Basket-Tainment: World Famous Harlem Globetrotters Return to FSU
It was a back and forth game. Actually, it was much more than that.
The Harlem Globetrotters visited Bobcat Arena for a match-up against the Washington Generals Monday, Feb. 24th as a stop on the Pushing the Limits World Tour. The Globetrotters topped the Generals 71-67, proving why they own the best winning percentage in all sports.
1,100 tickets were sold to Globetrotters return to Frostburg State University. The team first visited the institution in 1981.
The night kicked off with the kids shooting hoops on the court, before DJ Dub, Louisiana’s finest, took to the court. After introducing Globie, the team’s mascot, DJ Dub brought a family down to the court for a game: the dad and son teamed up against the mom and daughter. Each duo had to run to half court, dribble the basketball, and make a basket before passing it off to their teammate. They were each rewarded with Harlem Globetrotter armbands for their participation. Then, two kids in attendance participated in Tic-Tac-Toe “Globetrotter style” before the Kids Slam Dunk contest took place. “Everyone is a winner in a Globetrotter game,” DJ Dub commented. Before the true fun started, two adults from the audience competed in the Carnival Cruise Choose Fun competition with beach balls and an inflatable hoop.
Before announcing the teams, there was a moment of celebration for the 10th year of the 4-point line. Invented in 2010 by the Globetrotters, the 4-point line is 30 feet from the hoop, a little over 6 feet beyond the NBA’s 3-point line.
As the crowd grew louder with anticipation, the players from the Harlem Globetrotters were announced. X-Over Tompkins, Dragon Taylor, Bulldog Mack, Crash Orman, Sweet Lou II Dunbar, Bionic Brooks, Scooter Christensen, TNT Lister, and Money Merriweather entered the arena – each doing their own unique entry when called. There was Scooter twerking, Money answering his cash phone, and Sweet Lou II penguin sliding across the court.
Their energy was contagious as they took to the center circle to do their “Magic Circle” where each Globetrotter showed off their skills in the middle. The Globetrotters flung off their button-up pants and jackets revealing their game uniforms.
The Washington Generals entered the arena with the MC announcing them as “the most losingest team in sports history.” With a little smack-talk, the Washington Generals argued the title of the most losingest team. The Globetrotters asked Siri who the best team is, to have Siri reply, “statistically speaking, the Harlem Globetrotters are the best team.” When the dismay continued with Siri’s response, the Globetrotters had Siri repeat the response again, but slower as the team danced around like ballerinas.
Both teams warmed up and fans watched as the Globetrotters shot beyond half-court, spun before shooting, and shooting over their shoulders. Fans and athletes alike stood for the national anthem.
The anticipation grew for tip-off. The players finally took to the court as the game kicked off. The Globetrotters immediately lead by 2 off a dunk. Only a few minutes into the first quarter, Bulldog got hungry and grabbed a quick bite of popcorn from a fan in the audience. The Globetrotters took quick dance breaks throughout the game. With the score tied at 12, Bulldog passed the ball to the ref before exclaiming, “ref, you look like a big ole penguin,” drawing laughter from everyone in attendance.
About halfway through the first quarter, TNT brought a young girl to the court from the audience to “help push the limits” as she spun the ball on her finger. The team honored TNT for a moment as she is the 9th female to suit up for the Globetrotters in their 94-year history and returned to the team after giving birth to a baby girl.
TNT kept the energy going as she put away the first 4-pointer of the game as she tickled her opponent, reached between his legs, and put away the shot. The crowd erupted in “ay-oo’s” as prompted by the MC.
The first quarter ended with the Globetrotters ahead 23 to 22. During the break, Money shared his cash with the fans.
The second quarter was filled with fouls right after the whistle blew. Money dunked for 2, pushing the Globetrotters ahead. As the score went back in forth, the ref found the ball in his hands again with Bulldog explaining, “I gave you the ball because you were wide open” as the fans cracked up. Bulldog and the ref then took part in a dance battle around the paw in the center circle. Disney’s “Circle of Life” exploded through the speakers as Bulldog ran up the bleachers and picked up a child in attendance just as Simba is picked up in “The Lion King.”
“Give it up for baby Simba,” Bulldog exclaimed. “Everyone pick up your baby.”
The banter continued between the two teams as the lead switched hands. The next time Bulldog got the ball in his hands, he stopped the game and drew attention to the arm sleeves every Globetrotter had on.
The Globetrotters teamed up with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to raise awareness about mental health. “1 in 5 children suffer from a mental health disorder,” Bulldog explained. “Kids today are afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve. We need teamwork to make dreams work.”
With the Generals leading 34 to 33, the second quarter concluded and both teams headed to their locker rooms.
Frostburg’s own Kickmasters Karate starred as the halftime entertainment. Performing karate routines to popular songs like Billie Ellish’s “Bad Guy” and “The Greatest Show” from Hugh Jackman’s “The Greatest Showman,” the Kickmasters teams had the audience on the edge of their seats. During halftime, fans also were able to purchase Globetrotter gear from the merchandise booth.
As excitement grew for the players to come back to court, fans took their seats. The second half kicked off and the Generals went up 44-37. Sweet Lou II brought the score closer as he made the second 4-pointer of the game, followed by “ay-oo’s” from the crowd. The Globetrotters then got in a football formation as Crash suited up with a headset as Bulldog called the play, “Blue 4, Blue 16, Blue 18, hot route” before Money scored on a dunk.
TNT then scored her second 4-pointer of the game to bring the Globetrotters ahead 51-48. Bulldog then brought a young fan down to the court. After asking the fan how old he was, Bulldog proclaimed “When I was 11, I was your age,” earning some laughs from the fans. The young fan then took a shot blindfolded. Bulldog spun him around and encouraged him to “push the limits.” The young fan made his shot blindfolded and got an autographed Bulldog jersey. To celebrate the young fan’s success, Scooter brought him to the center circle and began twerking. Almost instantaneously, Bulldog ran over, saying “don’t teach my son how to twerk.” Once the fan returned to his seat, Bulldog attempted to take the longest half-court shot and missed.
In a turn of events, Bulldog took an elbow from a Generals player, prompting care from their athletic trainers. X-Over then subbed in. It only took a few moments for X-Over to score his first points, causing the crowd to go wild. TNT then got called from traveling, allowing for a break in the action. She offered the ref a snack as Money hopped out with his foot in a box – TNT says she brought the ref “a box of chocolate” and if that was too big, here came X-Over with his foot in a box as TNT claimed she brought it in “bite-size.” X-Over then dunked on a mini hoop Crash brought out for him.
All of the kids were able to come down to the court for a performance of the “YMCA.” The score was 64 to 54 heading into the fourth quarter with the Generals leading.
To start the fourth quarter, the 4-point line was extended 5 more feet. Scooter then scored from 35 feet, making the score 71 to 58. The Globetrotters were then down to four on the court as one player was missing – it was Dragon and he was up on the hoop. Waving from the hoop, Dragon smiles before saying he’s “hanging out with me and my hoop.” It then came to the surface that he was afraid of heights as his teammates pushed him to “be the ball” as he slid through the basket.
The Globetrotters gave t-shirts to the loudest fans. The athletic trainers told the fans Bulldog was out of the game with a shoulder injury. The game continued but quickly came to a halt as the Globetrotters disagreed with the ref’s out-of-bounds call. The Globetrotters then hit “rewind to decide whose ball it is” before jokingly threateningly to “send the ref back to Foot Locker.” As the Globetrotters hit rewind, the players went through their entire play in slow motion using a beach ball. X-Over enjoyed the play from the stands munching on popcorn with fans. It was then decided it was Globetrotters ball.
The Generals then bet the Globetrotters if they were to win, there wouldn’t be a fifth quarter autograph session for the fans, but if the Globetrotters win, there would be.
“We got a rewind play too,” the Generals said, as they tied up the score. Money then scored to give the Globetrotters a lead as he flung his cash all over the court. The Generals began to play dirty, fouling the Globetrotters nearly every play. With the Globetrotters trailing by 4 with a little over a minute left, Bulldog made an unpredicted return to the court. It took little to no time for Bulldog to roll the ball between his opponents’ legs to tie the score. Dragon scored making the score 71-67 in favor of the Globetrotters. Chants of “defense” erupt as Scooter steals the ball for Dragon who scores in the last second.
The Globetrotters proved once again why they are the winningest team in sports history with a come-from-behind victory. The fans went down to the court to get autographs from their new sports heroes.
For more on the Globetrotters, check out their website at https://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/.
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