Former Razorback Joe Kleine Recalls Winning Basketball Gold Medal
By: Deedra Wilson, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 10, 2012
The USA Men's Basketball team will go for the gold this Sunday, which has special meaning for larger-than-life Arkansan Joe Klein who can say, "been there, done that."
Joe Klein, current UALR Assistant Coach, former Arkansas Razorback, Olympian and NBA Champion was already a gold medalist when he hit a free throw to give the Chicago Bulls crowd free tacos during the 1998-99 season.
"It's been worn, it's been touched a few times you can tell," Kleine says, holding his gold medal.
Kleine played for the 1984 Olympic team coached by the legendary Bobby Knight.
"You made the team, you won the gold medal then you went back and got on with life," Kleine recalls. "It was great!"
Kleine says Charles Barkley had a big role in obtaining the gold medal, by not making the Olympic team that year.
"I thank him everyday for my gold medal," Kleine says of Barkley. "At that time in his life he wasn't really interested in going through a Bobby Knight boot camp all summer long. He kind of wanted to up his stock for the draft."
When asked how he feels the Olympic team in 1984 would have matched up with team 2012, Kleine takes a realistic point of view:
"We weren't chopped liver, I mean I can tell you that but I'm not naive enough to say in a seven-game series we would have won the series."
Joe Kleine is more than an Olympic and NBA Champion, he's a dedicated husband, father of four and one that he calls his son.
"You hear your son bragging about, 'My dad's got a gold medal,' you're like, 'Shut up William,'" Kleine jokes. "It's special...It's good!"
Joe Klein, current UALR Assistant Coach, former Arkansas Razorback, Olympian and NBA Champion was already a gold medalist when he hit a free throw to give the Chicago Bulls crowd free tacos during the 1998-99 season.
"It's been worn, it's been touched a few times you can tell," Kleine says, holding his gold medal.
Kleine played for the 1984 Olympic team coached by the legendary Bobby Knight.
"You made the team, you won the gold medal then you went back and got on with life," Kleine recalls. "It was great!"
Kleine says Charles Barkley had a big role in obtaining the gold medal, by not making the Olympic team that year.
"I thank him everyday for my gold medal," Kleine says of Barkley. "At that time in his life he wasn't really interested in going through a Bobby Knight boot camp all summer long. He kind of wanted to up his stock for the draft."
When asked how he feels the Olympic team in 1984 would have matched up with team 2012, Kleine takes a realistic point of view:
"We weren't chopped liver, I mean I can tell you that but I'm not naive enough to say in a seven-game series we would have won the series."
Joe Kleine is more than an Olympic and NBA Champion, he's a dedicated husband, father of four and one that he calls his son.
"You hear your son bragging about, 'My dad's got a gold medal,' you're like, 'Shut up William,'" Kleine jokes. "It's special...It's good!"
