You know who’s not getting a day, right? The Washington Generals. Not with their record of 6 wins and 13,000 losses against their touring rivals and today’s honorees on
NATIONAL HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS DAY!
The most famous professional basketball team in the world does not play in a competitive league.
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition team, not only athletes, but polished entertainers, comedians and America’s unofficial sports ambassadors to the world. The Globetrotters tour constantly (120 countries so far), playing exhibition games and entertaining sold out arenas.
Their act is hilarious and still finds new fans every year. They play tricks on the opposing team and referees, break the rules, clown around and banter with the crowd, all while playing superb basketball. They literally run rings around their opponents and almost never lose.
Starting out in Chicago in 1926 as a competitive team, they moved to New York City in 1928 and changed their name to the Harlem Globe Trotters a year later. They competed in international competitions and were for years considered the best basketball team in America.
The Globetrotters were eclipsed by the formation of the National Basketball Association and its inclusion of African American players in the 1950s. It was then, led by the great Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal, they invented comedy basketball, and their life as legendary entertainers began.
•Suggested Activities: Whistling “Sweet Georgia Brown.”