Harlem Globetrotters point guard comes to Worcester’s DCU Center
Harlem Globetrotters point guard “Too Tall” Winston demonstrated basketball tricks outside the DCU Center in Worcester Nov. 22.
If hearing the whistle of “Sweet Georgia Brown” jars memories of trick shots, showmanship and shenanigans, chances are you have at least a passing familiarity with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Known to many of a certain age as the clown princes of basketball, the Globetrotters certainly bring comedy to the court, but make no mistake: They can hoop with the best of ‘em. After all, they invented the four-point shot and once counted both Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins among their ranks.
Furthermore, out of 30,000 games, they’ve only lost 345, the best winning percentage (.987) in the history of professional sports, according to Bronwen O’Keefe, head of brand marketing and content for the Harlem Globetrotters.
“Anybody not taking them seriously as athletes is maybe there for the wrong reasons. It’s the intersection of sports and entertainment,” O’Keefe said.
“If you come to a game and see the way our athletes play — the trick shots, the tremendous dunks — there’s no doubt they’re skilled athletes.”
The Globetrotters will erase any doubts when they come to Columbus to face off against their rivals, the Washington Generals, in two games at the Schottenstein Center on Friday.
Who are the Harlem Globetrotters?
More than 750 players have suited up in red, white and blue for the Globetrotters in the team’s 98-year history. The current roster consists of 42 players divided into three units, two of which tour North America and a third that plays abroad.
Players come to the Globetrotters from all over, including Columbus, home of forward Julian “Zeus” McClurkin. The athletes bring varying levels of experience, from first-year rookies to 15-year veterans.
“We have a real range. Players have joined straight out of high school or out of college. Some have played a little summer league or G League for the NBA, some played overseas,” O’Keefe said.
“Last year, Alexis Morris from the LSU championship team was recruited; it was her lifelong dream to be a Harlem Globetrotter.”
The team’s diversity doesn’t end there. Whereas most professional ballers tower over the average person, the spectrum of Globetrotters ranges from small — Hot Shot Swanson at 4 feet, 5 inches — to tall — Joey “Hot Rod” De La Rosa at 7 feet, 1 inch.
Another player, Polish-born Dazzle Kidoń, was invited to try out after — true to his nickname — dazzling the team with his ball-handling technique at a pregame event.
“We pride ourselves on being a place of inclusivity. There’s an opportunity for every player on the team as long as you bring the right skill set, from athletic prowess to wanting to bring smiles to people’s faces,” O’Keefe said.
“If you love to play basketball and you love to interact with the fans, spread joy and make people feel good wherever you go, it’s a tailor-made opportunity.”
The Globetrotters as game-changers
O’Keefe emphasized the lasting impact the Globetrotters have had on basketball, including such milestones as integrating the game.
“The first African American to sign a contract with the NBA was a Harlem Globetrotter, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, in 1950,” she said.
“The Globetrotters were also sent abroad as goodwill ambassadors to ease German-U.S. relations in 1951.
“What our players do when there’s no cameras is a testament to who they are at heart. There is nothing but good at the heart of the Globetrotters. They are for the fans, not about personal glory or ego.”
Many folks mistakenly think the Globetrotters started in the ‘70s with Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon, but the team dates back to 1926, when it was founded in Chicago by Abe Saperstein.
“From the mid to late ‘70s, you saw the Globetrotters on ‘Scooby Doo,’ on lunchboxes, ‘Gilligan’s Island’ — they were kind of everywhere and flourished for quite a while,” O’Keefe said.
“Everything we’ve been doing for the past three years is about returning us to that level of brand awareness and brand recognition.”
The Globetrotters off the court
O’Keefe said she hopes that elevating the team’s profile will draw new fans from generations that have missed out on the Globetrotters experience — younger millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who don’t have the nostalgic feelings that previous generations attach to the team.
To that end, the Globetrotters are involved in various projects, including one that reaches millions of viewers each week. Now in its third season, the Emmy-nominated series, “Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward,” takes the team off the court and into the community.
The show airs at 11 a.m. Saturdays on NBC and Peacock, putting the Globetrotters back on network TV for the first time in 40 years. Last year, a sister series, “Harlem Globetrotters: Ganando con la comunidad” (“Winning with the Community”) began airing at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on Telemundo.
Both series highlight the Globetrotters’ dedication to community and fan engagement and show a side of the players not seen on the court.
“They do everything from showing up at community events to going into neighborhoods and rebuilding playgrounds, putting murals up, working with nonprofit organizations and creating opportunities for foster children.
“The range of causes and organization is too numerous to list,” O’Keefe said, adding that a “robust slate of other projects” is in the works, including a series chronicling the Globetrotters’ early years.
Additionally, the Globetrotters are developing a documentary that will look at the history and impact of the team over 100 years. The film is projected for release in 2026.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to tell these stories, not have someone tell them for us. It’s the first time we’ve been embedded and immersed in the development of the projects,” O’Keefe said.
The players as pioneers
Those not in the know will likely be surprised and impressed to learn of the Globetrotters’ history as basketball pioneers.
“We like to be a little bit ahead of the curve in how we can make the game of basketball more interesting and entertaining for our fans,” O’Keefe said.
Famous firsts in Globetrotter history include:
- The Globetrotters were the first professional sports franchise to be owned by an African American, former Globetrotters player Mannie Jackson.
- The first woman to play for a men’s professional basketball team was Globetrotter Lynette Woodard in 1985.
- The first (and only) man to slam dunk on a 12-foot basket was a Globetrotter, Michael “Wild Thing” Wilson, who set the Guinness World Record in 2000.
- The Globetrotters were the first sports team honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1982.
- The Globetrotters were the first team ever to send a basketball into space — in May 2009 on the Space Shuttle Atlantis mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
What to expect Friday
O’Keefe said there is “zero concern” about whether or not newbies at Friday’s games will enjoy their first Globetrotter experience because there’s something for everyone.
“Whether you’re 2 or 99, it is a rare brand that can really be for everyone, regardless of your age, gender, ethnicity or the language you speak,” she said. “Our players even make the effort to learn a few phrases in every country they travel to.”
Calling a Globetrotters game “a professional basketball experience like (you’ve) never had before,” O’Keefe said spectators can anticipate lots of laughter and fan interaction while simultaneously marveling at the team’s finesse.
“Expect to be amazed by trick shots, ball-handling and dunking,” she said. “Just give in to the joy and let yourself be inspired and moved.”
At a glance
The Harlem Globetrotters will hoop and ham it up at 2 and 7 p.m. Friday at the Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Drive. Tickets can be found on ticketmaster.com.
