Going to a Harlem Globetrotter game without bringing your children is missing the whole point.
The patriotic-suited players will bring their antics and great skills to the ipayOne Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., for a spectacular night of fun Friday, Feb 16, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m.
The big story at any Harlem Globetrotters game is not who will win “” the New York Nationals will never be victorious “” but who will get dragged out into the field of play. Those who purchased tickets a month in advance and requested seats on the floor surrounding the court get the chance to see themselves or a loved one cajoled out by the red, white and blue suited players as part of a gag.
Since 1927, the team has amazed crowds, starting with the New York Globetrotters first game in Hinckly, Ill., on Jan. 7. Team founder Abe Saperstein added his last name to the team after that initial outing, and hit the road. They started out by playing games around the Midwest, but traveled as far as Puget Sound, Wash., by 1936.
The origins of the “clowning around” came from a 112-5 lead over a local team when some of the players found that the crowd loved their antics. Saperstein told the team post-game that it was OK to add more humor, as long as they held a comfortable lead. Thus began the legacy that most adults remember and kids look forward to seeing on the court.
Many future sports stars started with the Globetrotters, including Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain, who spent 14 years in the “league” and “Bullet” Bob Gibson, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his career with the St. Louis Cardinals after a year with the Trotters.
The players stress that the actual game is only a part of what they do, with visits to hospitals and underprivileged children on their itinerary. They are ambassadors of goodwill, spreading their love of the game to all reaches of the world. The sheer sight of these giants in their memorable jerseys is enough to make any kid’s heart race with excitement.
One of the main reasons that the Globetrotters have stayed in the spotlight for so long is that the ownership has been willing to keep things fresh while staying close to the original flavor that has been such a hit. Mannie Jackson became the first African-American and former player to own a professional sports/entertainment franchise when he purchased the team from the International Broadcasting Company in 1993.
To see the team, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com and click on schedule.
Tickets, ranging in price from $16 to $137, are available by calling (619) 220-8427 or at www.ticketmaster.com.