The Great Harlem Globetrotters Basketball Team

When the Savoy Ballroom opened in Novemberbetween players, balancing or spinning balls on
of 1927, one of the premier attractions was thetheir fingertips, and making unusual, difficult shots.
Savoy Big Five, a basketball team that playedAmong the players who have been Globetrotters
exhibitions before dances.are NBA (National Basketball Association) greats
In 1928, several players left the team in a disputeWilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain, Connie "The Hawk"
over bringing other players who had left the teamHawkins and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, as well as
back. That fall, several players led by TommyMarques Haynes, George "Meadowlark" Lemon,
Brookins formed a team called the "GlobeJerome James, former Temple coach John
Trotters" which would tour Southern Illinois thatChaney, and Reece "Goose" Tatum. Another
winter. A white man named Abe Sapersteinpopular team member in the 1970s and 1980s
became involved with the team, though towas Fred "Curly" Neal who was the best dribbler
exactly what extent is unclear. In any event, byof that era of the team's history and was
1929 Saperstein was touring Illinois and Iowa withimmediately recognizable due to his shaven head.
his basketball team, called the "New York HarlemBaseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson, Ferguson
Globe Trotters". Saperstein decided to pick HarlemJenkins and Lou Brock also played for the team
as their home city since Harlem was consideredat one time or another. Another famous former
the center of African-American culture at theplayer is comedy legend Bill Cosby who had a
time, and an out of town team name would givecontract with the Globetrotters when he was
the team more of a mystique. After fouryounger.[citation needed] In 1985, the
decades of existence, the Globetrotters playedGlobetrotters signed their first female player,
their first "home" game in Harlem in 1968.Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard, and their
The first star player of those early Globesecond, Joyce Walker, just three weeks later.
Trotters (the name would be merged into oneBecause virtually all of its players have been
word later on was Albert "Runt" Puller, an adeptAfrican American, and because of the buffoonery
dribbler and shooter. Soon he would be joined byinvolved in many of the Globetrotters' skits, they
6'3" Inman Jackson, who played center and had adrew some criticism in the Civil Rights era. The
flair for showboating. They would originate theplayers were derisively accused of "Tomming for
two roles that would stay with the 'trotters forAbe", a reference to Uncle Tom and white owner
decades, the showman and the dribbler.Abe Saperstein. However, prominent civil rights'
The Globetrotters were initially a seriousactivist Jesse Jackson came to their defense by
competitive team, and despite a flair forstating, "I think they've been a positive influence.
entertainment, they would only clown for the(...) They did not show blacks as stupid. On the
audience after establishing a safe lead in thecontrary, they were shown as superior."
game. In 1940, they accepted an invitation toDuring the 1970s and 1980s, the team was
participate in the World Professional Basketballcontrolled by Metromedia and, in addition to their
Tournament. Defeating the New York Rens in thetouring and playing the Washington Generals or
semi-finals, they advanced to the championshipthe New York Nationals, were featured in
game, where they beat the Chicago Bruins innumerous television series and specials, including
overtime by a score of 31-29.appearances in live-action variety shows and
The Globetrotters beat the premier professionalseveral Hanna-Barbera cartoons (see "Media"
team, George Mikan and the Minneapolis Lakers,section below).
for two games in a row in 1948 and 1949, withAfter a period of decline the Globetrotters
the Lakers winning the third contest. Thefranchise was purchased by former team
February 1948 win (by a score of 61-59, on amember Mannie Jackson in 1993, and its fortunes
buzzer beater) was a hallmark in professionalrevived again. In 2002 the team was inducted into
basketball history, as the all-black Globetrottersthe Basketball Hall of Fame.
proved they were on an equal footing with theTo try to offset the criticism that they do not
all-white Lakers. Momentum for ending the NBA'splay "real basketball", in recent years the Trotters
color line grew, and in 1950, Chuck Cooperhave scheduled games against college teams and
became the first black player drafted by an NBApickup teams like Magic Johnson's All Stars with
team. From that time on the Globetrotters hadvarying results. This renews a tradition of playing
increasing difficulty attracting and retaining topNBA teams, which the Globetrotters did during
talent.the 1950s.
The Globetrotters gradually worked comicThe Harlem Globetrotters visited Pope John Paul II
routines into their act until they became knownat the Vatican in November of 2000 and named
more for entertainment than sports. Thethe Pontiff an Honorary Harlem Globetrotter.
Globetrotters' acts often feature incredibleInformation on volleyball rotation can be found at
coordination and skillful handling of one or morethe Volleyball Drills site.
basketballs, such as passing or juggling balls