The world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters will take to the courts of Matthew Knight Arena, promising an evening of entertaining basketball. The Globetrotters are visiting Eugene as part of their 85th anniversary “4 Times the Fun” 2011 World Tour.
The tour marks a celebration of a team that has evolved from a competitive group representing African-American culture into today’s team, which is an entertainment-based act showcasing its athletic talent, comedy and skills at the expense of the opposing team.
Concentrating primarily on their skills, the Globetrotters have popularized such basketball moves as the behind-the-back pass, the dunk and the alley-oop.
Friday’s game will feature another new addition to the game of basketball: the four-point shot. The new scoring opportunity will feature two circles near mid-court that are 35 feet away from the basket, or 12 feet farther than the NBA three-point line, and will be instituted near the end of each quarter.
Aside from such innovations, the red, white and blue uniforms accompanied with the matching stars and stripes have played all over the world. The Globetrotters have played an estimated 20,000 exhibition games in 118 countries and has entertained movie stars, singers, presidents and even the Pope.
The group was created in Chicago, Illinois, in 1926, by Abe Saperstein. Never from Harlem, the team adopted the name because Harlem was the center for African-American culture during the time period, which agreed with the all African-American team from the south side of Chicago. Also, Saperstein felt an out-of-town name like Harlem, New York, would bring more fans to the game. Surprisingly, the Globetrotters did not play a single game in Harlem until 1968.
Unlike today’s entertainment-centered Globetrotters, the Harlem Globetrotters once played competitively. Rarely would tricks or jokes be used during the game and only when the team had built a significant lead. The team played in multiple World Professional Basketball Tournaments, winning in the 1940s with a victory over the Chicago Bruins. The team also had wins against the all-white Minneapolis Lakers (now Los Angeles Lakers) and helped push the National Basketball Association to remove its segregation restrictions and let African-Americans play.
After the NBA was desegregated, the Globetrotters couldn’t retain premier players and transitioned into an entertainment presence.
During this transition, the Globetrotters began incorporating more tricks while accumulating one of the more impressive winning records. Although the competition was inferior and sometimes in on the show, they were able to win every game aside from two, in a stretch of 12,596 games. The team also put together a winning streak of 8,829 during the early 1990s.
The current Globetrotter team has 32 rotating players. Paying homage to the nicknames from the Roaring ’20s, the Globetrotters carry names like “Dizzy Grant,” “Firefly Fisher,” and “Hot Shot Branch.” These names also come from former Globetrotter greats Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton.
Behind the current roster are players with a legitimate level of talent and skill. Every player on the roster has some level of collegiate experience with players from University of Michigan, Arizona State University and Texas A&M University standing out.
The mix of history, success and athletic talent makes tomorrow night’s show a combination of many great things.
The red, white and blue uniforms that have been all around the world will take to the courts of Eugene to show up, entertain and give all ages an enjoyable evening. Eighty-five years of practice make it a hard act to beat.
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Globetrotters to bring unique blend of athleticism, entertainment to Matt Knight Arena
Daily Emerald
February 15, 2011
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