By Matthew R. Gomez
Magic Magazine

WE'RE USED TO SEEING Bo Outlaw clean the glass for rebounds, but doing it around the home is something altogether different.

Outlaw and his Magic buddy, Darrell Armstrong, do more than their fair share of household chores in a new series of Orlando Magic TV spots in which the two players meet their fans on their fans' home turf. The Darrell and Bo Show arrived Nov. 23 at the North Bay home of season ticket-holders John and Janie Haupt. Their sons, John, 12, and Jordan, 9, both Magic fans, were thrilled at the sight of their surprise visitors.

"They've told all of their friends," John Haupt says of his boys. "John really is a Magic fan and they both love basketball. It's something they'll be talking about for a long time, I'm sure."

Darrell Armstrong and Bo Outlaw were welcomed into the Haupt home.

The visit was arranged through the Magic broadcast and publicity departments. The video footage of the visit, complete with scenes of both players sharing a family meal and helping the boys with homework and household chores, is part of a series of humorous, fan-appreciation commercials that are airing during Magic telecasts. Eight, 30-second spots were produced featuring Darrell and Bo in six and Michael Doleac and Pat Garrity in two.

Only the parents knew that Outlaw and Armstrong would some day grace their doorstep. Prepared for that moment, the Haupts left some chores undone so the Magic men could make themselves useful around the home.

"Darrell helped my wife do the dishes and Bo helped cut the lawn," John Haupt says. "We're season ticket holders and love to see the games, but to see the Magic players in our house and yard was certainly something different."

Armstrong said he was happy to pitch in and help out, but he didn't want his wife to think that this is his new hobby.

Outlaw

Armstrong

"I washed the dishes and I hope they're still clean," Armstrong says, laughing. "I haven't done that since I was a little kid, but we had a good time."

While he was satisfied with his own work, Armstrong couldn't help offering a critique of Outlaw's work with the lawn mower.

"He mowed one or two strips of grass in the yard," Armstrong says. "Now the yard is out of balance. It's all uneven."

Outlaw, in his own defense, said he was out of practice.

"I don't do that stuff at my home, in fact, I don't even have a lawn mower," he said. "I got tired cutting the grass, so I went to play basketball with the kids. That's more fun."

The Haupt boys are students at Holy Family Catholic School in Orlando. The players helped seventh-grader John and third-grader Jordan with their math homework, more of a challenge for Armstrong and Outlaw than it was for their young fans.

"I tried to help where I could and it was fun, but they didn't need much help," Outlaw says. "They're pretty smart and they were doing pretty good on their own."

John Haupt was impressed with the visit and the genuine interest Outlaw and Armstrong expressed in his children.

"They really bonded with the kids and I was impressed with their sincerity," he said. "I have a lot of respect for them as men, not just as athletes, for how they relate to the kids."

While the boys are Magic fans, there may be room for improvement in the area of updated Magic merchandise in their bedroom. Jordan, whose middle name is Michael, was named for the former Chicago Bull great and ESPN's Top Athlete of the Century. A Chicago Bulls locker stands in the boys' room with Jordan posters, pictures and apparel.

But MJ is not alone. Also present in the room are images of former Orlando Magic players Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott represented on clothes, posters and bedsheets.

"They have a lot of old Magic stuff, but they did have an autographed picture of Bo, so that's good," Armstrong says. "We've got to turn them on to the new Magic players. We'll see what happens."

Magic head coach Doc Rivers learned of the Haupt boys' admiration of Michael Jordan and says he can relate to their display.

"Michael's the best," Rivers says. "I played for the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs, but my kids still had posters of Jordan on their walls. That doesn't bother me at all. If the kids had posters of lesser players than Bo and Darrell, then that might bother me."

What if they had posters of a young Doc Rivers?

"Then the kids have problems," Rivers says, laughing.

Matthew R. Gomez is an Orlando freelance writer.

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