Harlem Globetrotter Story (before edit)

Imagine a basketball circus. Clowns, acrobatics, and some pretty good basketball all mixed in meant that the legendary "Harlem Globetrotters" were in the building. In front of a big crowd at McKenzie Arena last Wednesday night, the clown princes of basketball put on a show.

For 84 years, the Globetrotters have traversed the world entertaining millions. They have played for both President's and Pope's. For one night, Chattanooga held the privilege.

There is so much more to going to see the 'Trotters play than basketball. The comedic act that is performed on the hardwood would rival comedy preformed on any stage. And yes, they threw water on some poor folks sitting up front, just like they always have.

The leader of the 'Trotters was "Special K." K was about 6-7 or so and pretty lean, but his mouth was a non-stop narrative of what was going on. While performing dazzling stunts with a basketball, "K" was telling a joke, talking trash, or asking a fan for some popcorn.

Everybody for the Globetrotters had a cool name. "Ant" and "Scooter" were two of my favorites. The referees were aloof and were played the fool, and who can argue with that?

A couple of poor fans were pulled out on the court. Unfortunately, the general public does not have a good free throw percentage. I saw 11 straight bricks go up before one shot mercifully went in. A "Bronx cheer" went up as the awkwardness faded away.

Oh, the game itself. Well, the foil to our heroic Globetrotters would be the Washington Generals. The Generals play the Globetrotters night after night, and guess what, they have never won. Imagine a dream where you lose over and over. The Generals, dressed in green and yellow, kept the game close enough to make it interesting for the kids that didn't know any better.

The Globetrotters play basketball as if they were on roller skates and there were trampolines in every direction. The 'Trotters have a play in which they run every time on offense. It's called the "weave" and each player passes and then loops around a larger player in a figure eight pattern. At the center tonight was "Special K," verbally directing traffic as the basketball was moving from player to player like a dizzying effect.

Finally, "Special K" would rap up his bit, and either bounce it off the floor, off the backboard, or any other conceivable way in order the other players could take turns trying to bend the rims with one dazzling dunk after another.

The final score was 73-67, and it was punctuated by a furious, teeth rattling jam..over a referee unaware below. That's how you call it a night.





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