Meadowlark Lemon Passes Away

[docrugby1]

Meadowlark Lemon , the Clown Prince of the Harlem Globetrotters , died yesterday. He was an amazing ambassador for the game and a great entertainer.

My dad took me to the Trenton Armory to see The Globetrotters and it was one of the best nights of my childhood. Wilt Chamberlain was on the team and his thunderous dunks , choreographed as they were, were awe inspiring.

The antics of the other Globetrotters were pure fun for kids and adults alike but Meadowlark's constant bantering and crazy passing skills stole the show. He was a great player as well as a comedian.

Anyone who saw Meadowlark in his prime had a once in a lifetime experience to see basketball's greatest entertainer.

60 years later, I can't remember if Red Klotz and The Washington Generals were the opponents that night but it was a great show and although I saw The Globetrotters many times afterwards, that first night was the best

 

[NJCat83588]

Meadowlark Lemon , the Clown Prince of the Harlem Globetrotters , died yesterday. He was an amazing ambassador for the game and a great entertainer.

My dad took me to the Trenton Armory to see The Globetrotters and it was one of the best nights of my childhood. Wilt Chamberlain was on the team and his thunderous dunks , choreographed as they were, were awe inspiring.

The antics of the other Globetrotters were pure fun for kids and adults alike but Meadowlark's constant bantering and crazy passing skills stole the show. He was a great player as well as a comedian.

Anyone who saw Meadowlark in his prime had a once in a lifetime experience to see basketball's greatest entertainer.

60 years later, I can't remember if Red Klotz and The Washington Generals were the opponents that night but it was a great show and although I saw The Globetrotters many times afterwards, that first night was the best

I saw the Trotters play at Firestone High School in Akron. Magic night. They were bigger than the NBA back then. Great showmen and ambassadors.

 

[Medill90]

Here's what I don't get. Meadowlark would make a half court shot every game. Sometimes he's need two attempts. And on rare, rare occasions he'd need three. Curly Neal would provide comic relief in between shots.

But how do you make a half court shot on demand in front of a full house every time?

 

[willycat]

Here's what I don't get. Meadowlark would make a half court shot every game. Sometimes he's need two attempts. And on rare, rare occasions he'd need three. Curly Neal would provide comic relief in between shots.

But how do you make a half court shot on demand in front of a full house every time?

Well as Wilt Chamberlain said, he was the greatest BB player of all time.

 

[shakes3858]

Here's what I don't get. Meadowlark would make a half court shot every game. Sometimes he's need two attempts. And on rare, rare occasions he'd need three. Curly Neal would provide comic relief in between shots.

But how do you make a half court shot on demand in front of a full house every time?

I don't think you realize just how good of shooters guys are when they're playing on the NBA level. Dan Majerle is now a commentator and he does this before every game:

 

[docrugby1]

Most people think The Harlem Globetrotters were from New York City but actually Harlem refers to Chicago's Harlem Avenue

 

[willycat]

Most people think The Harlem Globetrotters were from New York City but actually Harlem refers to Chicago's Harlem Avenue

Not sure about that, since the original guys who formed the team came from the Southside and Phillip's HS. Another fact is that they played their first game in Huntley, Illinois HS gym. They are scheduled to play there again on 1/7 and I tried to get tickets but they are all sold out. Think about it, the Harlem name is likely taken from the NYC neighborhood and not from Harlem Av. which is 7200 west and boarding a bunch of suburbs.

 

[NJCat83588]

Most people think The Harlem Globetrotters were from New York City but actually Harlem refers to Chicago's Harlem Avenue

From Wikipedia:

"Hinckley, Illinois, was home to the first Harlem Globetrotters game on January 7, 1927.[5] In 1928, several players left the team in a dispute over bringing back other players who had left the team. That fall, several players led by Tommy Brookins formed a team called the "Globe Trotters" that toured Southern Illinois that spring. Abe Saperstein became involved with the team as its manager and promoter. By 1929 Saperstein was touring Illinois and Iowa with his basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters." Saperstein decided to pick Harlem as their home city, since Harlem was considered the center of African-American culture at the time and an out-of-town team name would give the team more of a mystique.[6] After four decades, the Globetrotters played their first "home" game in Harlem in 1968."

 

[willycat]

From Wikipedia:

"Hinckley, Illinois, was home to the first Harlem Globetrotters game on January 7, 1927.[5] In 1928, several players left the team in a dispute over bringing back other players who had left the team. That fall, several players led by Tommy Brookins formed a team called the "Globe Trotters" that toured Southern Illinois that spring. Abe Saperstein became involved with the team as its manager and promoter. By 1929 Saperstein was touring Illinois and Iowa with his basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters." Saperstein decided to pick Harlem as their home city, since Harlem was considered the center of African-American culture at the time and an out-of-town team name would give the team more of a mystique.[6] After four decades, the Globetrotters played their first "home" game in Harlem in 1968."

That's says it all. Thanks

 

[Ubermorgen]

Saw Lemon play 3 or 4 times. Always amazing. Charismatic infectious smile.