While Jeremy Lin may be the talk of basketball nowadays, he still has a long way to go before matching the longevity of the Harlem Globetrotters. The modern incarnation of the Globetrotters have been dribbling and dazzling crowds to the tune of Sweet Georgia Brown since 1929, and in 2012 they are still going strong with North American shows scheduled well into April. While the NBA may have the lion’s share of hype in the basketball world, the longevity and cultural impact of the Globetrotters is something to behold.
At the time of their inception in the 1920s, the Globetrotters were a social and cultural game-breaker in the pre-Civil Rights era in the United States. In a period where blacks were commonly referred to as second-class citizens, the athleticism and undeniable skills of the Globetrotters transcended norms and forced a change in attitudes regarding black athletes. Basketball today is a global sport with athletes and fans of all colors and creeds. While ‘Linsanity’ is the latest phenom in the sport, perhaps some of the credit for his emergence – and that of retired player Yao Ming – can be traced back to the days when the Harlem Globetrotters burst onto the court.
In 2005, a documentary chronicling the Globetrotters was released. You can see Part 1 here on YouTube:
What do you think has been the most significant contribution of the Globetrotters to the sport of basketball? What’s been your favorite trick shot that they’ve done over the years?
If you’d like to catch the Globetrotters on their 2012 tour, check out the list of dates on our website. ShowTimeTickets.com is your way to see all the best shows; we are never sold out!