-0, while Qadsiah overcome Al-Ahli by a single goal

RIYADH: Al-Ittihad leapfrogged Al-Ahli to claim top spot in the Saudi Pro League after a 4-1 win over Al-Khaleej on Friday night, with the reigning champions still to play on Saturday.

The visitors shocked the home crowd by taking a fifth-minute lead thanks to Khaled Narey, which they held until half-time.

But after the break Al-Ittihad rediscovered the form that saw them beat Al-Wehda 7-1 two weeks ago and scored four times in a dominant second half performance.

Karim Benzem kick-started the comeback four minutes after the break and there were further goals from Houssem Amour (56), Steven Bergwijn (68) and Hamed Al-Ghamdi (stoppage time).

The Jeddah club, champions two seasons ago, now sit top of the SPL standings with 12 points from five matches but will drop to second if Al-Hilal — with a perfect record after four matches — get at least a draw against Al-Kholood at home on Saturday night.

Meanwhile Al-Nassr managed to record their second win in a row for the first time this season when they beat Al-Wehda 2-0 in Riyadh. Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring on 41 minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up the win with a penalty in the 56th minute. Al-Nassr now sit in third place with 11 points.

In Friday’s other match, a difficult week for Al-Ahli — which saw them suffer a shock exit in the King’s Cup — got worse. They lost 1-0 at the hands of newly promoted Al-Qadsiah, thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty on 43 minutes, his first SPL goal for the Aramco-owned club.


Rain delays day two start of India-Bangladesh Test

Rain delays day two start of India-Bangladesh Test
Updated 28 September 2024
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Rain delays day two start of India-Bangladesh Test

Rain delays day two start of India-Bangladesh Test
  • Bangladesh were 107-3 after being invited to bat on opening day of second Test 
  • Visitors lost first Test to India after shocking Pakistan 2-0 earlier this month

Kanpur, India: Rain on Saturday in the northern Indian city of Kanpur delayed the start of the second day’s play in the weather-hit second Test between India and Bangladesh.

Only 35 overs were possible on the opening day with Bangladesh 107-3 after being invited to bat first by India, who lead the two-match series 1-0.

Morning showers made the stadium workers cover the entire ground and more rain is forecast throughout the day.

Bad light took the players off the ground nine overs after lunch on Friday with Mominul Haque, on 40, Mushfiqur Rahim, on six, batting.

Heavy downpours followed on a day which started one hour late due to overnight rain, with the ground covered and officials called stumps after just 166 minutes of play.

India fast bowler Akash Deep removed the Bangladesh openers inside the first hour of play. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sent back skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, for 31, in the third over after lunch.