Harlem Globetrotters - Wikipedia

American exhibition basketball team For other uses, see Harlem Globetrotters (TV series) and Harlem Globetrotters (video game). "Globetrotters" redirects here. For other uses, see Globe Trotter (disambiguation).

Harlem Globetrotters
Leagues	Independent
Founded	1926; 99 years ago (1926)
History	1926–27: Chicago GlobeTrotters 1928–29: New York Harlem Globetrotters 1929–present: Harlem Globetrotters
Arena	Barnstorming team
Team colors	Red, white, blue[1]
Head coach	"Sweet" Lou Dunbar (coach) Barry Hardy (coach)
Ownership	Herschend
Championships	75
Website	harlemglobetrotters.com
Primary Secondary

The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team. They combine athleticism, theater, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. Over the years, the Globetrotters have played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 countries and territories, mostly against deliberately ineffective opponents, such as the Washington Generals (1953–1995, 2007–2015, 2017–present) and the New York Nationals (1995–2006). The team's signature song is Brother Bones' whistled version of "Sweet Georgia Brown", and their mascot is an anthropomorphized globe named "Globie". The team is owned by Herschend.[2]

History

[edit]

The Harlem Globetrotters originated in 1926 at the Giles American Legion Post #87, on the South Side of Chicago, where all the original players were raised and went to Wendell Phillips High school in the Bronzeville neighborhood.[3] They began as the Savoy Big Five, one of the premier attractions of the Savoy Ballroom; starting in January 1928, a basketball team of Black American players played exhibitions before dances to prop up the ballroom's cratering attendance numbers.[4] In 1928, several players left the team in a dispute. That autumn, those players formed a team called the "Globe Trotters" and toured southern Illinois that spring. Abe Saperstein became involved with the team as a coach, manager, promoter and part-time player. By 1929, Saperstein was touring Illinois and Iowa with his basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters". Saperstein selected the name Harlem because it was then considered the center of Black American culture and the name Globetrotter to mythologize the team's international venues.[5]

The Globetrotters were perennial participants in the World Professional Basketball Tournament, winning it in 1940. In a heavily attended matchup a few years later, the 1948 Globetrotters–Lakers game, the Globetrotters made headlines when they beat one of the best white basketball teams in the country, the Minneapolis Lakers. The Globetrotters continued to easily win games due to Harlem monopolizing the entire talent pool of the best black basketball players in the country. Once one of the most famous teams in the country, the Globetrotters were eventually eclipsed by the rise of the National Basketball Association (NBA), particularly when NBA teams began recruiting black players in the 1950s.[6] In 1950, 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 black player to sign an NBA contract when the New York Knicks purchased his contract from the Globetrotters for $12,500 (equivalent to $163,000 in 2024).[7][8]

The Globetrotters gradually worked comic routines into their act—a direction the team has credited to Reece "Goose" Tatum,[9] who joined in 1941—and eventually became known more for entertainment than sports.[10] The Globetrotters' acts often feature incredible coordination and skillful handling of one or more basketballs, such as passing or juggling balls between players, balancing or spinning balls on their fingertips, and making unusually difficult shots.[11]

In 1952, the Globetrotters invited Louis "Red" Klotz to create a team to accompany them on their tours. This team, the Washington Generals (who also played under various other names), became the Globetrotters' primary opponents. The Generals are effectively stooges for the Globetrotters, with the Globetrotters handily defeating them in thousands of games.[12][13]

In 1959, Saperstein received an invitation from Vasily Grigoryevich, the director of Lenin Central Stadium, and the Globetrotters played nine games in Moscow.[14] The team, which included Wilt Chamberlain, was welcomed enthusiastically by spectators and authorities, and they met Premier Nikita Khrushchev[15] and collectively received the Athletic Order of Lenin medal.[16]

According to one report titled "Russians Baffled by Harlem Fun", however, spectators were initially confused: "A Soviet audience of 14,000 sat almost silently, as if in awe, through the first half of the game. It warmed up slightly in the second half when it realized the Trotters are more show than competition."[17] The Globetrotters brought their own opponent—not the Washington Generals, but the San Francisco Chinese Basketeers.[14] A review in state-run Pravda stated, "This is not basketball; it is too full of tricks" but praised the Globetrotters' skills and suggested that "they have some techniques to show us".[18]

The American press—particularly Drew Pearson—made note of the fact that the Globetrotters were paid (per game) the equivalent of $4,000 (equivalent to $43,000 in 2024) by the Soviet government,[7] which could be spent only in Moscow. The games were used as evidence that U.S.–Russian relations were improving, that Moscow was backing off its propaganda campaign aimed at American race relations, and that the Russian society was becoming more capitalist (Pearson suggested that the games were held because Lenin Stadium needed money).[19][20]

In May 1967, New York City–based Metromedia announced that it would acquire the Globetrotters for $1 million, but the deal was never completed and the team was sold to George N. Gillett Jr., who formed a new company called Globetrotter Communications in 1968.[21][22]

Nine years after the company's attempted acquisition in 1976, Metromedia announced that it would acquire the Globetrotters for $11 million from Globetrotter Communications.[23]

Many famous basketball players have played for the Globetrotters. Greats such as "Wee" Willie Gardner, Connie "the Hawk" Hawkins, Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain, and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton later joined the NBA. The Globetrotters signed their first female player, Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard, in 1985.[24]

Because nearly all of the team's players have been black, and as a result of the buffoonery involved in many of the Globetrotters' skits, they drew some criticism during the Civil Rights era. The players were accused by some civil-rights advocates of "Tomming for Abe," a reference to Uncle Tom and owner Abe Saperstein. However, prominent civil rights activist Jesse Jackson (who would later be named an honorary Globetrotter) came to their defense by stating, "I think they've been a positive influence... They did not show blacks as stupid. On the contrary, they were shown as superior."[6]

In 1986, as part of the spin-off of Metromedia's television stations to Rupert Murdoch and the 20th Century Fox film studio, the company sold the Globetrotters and the Ice Capades to the Minneapolis-based International Broadcasting Corporation (owners of KTAB-TV in Abilene, Texas and controlled by Thomas Scallen) for $30 million.[25][26][27][28][29]

In 1993, former Globetrotters player Mannie Jackson purchased the team from the International Broadcasting Corporation, which was on the verge of bankruptcy.[30]

In 1995, Orlando Antigua became the first Hispanic player on the team. He was the first non-black player on the Globetrotters' roster since Bob Karstens played with the squad in 1942–43.[31]

While parts of a modern exhibition game are pre-planned, the games themselves are not fixed. While their opponents do not interfere with the Globetrotters' hijinks while on defense, they play a serious game when in possession of the ball and about 20 to 30 percent of a game is "real." This once led to an infamous 99-100 overtime defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Reds on January 5, 1971, much to the distress of the watching crowd, after the Globetrotters lost track of the score and were facing a 12-point deficit with two minutes remaining with their tricks and after the Globetrotters took a one-point lead late, the Reds hit a game-winner with a few seconds remaining and won.[32][33]

In September 2005, Shamrock Holdings purchased 80% stake in the Globetrotters.[34][35]

In October 2013, Herschend Family Entertainment announced that it would acquire the Globetrotters from Shamrock Holdings.[36]

In June 2021, the Globetrotters filed a petition to join the National Basketball Association (NBA) as an expansion franchise.[37]

Roster

[edit] 2025 Harlem Globetrotters roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 0 Justin "X-Over" Tompkins 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) Borough of Manhattan CC F 1 Arysia "Ace" Porter 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) St. Mary's (TX) G 3 Darnell "Speedy" Artis 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Gwynedd Mercy G 4 Tyriek "Shake" Railey 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Virginia Union F 5 Chandler "Bulldog" Mack 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Freed–Hardeman G 6 Eryka "Spice" Sidney 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Houston G 7 Lucius "Too Tall" Winston 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Tuskegee G 8 Kaylin "Sunshine" West 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Georgetown G 9 Jahmani "Hot Shot" Swanson 4 ft 5 in (1.35 m) Monroe G 10 Cherelle "Torch" George 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) 132 lb (60 kg) 1984-11-27 [38] Purdue G 11 Brawley "Cheese" Chisholm 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Ball State F 12 Jason "Buckets" Barrera 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Mount Saint Vincent F 17 Travion "Diesel" Kirkendoll 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Centenary G 18 Fatima "TNT" Lister 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Temple G 21 Carl "Lights Out" Garcia 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Miles F 23 Corey "Thunder" Law 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) High Point F 24 Marlow "Dragon" Gilmore 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Francis Marion F 25 Malik "Prime Time" Moore 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) USC Upstate F 27 Cameron "Silk" Burrell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Lindenwood F 28 Joe "Jumpin" Ballard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Glenville State G 29 Evan "Swish" Gaffney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Tennessee Wesleyan F 30 Julian "Zeus" McClurkin 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) North Carolina A&T F 31 Donte "Hammer" Harrison 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Hampton G 32 Latif "Jet" Rivers 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Wagner G 33 William "Bull" Bullard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi F 38 Mark "Splash" Blount Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Neumann F 39 Marcus "Bones" Driscoll 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Montgomery College G 40 Rock "Wham" Middleton 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Savannah State F 41 Louis "Sweet Lou II" Dunbar 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Oklahoma City F 42 Angelo "Spider" Sharpless 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Elizabeth City State F 44 Prince "Baller" Moss 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Grambling State F 45 Alex "Moose" Weekes 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Middle Tennessee F 46 Gwarren "Tree" Douglas 6 ft 7.5 in (2.02 m) Clark Atlanta F 47 Joey "Hot Rod" De La Rosa 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) St. John's G 48 Paweł "Dazzle" Kidoń 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Zubrzyca Dolna, Poland F 49 Asanti "Cash" Price 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Benedict F 51 Andrew "Big Dog" Whitsett 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) Cal State Dominguez Hills F 53 Jarius "Dynamite" Key 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Campbellsville F 54 Brandon "Hi-Rise" Mitchell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) San José State F 55 Randy "Crash" McClure 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Albany State F 56 Zavian "Sky" Jackson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Arkansas–Pine Bluff G 58 Max "Hops" Pearce 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Purchase College

Head coach Vacant Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: 2024-12-13

[39]

Draft

[edit]

Starting in 2007, the Globetrotters have conducted an annual "draft" a few days before the NBA draft, in which they select players they feel fit the mold of a Globetrotter. Being drafted by the Globetrotters does not guarantee a spot on the team, although several drafted players have gone on to become Globetrotters: Anthony "Ant" Atkinson (2007), Brent Petway (2007), William "Bull" Bullard (2008), Tay "Firefly" Fisher (2008), Charlie Coley III (2009), Paul "Tiny" Sturgess (2011), Jacob "Hops" Tucker (2011), Darnell "Spider" Wilks (2011), Bryan "B-Nice" Narcisse (2012), Tyrone Davis (2013), Corey "Thunder" Law (2013), Tyler "Iceman" Inman (2014) Devan "Beast" Douglas (2016), and AJ "Money" Merriweather.[40]

Other notable draft picks by the Globetrotters include: Sun Mingming (2007), Patrick Ewing Jr. (2008), Sonny Weems (2008), Taylor Griffin (2009), Tim Howard (2009), Mark Titus (2010), Lionel Messi (2011), Jordan McCabe, then 12 years old (2011), Andrew Goudelock (2011), Usain Bolt (2012), Mariano Rivera (2013), Brittney Griner (2013), Johnny Manziel (2014), Landon Donovan (2014), Mo'ne Davis (2015), Dude Perfect (2015), Kevin Hart (2016), Neymar (2016), Missy Franklin (2016), Jordan Spieth (2016), Craig Sager (2016), Gal Gadot (2017), Aaron Judge (2017), Tim Tebow (2017), Paul Pogba (2018), Joseph Kilgore (2018), Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2018), Mahershala Ali (2019), Mookie Betts (2020), and Chadwick Boseman (2020).[41][42][43][44][45]

Retired numbers

[edit]

The Globetrotters have honored eight players by retiring their numbers:

Harlem Globetrotters retired numbers
No.	Player	Tenure	Date retired
13	Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain	1958–1959	March 9, 2000
20	Marques Haynes	1947–1953, 1972–1979	January 5, 2001
22	Fred "Curly" Neal	1963–1985	February 15, 2008
34	Charles "Tex" Harrison	1954–1972	December 26, 2017
35	Hubert "Geese" Ausbie	1961–1985	January 31, 2017
36	Meadowlark Lemon	1954–1979, 1993[46]	January 5, 2001
41	"Sweet" Lou Dunbar	1977–present	February 15, 2019
50	Goose Tatum	1941–1943, 1945–1955[47]	February 8, 2002

Honorary members

[edit]

Ten people have been officially named as honorary members of the team:[48]

• Henry Kissinger (1976)
• Bob Hope (1977)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1989)
• Whoopi Goldberg (1990)
• Nelson Mandela (1996)
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1999)
• Pope John Paul II (2000) – Press agent Lee Solters arranged a ceremony orchestrated in front of a crowd of 50,000 in Saint Peter's Square in which the Pope was recognized as an honorary Globetrotter.[49]
• Jesse Jackson (2001)
• Pope Francis (2015)[50]
• Robin Roberts (2015)[51]

In addition, Bill Cosby (1972) and Magic Johnson (2003) were each signed to honorary $1-a-year lifetime contracts with the Globetrotters.[52][53][54] When Cosby's nominal association with the team was the subject of criticism following sexual assault allegations, the Globetrotters stated that they have had no association with him for decades.[54]

Bibliography

[edit]

• Kinokff, Dave; Williams, Edgar (1953). Around the World with the Harlem Globetrotters. Philadelphia: Macrae Smith Company.
• Kinokff, Dave; Bloggs, Fred (1958). Go, Man, Go!. New York: Pyramid Books. Retitled version of the above book, to coincide with the Go Man Go (film).
• Kinokff, Dave; Williams, Edgar (1971). Go, Man, Go!. New York: Willow Books. Updated version of two previous books.
• Vecsey, George (1970). Harlem Globetrotters. New York: Scholastic.
• Gault, Clare; Gault, Frank (1976). The Harlem Globetrotters and Basketball's Funniest Games. New York: Scholastic.
• Menville, Chuck (1978). The Harlem Globetrotters: An Illustrated History. New York: Willow Books.
• Green, Ben (2005). Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060555504.
• "Ready-To-Read", Educational Book series featuring the Harlem Globetrotters
  • Dobrow, Larry (2017). Here Come the Harlem Globetrotters. New York: Simon Spotlight.
  • Dobrow, Larry (2017). The Superstar Story of the Harlem Globetrotters. New York: Simon Spotlight.
  • Dobrow, Larry (2018). The Harlem Globetrotters Present the Points Behind Basketball. New York: Simon Spotlight.

References

[edit]

1. ^ "The World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters Unveil New Logo For Historic 1OOth Season". HarlemGlobetrotters.com. Herschend Family Entertainment. May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
2. ^ "Company buys Harlem Globetrotters". ESPN. October 2013.
3. ^ "WTTW | Chicago's PBS station streaming News, Kids, Drama, and Documentaries". WTTW Chicago. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
4. ^ "Riots to Renaissance: Harlem Globetrotters". WTTW Chicago. July 11, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
5. ^ Smith, Jay. "Harlem Globetrotters". WTTW. Window to the World Communications Inc. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
6. ^ a b Berkow, Ira (July 24, 2005). "'Spinning the Globe': Ball Hog Heaven". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
7. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
8. ^ "Nat Clifton, one of our firsts in the NBA". African American Registry. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
9. ^ "Our Story". Harlem Globetrotters. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
10. ^ Dupont, Kevin Paul (March 21, 2015). "Harlem Globetrotters keeping the fun in sports". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
11. ^ Flomberg, Deb (December 6, 2014). "The Harlem Globetrotters spin their way to Denver". AXS. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
12. ^ Posnanski, Joe (August 12, 2015). "Losers' Lament: After decades of defeat, the Washington Generals have lost for the final time". NBC Sports. NBC Sports Group. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
13. ^ Rovell, Darren (August 14, 2015). "After 63 years, Globetrotters drop rival Generals as primary opponent". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
14. ^ a b "Abe's 'Trotters Off to Moscow". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network. Associated Press. June 16, 1959. p. 16. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
15. ^ "Khruschchev Surprises U.S. Cagers By Street". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria Advocate Publishing. Associated Press. July 9, 1959. p. 15. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
16. ^ Cummings, Richard H. (January 30, 2011). "Harlem Globetrotters and Nikita Khrushchev". Cold War Radios. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
17. ^ "Russians Baffled by Harlem Fun". Reading Eagle. Reading Eagle Company. United Press International. July 7, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
18. ^ "Globetrotters impress Soviets". Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. Associated Press. July 8, 1959. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
19. ^ Pearson, Drew (July 30, 1959). "US–USSR Relations Much Improved". Deseret News. Deseret Management Corporation. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
20. ^ Pearson, Drew (September 11, 1959). "Ike Should Go to Russia". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. p. 13. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
21. ^ Gent, George (May 24, 1967). "METROMEDIA BUYS GLOBETROTTERS; TV Chain Will Add Team to Ice Capades Operation Promoter Once An Ally Sonny Fox at Expo 67". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
22. ^ "Metromedia outbid for Globetrotters team" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 12, 1967. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
23. ^ "Metromedia into basketball" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 17, 1976. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
24. ^ Lubinger, Bill (December 22, 2008). "It's a new spin: Harlem Globetrotters trying to put a high-tech gleam on a vintage product". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
25. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (March 5, 1986). "METROMEDIA SET TO SELL GLOBETROTTERS, ICE SHOW". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
26. ^ "Metromedia to sell Harlem Globetrotters". United Press International. March 4, 1986. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
27. ^ "BASKETBALL". Orlando Sentinel. March 5, 1986. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
28. ^ "Bottom Line" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 10, 1986. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
29. ^ "Parts Worth More Than a Whole Metromedia". The Washington Post. July 2, 1986. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
30. ^ "Globetrotters Sale". The New York Times. Reuters. March 26, 1993. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
31. ^ "Sports People: Basketball – A Non-Black Player Joins Globetrotters". The New York Times. December 28, 1995. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
32. ^ "10 Quick Facts About the Harlem Globetrotters". Portable Press. December 3, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
33. ^ "Washington Generals Beat Harlem Globetrotters". SportsGrid. August 14, 2015. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
34. ^ "Roy Disney-Led Fund Buys 80% of Harlem Globetrotters". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
35. ^ "Disney's company buys 80 percent of Globetrotters". ESPN. September 27, 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
36. ^ "Herschend Family Entertainment New Owners of World Famous Harlem Globetrotters" (Press release). Harlem Globetrotters International/Herschend Family Entertainment. October 1, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2021 – via Business Wire.
37. ^ Oler, Bobby (June 27, 2021). "The Harlem Globetrotters want to join the NBA". WTEN. Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
38. ^ "Cherelle George". SMWW Client. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
39. ^ "Active Roster Meet the Squad". December 13, 2024.
40. ^ "Harlem Globetrotters Mark 10th Anniversary of Draft with First-Ever Live Announcements on Twitter". July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
41. ^ Dorsey, Patrick (July 23, 2011). "A brief history of the Harlem Globetrotters' draft picks, including Lionel Messi". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
42. ^ McManamon, Pat (June 24, 2014). "Three sports: Globetrotters draft Manziel". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
43. ^ Fagan, Kate (June 25, 2013). "Griner turns down Globetrotters". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
44. ^ "2017 Player Draft". Harlem Globetrotters. June 20, 2017. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
45. ^ "Announcing the 2018 Harlem Globetrotter Draftees!". Harlem Globetrotters. June 19, 2018. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
46. ^ "Biography of Meadowlark Lemon". MeadowlarkLemon.org. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014.
47. ^ "Harlem Globetrotter Reece 'Goose' Tatum To Be Enshrined In Basketball Hall of Fame". BlackFives.org. April 4, 2011.
48. ^ Blevins, David (2012). "Harlem Globetrotters (Team)". The Sports Hall of Fame Encyclopedia: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer. Plymouth, UK: Scarecrow Press. pp. 415–417. ISBN 978-0-8108-6130-5.
49. ^ Martin, Douglas (May 22, 2009). "Lee Solters, Razzle-Dazzle Press Agent, Dies at 89". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
50. ^ "Harlem Globetrotters Have an Audience with Pope Francis, Name Him Ninth Honorary Harlem Globetrotter in Team History". Harlem Globetrotters. May 6, 2015. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
51. ^ "Robin Roberts Named Honorary Harlem Globetrotter; Team Announces The Great Assist Initiative And 90-Year Celebration". October 6, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
52. ^ "Johnson joins Globetrotters to defeat former team". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Associated Press. November 2, 2003. Retrieved January 28, 2008.
53. ^ Wolfe, Rich (2006). For Mets Fans Only. Indy Tech Publishing. p. 98. ISBN 0-7906-1334-4.
54. ^ a b Gordon, Aaron (July 9, 2015). "Bill Cosby Is (Still) A Harlem Globetrotter". Sports. Retrieved March 20, 2018.

External links

[edit] Harlem Globetrotters at Wikipedia's sister projects

• Media from Commons
• Data from Wikidata

• Official website
• Interview with Billy Ray Hobley
• Basketball Hall of Fame profile
• Harlem Globetrotters PR in Ireland
• Voices of Oklahoma interview with Marques Haynes. First person interview conducted on December 28, 2011, with Marques Haynes, former member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
• "In Black America; The Harlem Globetrotters 1985," 1985-03-06, KUT Radio, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (WGBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC

v t e Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2002
Players	Magic Johnson Dražen Petrović
Coach	Larry Brown Lute Olson Kay Yow
Teams	Harlem Globetrotters

v t e Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members
Players	Guards R. Allen Archibald Barnett Beckman Belov Billups Bing S. Bird Blazejowski Borgmann Braun Brennan Bryant Carter Cervi Cheeks Clayton Cooper-Dyke Cousy Dampier Davies Drexler Dumars Edwards Endacott Frazier Friedman Galis Gervin Ginóbili Goodrich Greer Grentz Guerin Hammon Hanson Hardaway Haynes Holman Hyatt Isaacs Iverson Jeannette Jenkins D. Johnson M. Johnson K. Jones S. Jones Jordan Kidd Lieberman Maravich Marcari Marčiulionis Martin McDermott McGrady D. McGuire Meyers R. Miller Moncrief Monroe P. Moore C. Murphy Nash Page Parker Payton Petrović Phillip Posey Richmond Robertson Rodgers Roosma J. Russell Schommer Scott Sedran Sharman K. Smith Staley Steinmetz Stockton Swoopes Thomas D. Thompson Timms Vandivier Wade Wanzer Weatherspoon West Westphal Whalen J. White Wilkens Woodard Wooden Forwards Anthony Arizin Augustus Barkley Barry Baylor L. Bird Bosh Boswell Bradley R. Brown Cash Catchings C. Cooper M. Cooper Cunningham Curry Dalipagić Dandridge Dantley Davis DeBusschere Dehnert Duncan English Erving Foster Fulks Gale Garnett Gasol Gates Gola Hagan Havlicek Hawkins Hayes Haywood Heinsohn Hill Howell Hudson L. Jackson G. Johnson B. Jones King Korać Kukoč Lucas Luisetti K. Malone McClain B. McCracken J. McCracken McGinnis McHale Mikkelsen C. Miller M. Moore Mullin Nowitzki Pettit Pierce Pippen Pollard Pullins Radja Ramsey Rodman Schayes E. Schmidt O. Schmidt Stokes C. Thompson T. Thompson Twyman Walker Webber N. White Wilkes Wilkins Worthy Yardley Centers Abdul-Jabbar Barlow Beaty Bellamy Chamberlain T. Cooper Ćosić Cowens J. Crawford Daniels DeBernardi Divac Donovan Ewing Fowles Gallatin Gilmore Griffith Gruenig Harris-Stewart Houbregs Howard Issel Jackson W. Johnson Johnston M. Krause Kurland Lanier Leslie Lovellette Lapchick Macauley Maciel M. Malone McAdoo Meneghin Mikan Mourning S. Murphy Mutombo Olajuwon O'Neal Parish Reed Risen Robinson B. Russell Sabonis Sampson Semjonova Sikma Thurmond Unseld Wachter Wallace Walton Washington Yao
Coaches	Adelman Alexeeva P. Allen Anderson Auerbach Auriemma Barmore Barry Bess Blair Blood Boeheim L. Brown Calhoun Calipari Cann Carlson Carnesecca Carnevale Carril Case Chancellor Chaney Conradt Crum Daly Dean Díaz-Miguel Diddle Donovan Drake Driesell Ferrándiz Fitch Fitzsimmons Gaines Gamba Gardner Gaze Gill Gomelsky Gunter Hannum Harshman Haskins Hatchell Heinsohn Hickey Hixon Hobson Holzman Huggins Hughes Hurley Iba Izzo P. Jackson Julian Karl Keady Keaney Keogan Knight Krzyzewski Kundla Lambert Leonard Lewis Litwack Loeffler Lonborg Magee McCutchan McGraw A. McGuire F. McGuire McLendon Meanwell Meyer Miller B. Moore Mulkey Nelson Nikolić Novosel Olson Pitino Popovich Ramsay Redin Richardson Riley Rubini Rupp Rush B. Russell Ryan Sachs Self Sharman Shelton Sloan C. Smith D. Smith Stanley Stevens Stringer Summitt Sutton Tarkanian Taylor Teague J. Thompson Tomjanovich VanDerveer Wade Watts Wilkens G. Williams R. Williams Wooden Woolpert Wootten Wright Yow
Contributors	Abbott Ackerman Arison Attles Barksdale Baumann Bee Biasone H. Brown W. Brown Bunn Buss Clifton Colangelo Collins Costello Davidson Douglas Duer Embry Fagan Fisher Fleisher Garfinkel Gavitt Gottlieb Granik Gulick Harris Harrison Hearn Henderson Hepp Hickox Hinkle Irish M. Jackson Jernstedt R. Jones Kennedy Knight J. Krause Lemon Liston Lloyd Lobo McLendon Mokray Morgan Morgenweck Naismith Newell Newton J. O'Brien L. O'Brien Olsen Podoloff Porter Raveling Reid Reinsdorf Ripley Sanders Saperstein Schabinger Simon St. John Stagg Stanković Steitz Stern Taylor Thorn Tower Trester Valvano Vitale Wells Welts West Wilke Winter Zollner
Referees	Bavetta D. Crawford Enright Evans Garretson Hepbron Hoyt Kennedy Leith Mihalik Nichols Nucatola Quigley Rudolph Shirley Strom Tobey Walsh
Teams	1948–1982 Wayland Baptist women's teams 1956–57 Tennessee A&I State men's team 1957–58 Tennessee A&I State men's team 1958–59 Tennessee A&I State men's team 1960 United States men's Olympic team 1965–66 Texas Western men's team 1976 United States women's Olympic team 1992 United States men's Olympic team 2008 United States men's Olympic team All-American Red Heads Buffalo Germans The First Team Harlem Globetrotters Immaculata College New York Renaissance Original Celtics

v t e Sport teams based in the New York metropolitan area
Australian rulesfootball	USAFL New York Magpies
Baseball	MLB New York Mets New York Yankees EL Somerset Patriots SAL Brooklyn Cyclones Hudson Valley Renegades ALPB Long Island Ducks Staten Island FerryHawks FL New Jersey Jackals New York Boulders Sussex County Miners
Basketball	NBA Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks WNBA New York Liberty G League Long Island Nets Westchester Knicks ABA Jersey Express Entertainment Teams Harlem Globetrotters Harlem Wizards
Esports	CDL New York Subliners OWL New York Excelsior
Football	NFL New York Giants New York Jets WFA New York Sharks
Hockey	NHL New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers AHL Bridgeport Islanders PWHL New York Sirens FPHL Danbury Hat Tricks
Rugby league	USARL Brooklyn Kings RLFC White Plains Wombats NARL New York R.L.F.C.
Rugby union	MLR Rugby New York USAR New York Athletic Club RFC Old Blue
Soccer	MLS New York City FC New York Red Bulls NWSL Gotham FC USLS Brooklyn FC USLC Brooklyn FC USL1 New York Cosmos (2026) Westchester SC MLSNP New York City FC II New York Red Bulls II The Island F.C. (2027) USL2 Cedar Stars Rush F.A. Euro Long Island Rough Riders Manhattan SC Westchester Flames NPSL FC Monmouth FC Motown New York Athletic Club S.C. USLW Long Island Rough Riders Manhattan SC Westchester Flames
Roller derby	WFTDA Gotham Roller Derby Jersey Shore Roller Girls Long Island Roller Rebels Suburbia Roller Derby MRDA New York Shock Exchange
Team tennis	WTT New York Empire
College athletics	NCAADivision I Army Columbia Fairfield Fairleigh Dickinson Fordham Hofstra Iona LIU Manhattan New Haven NJIT Princeton Quinnipiac Rider Rutgers Sacred Heart St. John's Saint Peter's Seton Hall Stony Brook Wagner Yale NCAADivision II Adelphi Bridgeport East Stroudsburg NYIT Southern Connecticut NCAADivision III Merchant Marine NYU TCNJ
Ultimate	UFA New York Empire
Gaelic games	New York GAA: Gaelic football Hurling
Main article: Sports in the New York metropolitan area

v t e Sports teams based in New York State
Baseball	MLB New York Mets New York Yankees IL Buffalo Bisons Rochester Red Wings Syracuse Mets EL Binghamton Rumble Ponies SAL Brooklyn Cyclones Hudson Valley Renegades ALPB Long Island Ducks Staten Island FerryHawks EPBL Plattsburgh Redbirds FL New York Boulders Tri-City ValleyCats ACBL Hampton Whalers NYCBL Cortland Crush Genesee Rapids Hornell Dodgers Olean Oilers Rochester Ridgemen Rome Generals Sherrill Silversmiths Syracuse Salt Cats Syracuse Spartans Wellsville Nitros PGCBL Elmira Pioneers Jamestown Jammers Newark Pilots Watertown Rapids
Basketball	NBA Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks WNBA New York Liberty G League Long Island Nets Westchester Knicks TBL Albany Patroons ABA Buffalo eXtreme Entertainment Teams Harlem Globetrotters Harlem Wizards
Esports	CDL Cloud9 New York OWL New York Excelsior
Football	NFL Buffalo Bills AFL Albany Firebirds WFA New York Sharks EFL Watertown Red & Black GDFL Albany Metro Mallers
Hockey	NHL Buffalo Sabres New York Islanders New York Rangers PWHL New York Sirens AHL Rochester Americans Syracuse Crunch Utica Comets ECHL Adirondack Thunder FPHL Binghamton Black Bears Watertown Wolves NAHL Elmira Aviators Jamestown Rebels Rochester Jr. Americans
Soccer	MLS New York City FC USLS Brooklyn FC USLC Brooklyn FC (2026) Buffalo Pro Soccer (2027) MLSNP New York City FC II The Island F.C. (2027) USL1 Westchester SC NISA New York Cosmos (hiatus) USL2 Blackwatch Rush F.A. Euro FC Buffalo Hudson Valley Hammers Long Island Rough Riders Manhattan SC Pathfinder FC Westchester Flames NPSL Buffalo Stallions Cedar Stars FC Flower City Union Kingston Stockade FC New York Shockers WPSL Brooklyn City FC Clarkstown SC Downtown United SC Fox Soccer Academy New York Athletic Club New York Dutch Lions FC New York Shockers SUSA FC United Women's Soccer Albany Rush FC Berlin Rochester Lady Lancers Syracuse Pulse USL W League FC Buffalo Long Island Rough Riders MASL Utica City FC
Lacrosse	NLL Buffalo Bandits Rochester Knighthawks PLL New York Atlas UWLX Long Island Sound WPLL New York Fight Upstate Pride
Roller derby	WFTDA Assault City Roller Derby Central New York Roller Derby Gotham Roller Derby Hellions of Troy Hudson Valley Horrors Roller Derby Ithaca League of Women Rollers Long Island Roller Rebels Queen City Roller Derby Roc City Roller Derby Suburbia Roller Derby MRDA New York Shock Exchange
Rugby league	USARL Brooklyn Kings RLFC White Plains Wombats NARL New York R.L.F.C.
Rugby union	USAR New York Athletic Club RFC Old Blue
Team tennis	WTT New York Empire
College athletics(NCAA Division I)	Adelphi Panthers (women's bowling) Albany Great Danes Army Black Knights Binghamton Bearcats Buffalo Bulls Brockport Golden Eagles (women's gymnastics) Clarkson Golden Knights (men's and women's ice hockey) Canisius Golden Griffins CCNY Beavers (women's fencing) Colgate Raiders Columbia Lions Cortland Red Dragons (women's gymnastics) Cornell Big Red Daemen Wildcats (women's bowling and men's volleyball) Dominican Chargers (men's volleyball) D'Youville Saints (men's volleyball) Fordham Rams Hilbert Hawks (women's bowling) Hobart Statesmen (men's lacrosse) Hofstra Pride Hunter Hawks (men's and women's fencing) Ithaca Bombers (women's gymnastics) Iona Gaels Le Moyne Dolphins LIU Sharks Manhattan Jaspers Marist Red Foxes Molloy Lions (women's bowling) NYU Violets (men's and women's fencing) Niagara Purple Eagles Queens Knights (women's fencing) RPI Engineers (men's and women's ice hockey) Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks (women's bowling and men's volleyball) Rochester Yellowjackets (men's squash) RIT Tigers (men's and women's ice hockey) St. Bonaventure Bonnies St. John's Red Storm St. Lawrence Saints (men's and women's ice hockey) St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans (men's volleyball) Siena Saints Stony Brook Seawolves Syracuse Orange Union Garnet Chargers (men's and women's ice hockey) Vassar Brewers (men's and women's fencing) Wagner Seahawks Yeshiva Maccabees (men's and women's fencing)
College athletics(NCAA Division II)	Adelphi Panthers Daemen Wildcats Dominican Chargers Dowling Golden Lions D'Youville Saints Mercy Mavericks Molloy Lions NYIT Bears (Suspended) Pace Setters Queens Knights Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks Saint Rose Golden Knights St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans Staten Island Dolphins
College athletics(NCAA Division III)	Alfred Saxons Alfred State Pioneers Bard Raptors Baruch Bearcats Brockport Golden Eagles Brooklyn Bulldogs Buffalo State Bengals Canton Roos Cazenovia Wildcats CCNY Beavers Clarkson Golden Knights Cobleskill Fighting Tigers Cortland Red Dragons Delhi Broncos Elmira Soaring Eagles Farmingdale Rams Fredonia Blue Devils Geneseo Knights Hamilton Continentals Hartwick Hawks Hilbert Hawks Hobart Statesmen Houghton Highlanders Hunter Hawks Ithaca Bombers John Jay Bloodhounds Keuka Wolves Lehman Lightning Bugs Manhattanville Valiants Medgar Evers Cougars Merchant Marine Mariners Maritime Privateers Mount Saint Mary Blue Knights Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins Morrisville Mustangs Nazareth Golden Flyers New Paltz Hawks City Tech Yellow Jackets NYU Violets Old Westbury Panthers Oneonta Red Dragons Oswego Lakers Plattsburgh Cardinals Potsdam Bears Pratt Cannoners Purchase Panthers RPI Engineers Rochester Yellowjackets RIT Tigers Russell Sage Gators Skidmore Thoroughbreds St. John Fisher Cardinals St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) Bears St. Joseph's (Long Island) Golden Eagles St. Lawrence Saints Sarah Lawrence Gryphons SUNY Poly Wildcats Union Garnet Chargers Utica Pioneers Vassar Brewers Wells Express William Smith Herons Yeshiva Maccabees York Cardinals
College athletics(USCAA)	Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Panthers Berkeley Knights Bryant & Stratton College, Albany Bobcats Bryant & Stratton College, Buffalo Bobcats Bryant & Stratton College, Greece Bobcats Bryant & Stratton College, Syracuse Bobcats Five Towns Sounds Paul Smith's Bobcats SUNY ESF Mighty Oaks Vaughn Warriors Villa Maria Knights Word of Life Bible Institute Huskies
College athletics(NJCAA Division I)	Globe Institute of Technology Knights Monroe Mustangs ASA Avengers
College athletics(NJCAA Division II)	SUNY Erie Kats Genesee Cougars Hudson Valley Vikings Jamestown (Jamestown) Jayhawks Jamestown (Olean) Cattaraugus Jaguars Monroe Tribunes SUNY Niagara Thunderwolves SUNY Orange Colts SUNY Sullivan Generals
College athletics(NJCAA Division III)	SUNY Adirondack Wolves Borough of Manhattan Panthers Bronx Broncos SUNY Broome Hornets Cayuga Spartans Clinton Cougars Columbia-Greene Twins Corning Red Barons Dutchess Falcons Finger Lakes Lakers FIT Tigers Fulton–Montgomery Raiders Genesee Cougars Herkimer County Generals Hostos Caimans Jefferson Cannoners Mohawk Valley Hawks Monroe Express Nassau Lions North Country Saints Onondaga Lazers Queensborough Tigers Rockland Fighting Hawks Schenectady County Royals Suffolk County Sharks SUNY Sullivan Generals Tompkins Cortland Panthers SUNY Ulster Senators
See also: Sports in New York City, Sports in Buffalo, Sports in Rochester, Sports in Syracuse, and Sports in New York's Capital District

v t e Herschend
Amusement parks	Adventureland Castle Park Dollywood Dutch Wonderland Idlewild and Soak Zone Kennywood Kentucky Kingdom Lake Compounce Silver Dollar City Story Land Wild Adventures Boomers! Parks Malibu Grand Prix Mountasia
Aquariums	Adventure Aquarium Living Shores Aquarium Miami Seaquarium Newport Aquarium Sea Life Park Hawaii Vancouver Aquarium
Water parks	Dollywood's Splash Country Hurricane Bay (Kentucky Kingdom) Noah's Ark Water Park Splash Island (Wild Adventures) White Water Branson Raging Waters Sandcastle Splish Splash Water Country Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe
Other	Callaway Gardens Cartoon Network Hotel Dolly Parton's Stampede Harlem Globetrotters Washington Generals Ride the Ducks Showboat Branson Belle Stone Mountain Park Talking Rocks Cavern

v t e NAACP Image Award – Jackie Robinson Sports Award
Wilma Rudolph / Harlem Globetrotters (1988) Jackie Joyner-Kersee / Sugar Ray Robinson (1989) Roy Campanella / Anita DeFrantz (1990) Magic Johnson (1992) Eddie Robinson (1996) Jim Brown (1997) Michael Jordan (1999) LeBron James (2017) Stephen Curry / WNBA Players Association (2021)

Portals:

• Basketball
• Sports
• New York City
• United States

Authority control databases	Yale LUX