Revue helps 'The Brown Bear' dabble in coaching

He's among the hottest coaches in the NBA, having led his team to the finals in June. He's definitely the most famous Mike Brown in basketball.

But one thing the Cleveland Cavaliers coach isn't: the original Mike "The Brown Bear" Brown.

How do you compete with a guy who owns an electric sign with his name on it?

The NBA's original Mike Brown is back in town this week for the Rocky Mountain Revue. Still big. Still bearish. He played five seasons for the Jazz in the late '80s and early '90s, averaging five points and 4.4 rebounds for his career. But in Utah, under Jerry Sloan's rigid system, he averaged 5.8 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Now he's working as an assistant coach for the Seattle Sonics, who hired him to help coach the team's summer league entries. Brown isn't sure whether he'll be retained for the regular season. If not, perhaps he can approach the Cleveland Mike Brown and ask for a job.

"He says he gets a ton of my basketball cards in the mail, wanting him to sign them," says the Brown Bear. "I just tell him if he'll hire me, I'll make sure they get to the right guy."

Though not the Jazz's most famous player, Brown made his mark.

Acquired in a 1988 trade that sent Kelly Tripucka to Charlotte, he pounded away on the inside, spelling Mark Eaton when the starting center was in foul trouble. That's what happened in 1991 — Brown's shining moment. A contract season, he averaged 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in the playoffs.

Aside from his burly shoulders and ever-present smile, Brown distinguished himself with a rather unique characteristic: He bounced the ball like he was pounding railroad spikes. The floor shook, drinks spilled, streetlights swayed.

"I did that for two reasons," said Brown. "First, I didn't want anyone to steal the ball. And besides that, I wanted to make sure the ball got back up to me."

Heaven help the poor guy whose hand got in the way.

He opened a restaurant in Sugar House called "Brown Bear's Burgers and Dogs," which he ended up selling after he was traded to Minnesota. His marketing hook: The burgers came with the fries piled on top.

Though the restaurant didn't last, it did have a certain marketability, including a sign with a bear wearing a basketball uniform.

He still has the sign, which he keeps at home in Las Vegas.

"It still lights up," says Brown.

Doesn't everyone in Vegas have their own sign?