Locker room lackey

While working as a visiting team locker room manager at Washington Wizards games over the last five years, University of Maryland junior journalism major Tim Rumpff has collected various sneakers from NBA stars. (PETER J. CASEY--THE DIAMONDBACK)

Student serves NBA players, coaches
By Brendan Lowe

WASHINGTON — An hour before a recent basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards, Tim Rumpff stood next to former NBA All-Star Elton Brand in the Clippers’ locker room with all the poise of a Secret Service agent perched next to the president.

While some people would have clamored for the star’s autograph and attention, Rumpff laid low. To him, Brand was simply a guy, just like himself.

Of course, Rumpff is someone who has fetched coffee for Michael Jordan, collected shoes from Tracy McGrady and formed an acquaintanceship with Washington Redskins’ star linebacker LaVar Arrington, who recently gave his cell phone number to Rumpff.

The perks are abundant for the junior journalism major, who has served as visiting team locker room manager at Washington Wizards games for the last five years.

The tale of how the 21-year-old acquired his job is a testament to persistence and inquisitiveness.

“When I was 12, I read something in Sports Illustrated for Kids about guys who worked in the locker room,” Rumpff said. “I thought it sounded awesome so I wrote a letter to the Bullets [now the Wizards]. The guy who is my boss now called and said, ‘You’re too young now, but call when you’re 16.’”

Four years later, Rumpff returned the call. After an interview and a rebounding drill, he was one of three applicants chosen out of a pool of 30.

Rumpff wasn’t catering to NBA players immediately. He spent his first year mopping the floor and cared for the referees his sophomore season.

In his third year, Rumpff was promoted to visiting team locker room manager, which gives him more player access, more responsibility and more money.

Rumpff makes slightly more than minimum wage from the Wizards, but don’t despair for the Gaithersburg native. The visiting team pays Rumpff $50 a game per league regulations.

Then there are the tips.

Several years ago, 14-time NBA All-Star Karl Malone wanted some barbecue Fritos. Rumpff offered to run down the street to CVS. Malone gave him $4, which left Rumpff feeling glum about his tip prospects. Then Malone came back, put something in Rumpff’s hand, and said, “This is for you.”

That something? A $100 bill.

According to Rumpff, Malone isn’t the only high roller; Shaquille O’Neal once gave him $50 for getting a bag of popcorn.

On average, Rumpff pulls in about $75 a game for six hours of work. His career high came last year from the Los Angeles Lakers, which pooled $300 in tips.

Before a recent game against the Clippers, former Terp and current Clipper Chris Wilcox was the rare voice that said locker room managers do not do much for him.

“Nothing, man,” he said. “I handle my own socks, shoes and shorts.”

What Rumpff didn’t do for Wilcox, he did for other players.

At halftime, he went to McDonald’s to get chicken fingers for guard Kerry Kittles. Before the game, Rumpff ran to Starbucks to grab a Strawberry and Crème Frappuccino for rookie Shaun Livingston. In between, he shuttled tickets for players’ friends and families from the locker room to the box office.

About once a game, players ask Rumpff to get a woman’s phone number, which is what the players really pull their wallets out for, he says.

“Those are the biggest tips,” Rumpff said. “They pay more money for a girl’s number than a plate of chicken.”

Though he won’t name names, Rumpff says players often seek the numbers of cheerleaders or women in the first few rows of the crowd. And digits mean dough — anywhere between $10 and $100.

While the duties locker room managers carry out may seem small, Clippers forward Elton Brand says players appreciate the workers.

“They’re a big help,” he said. “It seems just like little things, but they help when you need tickets taken up, or when you want food they always get what you need.”

For fetching players things, Rumpff gets what he wants — sneakers. Over the years, Rumpff has assembled a collection of sneakers left behind by, among others, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker and Gilbert Arenas.

In the university intramural basketball league, Rumpff sports a pair from Mike James of the Milwaukee Bucks.

“They seem to help; I had 22 points in the first game.”

There are downsides to the job. He says his life is at the whim of the NBA schedule. Also, Rumpff’s work environment is full of large, sweaty, naked men.

“If it’s something you want to see, you can, but it’s not something you want to,” said Rumpff, who, let the record show, has had a girlfriend for more than three years.

In the future, Rumpff sees himself exactly where he is. Once he graduates, Rumpff hopes to get a job in broadcast journalism and work for the Wizards at night.

“I’m planning on trying to hold onto this job as long as I can.”