Harlem cagers a special breed

MANILA, Philippines - Harlem Globetrotter players aren’t just exceptional cagers. They’re also wholesome entertainers and warm persons who easily connect with fans from all walks of life.

“It’s not easy to become a Globetrotter,” said Harlem international basketball manager Bobby Dulle during a recent visit to Manila to promote the Trotters’ three-game series on May 24-25 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“We organize tryout camps all over the US to choose players then those who survive the initial cut undergo a battery of interviews. They go through workshops where they learn about social consciousness, how to relate with media, what to do on and off the court. It could take up to six months to graduate a Globetrotter.”

The Globies tradition of comedy basketball dates back to 1926 and as an institution, the Harlem team has been enshrined in the James Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Connie Hawkins, Bill Cosby and Lynette Woodard were among the stars to suit up for the Trotters.

At least two movies and a cartoon TV series on the Trotters have been produced to affirm their world-wide popularity. Every year, two Harlem teams travel to play over 350 games in more than 50 countries.

Today, the Harlem players are in the mold of Globies legends such as Marques Haynes, Geese Ausbie, Goose Tatum, Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal.

“Most of our players are Division I veterans and they can play anywhere they want to in the world,” said Dulle. “They’re guys with a lot of character. They love the game and also love to entertain. If you’re not a good player, a good entertainer or a good person, you don’t fit.”

Writer L. Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated described the Trotters as “exceptionally talented players but to a man, they are also performers, improvisation specialists with irrepressible personalities, smiles all but carved onto their faces.”

Although the Globies are capable of playing a straight competitive game, they inject a lot of fun and antics when going up against the Washington Generals, their comic foils.

“The Generals are always out to disrupt our act,” said Harlem guard Buckets Blakes who flew in to promote the tour during the PBA All-Star Week last month. “We try to play just about as perfect as we can get. It takes a lot of hard work and practice to do what we do on the court. You need basketball skills, athletic ability and a funny bone. It’s all part of an entertaining basketball show.”

Off the floor, the Trotters are involved in their own character-based education program called CHEER which stands for the traits of cooperation, honesty, effort, enthusiasm, respect and responsibility.

The Trotters will play the Generals in three games at the Big Dome – at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, and at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 25.

Heading the nine-man lineup is 6-10 Nate (Big Easy) Lofton of Southeastern Louisiana. He’s the “showman” of the team, the goof-ball who’ll do all sorts of tricks to get the Generals’ goat. But as a serious player, Lofton averaged 13.2 points and 10.9 rebounds in his junior year at Southeastern Louisiana in 2003-04.

Others in the cast are 6-8 Anthony (Airport) Greenup of Shaw College, 5-10 Keiron (Sweet Pea) Shine of Memphis, 6-6 Willie (Slick) Shaw of St. John’s, 6-5 Jermaine (Hi-Rise) Brown of Mankato State, 7-3 Shagari (Skyscraper) Alleyne of Kentucky, 6-3 Hubert (Flight Time) Lang of Centenary College, 6-2 Chris (Handles) Franklin of Lock Haven and 6-2 Derick (General) Grant of New Jersey.