by Shawn Nowlin
The Harlem Globetrotters have come a long way since their humble beginnings. According to numerous reports, the team formed in the mid ‘20s in Chicago–home for the original players. Abe Saperstein was manager/promoter and later became owner of the team known as The New York Harlem Globetrotters. The name was chosen because New York’s Harlem was considered the center of African American culture during that time.
Early on players like Marques Haynes, Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, Goose Tatum and Curly Neal brought worldwide recognition to the Globetrotters. Over the years the team has withstood the test of time going on to participate in more than 26,000 exhibition games in 120 countries. In addition to a cartoon and video game series, they have starred in multiple movies and TV shows and have earned the respect and adulation of millions of fans all over the world.
While consistently entertaining people on a high level is a daunting task, the Globetrotters have managed to do just that with unprecedented success. On Thursday (3/17) thousands of fans gathered inside Roanoke’s Berglund Center to experience the Globetrotters exhibition game that wasted no time giving the people what they came for.
“I’ve been watching the Globetrotters since I was a kid,” said Edward Johnson who attended the game with his stepdaughter and nephew. “My favorite part was the way they interacted with the fans.”
To witness the Harlem Globetrotters in person is to experience entertainment and comedy at its finest. Anything can happen during a performance and Thursday’s exhibition contest was proof as fans were showered with confetti, referees with popcorn and young kids shot hoops with the players. Additionally, audience members participated in the popular “YMCA” dance and much more.
Considering their objective, it’s no surprise the players would have nicknames as colorful as their personalities: Big Easy, Too Tall, Bull, Titan, Flip, Doc and Scooter. Big Easy’s (Nathaniel Lofton) charisma immediately won over the fans while “Globie,” the team’s inflated mascot, contributed to the hype and was a hit with the youth. “Tonight you are getting to witness something like you’ve never seen before,” Easy said before tip-off of the game pitting them against the “World Allstars.”
By halftime the bulk of the Globetrotters points resulted from captivating slam dunks and long distance jump shots. “An organization like the Globetrotters will never go out of style because entertainment transcends age, ethnicity and social economic status… and they are arguably as good as it gets,” stated one attendee Steph Smith. The game was competitive from start to finish. Big Easy got “injured” in the 2nd half only to come back in dramatic fashion in the closing minutes to lead his team to victory.
More than just an entertaining basketball team, the Globetrotters have historically partnered with various organizations and also provided a voice for the disenfranchised.
“Growing up I had the support of my family. The truth of the matter is there are a lot of kids who don’t have such support,” said Too Tall (Jonte Hall) who happens to be the shortest player in the team’s history. “That’s why we have partnered with World Vision, an organization that helps kids all over the world. Anyone can help by sponsoring a child. Together we can help change the world,” he added.
The first African American to play in the NBA was Globetrotter Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard was the first female signed to the team in 1985. Among the high-profile personalities officially named honorary team members are: Whoppi Goldberg, Nelson Mandela, Pope Francis, Jesse Jackson and Henry Kissinger.
One thing the Globetrotters have promoted and perfected over the years is their main objective to entertain. For over 3 hours, the team of world-renowned showmen provided a dose of great interactive basketball fused with crowd-pleasing antics that lifted the spirits of the many who attended this family-fun event.
