Q & A with Former NBA Player ANTHONY BOWIE

By Julia M. Coleman: SPM FL Writer
Posted Monday, August 18, 2008

AB: (laughing) Do you have game? It doesn’t matter whether you have played the sport before. It is just about moving and getting people to enjoy themselves. Most of us try to be good at something. These sessions allow you to strive for that in a friendly, supportive environment. It gets tougher to stay active as you get older.

Anthony Bowie was selected in the third round of the NBA draft out of the University of Oklahoma in 1986. He played in San Antonio, Houston, New York and Orlando as well as in Europe over the course of a 16 year professional career.

It was during his five years with the Orlando Magic that Anthony made his mark in the NBA, providing a spark of energy off the bench with his quick jumper or as a “lock down” defensive stopper.

Upon retirement, Anthony began offering camps, clinics and other basketball programs to children and young adults in the greater Central Florida area. He is now co-founder of Still Got Game, an adult fitness program that combines basketball skills, drills and thrills in the pursuit of fitness and fun. These twice a week sessions encourage women, men, dads and daughters, girlfriends or grandpas to come out twice a week and try a new fitness routine wrapped around some hoop dreams.

SPMSportspage spoke with Anthony before a recent session:

SPM: What prompted you to get involved in this basketball outreach project?

AB: I have been an athlete all my life, playing all kinds of sports, and I felt like after enjoying a really good career this was a great way to give back and to help others by getting them out and helping them do things they might not think they can do anymore – like play basketball! Instead of just sitting around the homes, watching TV, snacking and not being up and involved, why not get up and go exercise and get yourself healthy. There is only one “you” and you have to make sure you are taking care of that “you”. I just like sharing what I know about basketball and about life.

SPM: There are lots of people and institutions who put on these clinics and camps for kids, but there are very few venues that combine men and women of all ages, some with marginal skills, some with no skills and some with good skills.

What prompted you to put together these “All are welcome regardless of age or gender or skill level” sessions?

AB: (laughing) Do you have game? It doesn’t matter whether you have played the sport before. It is just about moving and getting people to enjoy themselves. Most of us try to be good at something. These sessions allow you to strive for that in a friendly, supportive environment. It gets tougher to stay active as you get older. As you age it is as much a mental game as it is a physical game to stay active. It is tough to have different age groups and skill levels in one session, but it is amazing how everybody comes together. Everybody laughs and has a good time, but we all laugh at each other, and if nothing else, you will learn to laugh at yourself here. We all need to work on our fitness and flexibility, especially as we get older, and this is a fun way to accomplish that.

SPM: What is the most important life lesson you learned on the basketball court?

AB: For me it is about the respect – respect for the game, for the competition, for the opponent. And you, as a player, want to be respected for your effort. I have seen lots of guys who were great players but didn’t put any effort into it. They just had the natural-born talent to play at the highest level. But I have also seen guys who got to the highest level because of their work ethic and their desire and their competitiveness. For me, I respect those athletes in any sport, who are willing to do whatever it takes to be the best they can be. It is respecting the opportunity in front of you and respecting whomever gave you that opportunity.

SPM: If you had not been a successful basketball player, what career would you have pursued?

AB: I was a communications major in college and when I started college, I had one primary goal and that was to get my degree. I never thought I would play ball professionally. I didn’t think I had a chance to play pro until I heard my name called by the NBA. So I was just expecting to stay a part of sports, but not as a player. So when that opportunity came, I decided I would do whatever I had to do to become a professional ball player. It took me three years of practice, and sideline work and study but I did finally earn playing time.

SPM: What is our most memorable NBA moment?

AB: When I signed my first contract – the day I got the call to be on a team! That was the most memorable day in my whole career – just having that opportunity presented to me!