The Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters are a basketball teambetween players, balancing or spinning balls on
that combines athleticism and comedy to createtheir fingertips, and making unusual, difficult shots.
one of the best-known sports entertainmentAmong the players who have been Globetrotters
franchises in the world. Created by Abeare NBA (National Basketball Association) greats
Saperstein in 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, the teamWilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain, Connie "The Hawk"
adopted the name Harlem because of itsHawkins and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, as well as
connotations as a leading African-AmericanMarques Haynes, George "Meadowlark" Lemon,
community. Over the years it has toured overJerome James, former Temple coach John
118 countries, playing more than 20,000 exhibitionChaney, and Reece "Goose" Tatum. Another
games, mostly against deliberately ineffectivepopular team member in the 1970s and 1980s
opposition like the Washington Generalswas Fred "Curly" Neal who was the best dribbler
(1953-1995) and the New York Nationalsof that era of the team's history and was
(1995-present). There is no clear consensus as toimmediately recognizable due to his shaven head.
the very beginnings of the Globetrotters. TheBaseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson, Ferguson
official history contains several facts which areJenkins and Lou Brock also played for the team
clearly untrue, such as the team being organized inat one time or another. Another famous former
1926 in the Savoy Ballroom, which opened inplayer is comedy legend Bill Cosby who had a
1927.[1] What is clear is that the genesis of thecontract with the Globetrotters when he was
Globetrotters takes place in the South Side ofyounger.[citation needed] In 1985, the
Chicago in the 1920s, where all the original playersGlobetrotters signed their first female player,
grew up. Most, if not all of the original playersOlympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard, and their
attended Wendell Phillips High School. When thesecond, Joyce Walker, just three weeks later.
Savoy Ballroom opened in November of 1927,Because virtually all of its players have been
one of the premier attractions was the Savoy BigAfrican American, and because of the buffoonery
Five, a basketball team that played exhibitionsinvolved in many of the Globetrotters' skits, they
before dances. In 1928, several players left thedrew some criticism in the Civil Rights era. The
team in a dispute over bringing other players whoplayers were derisively accused of "Tomming for
had left the team back. That fall, several playersAbe", a reference to Uncle Tom and white owner
led by Tommy Brookins formed a team calledAbe Saperstein. However, prominent civil rights'
the "Globe Trotters" which would tour Southernactivist Jesse Jackson came to their defense by
Illinois that winter. A white man named Abestating, "I think they've been a positive influence.
Saperstein became involved with the team,(…) They did not show blacks as stupid.
though to exactly what extent is unclear. In anyOn the contrary, they were shown as superior."
event, by 1929 Saperstein was touring Illinois andDuring the 1970s and 1980s, the team was
Iowa with his basketball team, called the "Newcontrolled by Metromedia and, in addition to their
York Harlem Globe Trotters". Saperstein decidedtouring and playing the Washington Generals or
to pick Harlem as their home city since Harlemthe New York Nationals, were featured in
was considered the center of African-Americannumerous television series and specials, including
culture at the time, and an out of town teamappearances in live-action variety shows and
name would give the team more of a mystique.several Hanna-Barbera cartoons (see "Media"
After four decades of existence, thesection below). After a period of decline the
Globetrotters played their first "home" game inGlobetrotters franchise was purchased by former
Harlem in 1968. The first star player of thoseteam member Mannie Jackson in 1993, and its
early Globe Trotters (the name would be mergedfortunes revived again. In 2002 the team was
into one word later on was Albert "Runt" Puller, aninducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. To try
adept dribbler and shooter. Soon he would beto offset the criticism that they do not play "real
joined by 6'3" Inman Jackson, who played centerbasketball", in recent years the Trotters have
and had a flair for showboating. They wouldscheduled games against college teams and pickup
originate the two roles that would stay with theteams like Magic Johnson's All Stars with varying
'trotters for decades, the showman and theresults. This renews a tradition of playing NBA
dribbler. The Globetrotters were initially a seriousteams, which the Globetrotters did during the
competitive team, and despite a flair for1950s. The Harlem Globetrotters visited Pope John
entertainment, they would only clown for thePaul II at the Vatican in November of 2000 and
audience after establishing a safe lead in thenamed the Pontiff an Honorary Harlem
game. In 1940, they accepted an invitation toGlobetrotter. A whistled version of "Sweet
participate in the World Professional BasketballGeorgia Brown" performed by Brother Bones is
Tournament. Defeating the New York Rens in thethe team's signature song. On January 5, 1971 the
semi-finals, they advanced to the championshipHarlem Globetrotters lost a game in Martin,
game, where they beat the Chicago Bruins inTennessee in overtime to the New Jersey Reds
overtime by a score of 31-29. The Globetrottersas team owner Red Klotz sank the winning
beat the premier professional team, George Mikanbasket for a 100-99 score that ended a
and the Minneapolis Lakers, for two games in a2,495-game winning streak. On September 12,
row in 1948 and 1949, with the Lakers winning1995, the Harlem Globetrotters lost an exhibition
the third contest. The February 1948 win (by agame 91-85 to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's All Star
score of 61-59, on a buzzer beater) was aTeam in Vienna, Austria ending a run of 8,829
hallmark in professional basketball history, as thestraight victories in exhibition games going back to
all-black Globetrotters proved they were on an1971. The Globetrotters won the other 10 games
equal footing with the all-white Lakers. Momentumduring that European tour. They also immediately
for ending the NBA's color line grew, and in 1950,went on another winning streak of 1,270 before
Chuck Cooper became the first black playerlosing 72-68 to the Michigan State University
drafted by an NBA team. From that time on theSpartans on November 13, 2000. A 288 game
Globetrotters had increasing difficulty attractingwinning streak was broken on November 15,
and retaining top talent. The Globetrotters2003 when the Globetrotters lost 89-88 to the
gradually worked comic routines into their act untilUniversity of Texas at El Paso Miners. In addition
they became known more for entertainment thanto their exhibition games, the Globetrotters have
sports. The Globetrotters' acts often featurefaced some competitive action since 1997. On
incredible coordination and skillful handling of one orFebruary 27, 2006, the Globetrotters extended
more basketballs, such as passing or juggling ballstheir overall record to 22,000 wins.