Jahmani "Hot Shot" Swanson, 32, plays his first team . Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He became a Globetrotter coach and advisor following his playing days and traveled to more than 100 countries with the Globetrotters. During that time, he and the team toured Russia on the Globetrotter's first trip to the Soviet nation. The Boston Celtics were considered almost unstoppable during the 1960s.The Boston Celtics had won eight championships almost consecutively. However, he never played for the Knicks as a heart impairment required him to retire at the pinnacle of his young and promising career. The 6-8 forward spent seven years in the NBA and was selected to play in four NBA All-Star Games. Home. "I guess now is the right time for me," Bryant said when the "Legends" award was offered again in 2009. Mason was honored on Jan. 4 and 5, 2003, when the Ambassadors of Goodwill played in Springfield and in Peoria, Ill. Mason passed away on July 4, 2006. "Aside from my family, being a Harlem Globetrotter has been the greatest highlight of my life," Tex once said. Meadowlark played his first season with one of the Globetrotter developmental teams, the Kansas City Stars. One of the most famous and dominant players in Harlem Globetrotters history, Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain began his professional career in 1958 when the Globetrotters signed the University of Kansas standout to one of the largest contracts in sports. Harlem Globetrotters Rumors. He currently resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where he serves as a coach and mentor at the Harmony Development Center. 22), Goose Tatum (No. Helem played with the Globetrotters for nearly eight years (1948-55) during a magical era of the storied organization. "I'm 4-foot-5. In 2003, Jackson presented the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with a quarter of a million dollar donation to continue basketball's greatest legacy. In honor of Woodys pending appearance in Tulsa, here are 10 cool nicknames in Globetrotters history: Fred Curly Neal: Its a great nickname because he was bald. "He continues to live his life in the true spirit of a Harlem Globetrotter, always thinking of others and giving back to the community every chance he gets. The six-foot guard was a four-time All-American (1978-81) at the University of Kansas, where she averaged 26.3 points per game during her college career. Darryl Chocolate Thunder Dawkins: Chocolate Thunder got his nickname before joining the Globetrotters. His son Ross, a defensive tackle, was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. What are the Harlem Globetrotters nicknames? Some outstanding Globetrotters were Reece "Goose" Tatum, Marques Haynes, Clarence Wilson, "Meadowlark" Lemon, Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain, Herb "Geese" Ausbie, and Lynette Woodard, the first woman to play for the team. Born in a railway boxcar in Illmo, Mo., Jackson grew up in Edwardsville, Ill., earning the title of Illinois "Mr. Basketball," and attended the University of Illinois, becoming the first African-American ever on the Illini basketball team, where he was named captain and earned All-American honors in 1960. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? Price passed away on Jan. 24, 2002. They don't even hail from Harlem. The cousin of Globetrotter "Legend" Hubert "Geese" Ausbie, Woodard was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 1989 and was a member of the 1984 United States Olympic team that captured the gold medal. The Cubs' zany suit trip but a memory, the team left for Philadelphia out to make new ones while decked out in Jon "Left Hander" Lester's idea of a theme trip. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Hes a 7-foot Sharknado from Mongolia. A current Globetrotter head coach, former point guard great Jimmy Blacklock played in over 2,500 games for the Ambassadors of Goodwill, visiting 62 countries during his standout playing career. ", After an outstanding career at James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, N.C., Curly moved on to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., where he averaged over 23 points per game and led his team to the CIAA title his senior year. After his career ended with the Globetrotters, Mason returned to Illinois, to give back to the community that supported him throughout his basketball career. Born: July 17, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York us Died: October 6, 2017 College: Iowa High School: Boys in Brooklyn, New York NBA Debut: October 16, 1969 ▪ ABA Debut: October 23, 1967 Those traits still help to define the Globetrotters today. Eddie Timanus USA TODAY Fred "Curly" Neal, one of the best-known members of the Harlem Globetrotters, died Thursday at his home outside Houston. The 1950-51 season marked the first appearance of black players in the NBA, as Harlem Globetrotter Chuck Cooper became the first black player to be drafted in the NBA by Boston and teammate Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton became the first to sign an NBA contract when he signed with New York. "We have lost one of the most genuine. Following his Globetrotter career, Helem joined the Ashland Oil & Refining Company, now known as Ashland Inc., and worked for the company for over 35 years until his retirement in 1990. After playing the 1968-69 season with the ABA's Minnesota Muskies, Hawkins jumped to the NBA's Phoenix Suns for the 1969-70 campaign. On Dec. 8, 2007, Langston University honored Haynes by dedicating its basketball court as "Marques Haynes Court.". He was a member of the first-ever Harlem Globetrotter team to play in Moscow in 1959. Hobley, who passed away on July 31, 2002, at the age of 48, is the 29th person in the Globetrotters' storied 85-year history to receive the distinction. Which Scooby Doo had the Harlem Globetrotters? Klotz once waxed that, "Like Fred Astaire had Ginger Rogers, the Harlem Globetrotters have always had a dance partnerbut Ive always been dancing backwards." Originally from Horse Cave, Ky., Helem led Horse Cave High School to consecutive state basketball championships in 1944 and 1945 and was a two-time all-state selection. He passed away on May 4, 2019, in Brooklyn, N.Y. After graduating from Manhattan College in 1953, Junius Kellogg signed a contract with the Harlem Globetrotters. Haynes' basketball career began at Booker T. Washington High School in his hometown of Sand Springs, Okla., where he led the school to a high school national championship in 1941 and was named a Second Team Scholastic All-America that season. The 6-5 forward starred at the University of Memphis, playing in the 1995 and 1996 NCAA Tournaments. Nicknamed "Twiggy" for his lean build, Sanders played with the Globetrotters from 1974 until 1991. A 6-9 silky smooth forward, "Wee" Willie Gardner was one of the first players signed by the Harlem Globetrotters prior to the 1954 season at the age of 19. Showbiz Jackson toured for 20 seasons with the Globetrotters, serving as one of the teams top showmen. Stitt expresses 'strong disagreement' with Oklahoma AG over Catholic charter school, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years, Meet the 2023 Ms. Inside/Ms. Haynes then starred collegiately at Langston University in Langston, Okla. (1942-46), where he was a four-time All-Conference selection and team MVP. Blacklock earned induction into the schools Mens Hall of Honor in 2016. Always a scoring threat, Gates was a complete ballplayer on offense, a defensive specialist, and a strong rebounder. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Following graduation, Haynes joined the Globetrotters and starred for the team when it defeated the George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers in 1948 (61-59) and in 1949 (49-45). Join the Globetrotters as they go head-to-head against the Washington Generals who will stop at . Members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. Interestingly, Bryant was offered the "Legends" honor in 1998, but he selflessly asked that it instead be bestowed upon his Globetrotter teammate, and childhood friend, Willie Gardner, who was suffering from diabetes at the time. Jackson went on to success at Virginia Union and with the Harlem Globetrotters. Nearly two decades before the NBA, a team of African American basketball players from Chicago began touring the Midwest as the Harlem Globetrotters. "Billy Ray could light up any room in the world, and he always had a story to tell you," said Globetrotters Legend Sweet Lou Dunbar, who also came to the Trotters as a rookie in 1977 and was a teammate of Hobleys for over 20 years. Harlem Globetrotter TNT Lister joined a very elite group in the fall of 2011, becoming the first woman to don the red, white, and blue since 1993 and her success opened the door for other female players to join the team in recent years. The 6-8, 250-pound forward could run the floor, shoot from long range and rebound with the best. Included in the class are 10 exciting new players, including " Sweet Lou II" Dunbar, the sharp-shooting son of Globetrotters legend Sweet Lou Dunbar, and Lili "Champ" Thompson, a member of. While still a Globetrotter in 1971, Mason was named to the prestigious all-time All-Missouri Valley Conference team. Kellogg was honored in November 1997 for an act of courage that rocked college basketball in 1951. Meadowlark was part of an extremely popular period in Globetrotters history, appearing on several popular television programs and specials, including "ABC's Wide World of Sports," "CBS Sports Spectacular," "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine." ), where he averaged 30 points a game during his college career. He has coached at Bonner Academy in Raleigh, Morris Brown College in Atlanta, the Raleigh Cougars of the United States Basketball League, and with the ABAs Maryland Nighthawks, a team that he guided to the semi-finals in the 2004-05 season. In the years to come, they would gain fame as . Wilsonis the current Guinness World Record holder for the highest slam dunk ever recorded, setting the mark at 12-feet during Final Four Weekend in April of 2000. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Among his many travels, Sweet Lou was one of the Globetrotters on hand when the team visited Rome and named Pope John Paul II an Honorary Globetrotter on Nov. 29, 2000. Blacklock was presented with his Globetrotters Legends Ring on February 28, 2020, in Austin, Texas, at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas. Hall played in over 5,000 games in nearly 90 different countries during his outstanding career and received his "Legends" ring during a special halftime ceremony at the Palace of Auburn Hills on February 1, 1998. Then cast your vote, Bill Haisten: A massive event NCAA wrestling in downtown Tulsa, Owasso teacher of the year Q&A: Kari Huff, Ram Academy, Drug dealing and federal prison now behind him, Tulsan earning praise for fatherhood support initiative, 2 hospitalized in Missouri crash involving General Lee car from Dukes of Hazzard, Tom Sizemore's family deciding end of life matters, rep says, Review: Comfort food gets elevated at McKinney's Modern Dining, Ed Sheeran thanks Taylor Swift for linking him with Aaron Dessner, ABBA's 'Voyage' avatar concert in talks to go on a world tour, Rebel Wilson describes getting banned from Disneyland over 'illegal' bathroom selfie. Marshall once said he would sign African American players when the Harlem Globetrotters signed white players. The name stuck, and so did the hairstyle. During his tenure with the Globetrotters, he was named MVP of the 1962 College Series and was a part of the popular television series "Harlem Globetrotter Popcorn Machine." The ceremony, which marked the first-ever jersey retirement by the Globetrotters, took place at Chamberlain's high school in Philadelphia, Overbrook High School Gymnasium. Participants will be considered for paid roles in the shot-in-Oklahoma series. Nov 20, 2014, 08:47 ET PHOENIX, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles "Tex" Harrison - an iconic figure with the Harlem Globetrotters for six amazing decades - passed away today in Houston,. After a pay dispute, a few of the players bolted away from the Savoy Big Five and formed the Globetrotters. Mason. In 2021, major Hurricane Ida blasted Louisiana with 150 mph winds. Jackson sold 80 percent of the team to Shamrock Capital Growth Fund in Sept. 2005 and stepped away from his day-to-day operations of the team when the Globetrotters announced the appointment of Kurt Schneider as the organizations new Chief Executive Officer in May 2007. 1. The Washington Generals lost to the Harlem Globetrotters over 16,000 times. He is also a charter member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame, and a member of the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame, as well as a charter member of the Black Legends of Professional Basketball. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Studebakers were the pioneers of racial integration, as nine of the 13 players on the roster in 1942-43 were African Americans. From 1942 to 1954, except for two years of military service, he was the most popular player on the most popular team in the history of . Known for his ball handling skills and sharp shooting, he is considered one of the greatest all-around athletes to ever wear the red, white and blue. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Throughout his illustrious career, fans across the world adored "Sweet" Lou Dunbar's on-court comedy routines and shared his love of the game. He joined the Globetrotters in 1949 and quickly became the master of the fast passing game and could do every ball trick in the book. "I have had the good fortune to be a part of the most celebrated sports team in history. Kellogg passed away on Sept. 16 of that same year, at the age of 71. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Previously owned by the family of former NBA player Red Klotz, Harlem Globetrotters' parent company, Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) bought the trademark to the Generals nickname after Klotz died in 2014. Prior to joining the Globetrotters, Vaughn was a three-year basketball letter winner at the University of Illinois, twice earning Converse All-America and All-Big Ten Conference honors. Players such as Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal gained. He was inducted into the 2008 class of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, along with the renowned Roy Williams, coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. He did not play college basketball, but excelled on the gridiron as a standout wide receiver and tight end at Savannah State, where he earned all-league honors. The former Crispus Attucks High School standout duplicated his efforts during the 1957 "World Series of Basketball" en route to earning MVP honors for the second time. Credit: Harlem Globetrotters Still, the Globetrotters managed to land talented athletes, including future NBA star Wilt Chamberlain. Nicknamed "Supertrotter," he was known for his rim-jarring dunks, blazing ball handling and effervescent personality. Mason went on to a sensational All-American career at Bradley University and played in the East-West All Star game before he joined the Globetrotters. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In 1940, the Globetrotters. Price enjoyed one of his finest basketball campaigns during the 1941-42 season when he scored over 3,000 points in a 104-game Globetrotter season, an incredible achievement during an era of low scoring games. J.C. Gipson began his outstanding career with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1952 and wore the famous red, white, and blue for 20-plus glorious seasons. Tex was the first player from a historically African-American college to capture All-American honors while at North Carolina Central University in Durham, where he earned his degree in physical education. In a four-decade career, Haynes played in more than 12,000 games, traveled more than four million miles and entertained fans in nearly 100 countries during two stints with the Globetrotters (1947-53, 1972-79). 5 Who were the most famous Harlem Globetrotters players? A native of Savannah, Ga., Jackson attended Alfred Ely Beach High School, where he was a two-sport star in basketball and football. Curly played 22 seasons for the Globetrotters, wearing #22 for all of those years. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Did the Harlem Globetrotters change their name? Curly is also a recipient of the Harlem Globetrotters' prestigious "Legends" ring, presented to those who have made a major contribution to the success and the development of the Globetrotters organization. Honorable mention (and some earned their nicknames before becoming Trotters): Shagari "Skyscraper" Alleyne, Greg "Cadillac" Anderson, Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton F 6-7 Xavier, Charlie "Cobra" Coley, Herbert "Moo Moo" Evans, William "Plunk" Ford, Seth "Hot 'N Fresh" Franco, "Wee" Willie In 1961, Geese attended an open tryout during the Globetrotters training camp in Chicago, where he was chosen for the team from more than 500 players from around the country. Following a storied playing career, Gaines became a successful college coach at the University of Detroit (1977-79) and at San Diego State University (1979-87). Helem passed away on Feb. 17, 2001. Psycho 1960 Mr. Sardonicus 1961 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 1974 Black Christmas 1974 Friday the 13th 1980 Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985 Flight of the Navigator 1986 Fatal Attraction 1987 The. The 21-year-old will audition for Lionel Richie, Katie Perry and Luke Bryan in an episode scheduled to air 7 p.m. Sunday, March 5 on ABC. Neal earned his Globetrotters nickname, Curly, because of his signature shaved head. He played before popes, kings, queens and presidents in nearly 100 countries around the world. Harlem Globetrotters 1940-41 (Exhibition 14th Season) Coach: Abe Saperstein (146-12) Num: Name: University: Pos: Ht: GP: Reb: Asts: Pts: RPG: APG: PPG: 11: Al Johnson . The 76ers also kept a separate column on the stat sheet for Dawkins's self-created nicknames: "Sir Slam", "Dr. Dunkenstein", and "Chocolate Thunder." Dawkins also wore gold chain necklaces during games until the end of the 1980 NBA Finals when the NBA banned players from wearing them on court. Curly continues to make appearances for the Globetrotters as an "Ambassador of Goodwill."TM. One of the great ball handlers and leapers in basketball history, a forerunner to Julius Erving and Michael Jordan at swooping to the basket, Connie Hawkins played four magical seasons with the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1960s. "Meadowlark Lemon Comes Home to Roost with Globetrotters." Chicago Star Tribune, March 1, 1993. greg robinson (1996) Updated by publisher 2005 Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 1950, Harlem Globetrotter Chuck Cooperbecame the first black player to be drafted in the NBA by Boston and teammate Nat "Sweetwater" Cliftonbecame the first black player to sign an NBA contract when the New York Knickspurchased his contract from the Globetrotters for $12,500 (equivalent to $141,000 in 2021),[7]with Harlem getting $10,000 and Connie Hawkins. They would go around and play against any basketball team, hence the name Harlem Globetrotters. A majority of Gov. Born on October 30, 1933, Gardner was named to the Silver Anniversary Team by the Indiana Hall of Fame in 1977. Off the floor, he served as a team spokesman and had an unbelievable relationship with children of all ages from around the world. Selected as the city's "Prep Player of the Year," Gipson was flooded with college offers but elected to sign a contract with the Globetrotters. Explore 10 surprising facts about the famous barnstorming basketball team. The "Legends" distinction is presented to those who have made a major contribution to the success and development of the Globetrotters organization, excelling on and off the court in athletic ability, showmanship, crowd appeal and humanitarian contributions. There was a problem saving your notification. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Hawkins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. Wilt Chamberlain (13), Marques Haynes (20), Curly Neal (22), Tex Harrison (34), Geese Ausbie (35), Meadowlark Lemon (36), Goose Tatum (50), Hallie Bryant (32) Hobley had previously starred at James A. Shanks High School in Quincy, Fla., before moving to New Orleans, where he made his home before his passing. A Supertrotter. He also appeared in numerous national TV commercials and was immortalized in animation on "The Harlem Globetrotters" cartoon series and on episodes of "Scooby Doo.". . The 6-8 forward joined the Globetrotters in 1977, after averaging nearly 15 points per contest in 99 career games at Dillard University in New Orleans. Osborne "Goose" Lockhart's career spanned 17 years with the Harlem Globetrotters. The Harlem Globetrotters originated in Chicago. The last time one of Klotzs teams tasted victory over the Globetrotters came on January 5, 1971, in Martin, Tennessee, when Klotz, age 50 at the time, hit the game-winning shot as his New Jersey Reds defeated the Globetrotters 100-99.Klotz passed away on July 12, 2014, at the age of 93. The team enjoyed a sold-out tour of the USSR and prior to the start of a game at Moscow's Lenin Central Stadium, the Globetrotters were greeted by General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev. Amazingly, Gipson had no college experience and played only a single season of high school basketball at Thomas Jefferson High in Los Angeles. He served as the "Clown Prince" for the Globetrotters from 1961 to 1985. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. In the days of the cage game, William "Pop" Gates was considered one of the nation's finest basketball players. Klotz joined the NBAs Baltimore Bullets midway through the 1947-48 season, a season in which the Bullets went on to defeat the Philadelphia Warriors in six games to win the NBA title. Gip Gipson. Harlem Globetrotters player Orlando Melendez, or El Gato, puts Toronto children through a series of basketball drills at the MLSE Launchpad. Price played in the annual World Professional Basketball tournament with the Globetrotters over a seven-year span (1939-45), and helped the team capture their first World Championship in 1940 with a 31-29 win over George Halas' Chicago Bruins. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He also claimed to be from the Planet. I cover pop culture and work as a feature writer at the Tulsa World. Washington received his "Legends" Ring during a special ceremony on March 16, 2002, in his native Philadelphia. Instead of joining the NBA, Jackson played for the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. More cooler-than-the-other-side-of-the-pillow nicknames owned by Harlem Globetrotters include Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins, Greg "Cadillac" Anderson, Herbert "Moo Moo" Evans, "Wee". This basketball player, who goes by the nickname Hot Sho. Tatum started his athletic career in the late 1930s as a baseball player, where, as a standout first baseman, he would entertain the crowd with quick routines after put-outs. Born Aug. 30, 1917, in Decatur, Ala., Gates is the only player to have appeared in all 10 World Professional Basketball Tournaments.