The Harlem Globetrotters Destined to Stay in the Limelight
Westside Gazette › July 29, 2009
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Summary
It all started in 1926 when, Abe Saperstein, age 24, organized and coached a new basketball team, "Savoy Big Five," named after famous Chicago's Savoy Ballroom. The ballroom was designed after the New York version with the same name. The Savoy Ballroom was located above a movie theatre at South Park and Kedzie, and featured most of the big bands of the day. Back then, business fell off and the owners of the Savoy decided to schedule basketball games in order to lure people to the Savoy for dancing after the game. The Savoy agreed to sponsor Saperstein's team and thus the "Savoy Big Five" was born. Basketball did not do much for the business at the Savoy, and the idea was eventually dropped. As the team disbanded, several members agreed to join Saperstein's newly proposed touring team. "Savoy Big Five" consisted of Tommy Brookings, William Grant, Inman Jackson, Lester Johnson, Joe Lillard, Randolph Ramsey, Walter Wright, and William Watson. Jackson, Johnson, and Wright formed the nucleus of the first Globetrotters team. In 1927, Saperstein's team makes its debut on January 7 in Hinckley, Illinois, before a crowd of 300. The total payout for the game was $75. The team wore uniforms with NEW YORK on them; no doubt in giving the crowd the impression they were from that city. Saperstein would later add his family name to the jersey thereafter, "Saperstein's New York Globetrotters." In 1930 the team's name was officially changed to the Harlem Globetrotters. Thus the Harlem Globetrotters were born and were ready to share their talents with the world.
This year the player named Curley "Boo" Johnson enters his 16th season with the Harlem Globetrotters as one of the greatest dribblers in team history. Since joining the team in 1988, Johnson has displayed his unbelievable dribbling style in 71 different countries and every continent. He was nicknamed "Boo" by his father, who one day dreamed of his son becoming a Harlem Globetrotter. In 1990, he received the keys to the City of Peoria as the Mayor proclaimed it Curley "Boo" Johnson Dayon Feb. 10. As a Globetrotter, Johnson had the privilege to meet Mother Teresa and South African President Nelson Mandela. Johnson converted nine consecutive three-point baskets in the second half of a Globetrotters game in Bourg En Bresse, France in 1997. Johnson was the recipient of the Globetrotter Legacy Award, a commemorative ring honoring the excellence of athletes who have played more than three years. His teammates and coaches for representing the true Globetrotter spirit named following the 1998 tour, "Boo", "Mr. Globetrotter". He earned a degree in marketing at Loras and made the Dean's List on numerous occasions.I also had the honor of speaking with Sharavjamts "Shark" Tserenjanhor (pronounced Sar-in-jong-car), who is the first-ever player from Mongolia to sign a contract to play professional basketball in the United States. When I asked him how he felt being the first and only player from Mongolia on the team he replied, "It's nice, I've had the opportunity to join the team in breaking barriers throughout the history." I also asked him if he had to try out and he replied, "Yes, I had to try out, everybody does." The following information is reported from the Globetrotters official website about Tserenjanhor. Tserenjanhor speaks fluent English, and is also the first player from his country to join the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. The 29-year-old "Shark" came to the Globetrotters by recommendation of former Louisiana State Head Coach Dale Brown. Shark and his teammates were honored at the 2003 Las Vegas Comedy Festival, when the Globetrotters were awarded with the first Comedy In Sports Award. Shark spent all of his down time during the 2001-2002 World Tour studying for the Mongolian Bar Exam. After passing a rigorous series of tests, Shark can now practice law in his homeland of Mongolia. His goal is to one day become a senator of Mongolia. Shark first began playing basketball at age 17. He is the tallest man in his home country and has been labeled the "Michael Jordan" of Mongolia. Although not technically a landmark, Shark says he is looking forward to visiting Alaska as a Harlem Globetrotter. He has seen photos of the beautiful scenery and it reminds him of his home in Mongolia.See the full content of this document
Extract
The Harlem Globetrotters Destined to Stay in the Limelight
They've done it again! The Harlem Globetrotters have proven that they are one classy show and destined to stay in the limelight! It was hilarious, it was fun, and it was exciting, all at once. There is so much that I could say about the Globetrotters that I'm actually at a lost for words. Their show was simply, remarkable; dribbling three balls all at once, dunking on 12-foot rims, it was by far, the best show I've seen in a long time and it is actually appropriate for the entire family. The event was held Sunday, March 4 at the Miami Arena.
As the show began, all you could hear was the resonant sound of, "Globie, Globie, Globie", as all the little kids chanted the n...See the full content of this document
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