The Harlem Globetrotters were in Morgantown, WV tonight. I had only seen them on television when I was a kid, but they were nearby, so I took my daughter.
What an absolutely great show. Funny as ever with the confetti as water and the rubber band foul shot, but plenty of updated gags. Most importantly they show that a great time can be had by adults and kids alike without using vulgarity or politicizing things. Just plain wholesome fun.
When I was a kid, the Washington Generals were just placeholders. There to be destroyed 112-48 by the mighty Trotters. This show had the Generals playing a prominent part. They showed a video before the game about how the Generals wanted to “reclaim” their greatness, supposedly consisting of one single victory over the Trotters in the 1970s. The video showed greedy owners smoking cigars and paying a bunch of cash to update their roster to get another win.
The Generals are introduced and their “coach” takes the microphone and says that his team will beat the Harlem Globetrotters “like Kentucky beat West Virginia in the Sweet 16.” Well, that obviously got the Morgantown crowd in a frenzy and it didn’t let up from there. He called us a bunch of losers just like the Globetrotters. Now we hated the Washington Generals.
After a series of comedic terrible calls, it was shown that the referee was a secret member of the 70s Generals team that beat the Trotters. Game was tied 80-80 at the end of regulation and went into “sudden death” overtime where the first team to score wins. The Generals make a pathetic layup attempt that was rejected and a full court pass to an open Trotter who tomahawk jams it home for the “win.” The place erupted and Sweet Georgia Brown blasted over the sound system.
Definitely a father/daughter moment for the ages. I recommend seeing them if they come to your town.
Sounds great! I saw the Trotters decades ago as a teenager. I didn’t realize they were still around (but of course they would be; why wouldn’t they be?).
Good, clean fun. Will have to keep an eye out for them.
I saw them a few times as a kid, always loved them.
I’m happy they’re still out there putting on great shows. Not sure if I like the sound of the new pageantry. Kinda sounds like they’re taking a cue from professional wrestling with the Generals coach playing the heel and the imposter referee. The tie score going into overtime sounds obviously scripted too.
As I always understood it in the classic days (and maybe I’m wrong), the Generals always played to win but the talent of the makeup of the teams was always weighted heavily in the Globetrotter’s favor. The Generals had to be good enough players to make for a good show and the Globetrotters, though filled with more talented team members, could never completely kick back and play without worry.
Maybe it was never that way, but that was always my understanding.
In fact, from the days when I was young and really into them and had a few years in a row of seeing them, I thought I had learned from Globetrotters trivia that the Generals had won a handful of times over the years- not just the once. According to the Wiki page for the Generals, it seems I’m wrong about that.
From looking at a few sites on the internet, it seems that the Generals were getting a non-significant fan following as the lovable losers and people were beginning to cheer for them. As you said, they played to win (except for when they had to lay down for the gags) and people generally root for the underdog. So, they had to do something about that.
It seems that this year, it is always set up for the Trotters to take a half-time shot at the buzzer with the game tied. If it is made, then Wow! Big buzzer beater! If not, then the sudden death overtime show. The Generals have a 4 to 5 point lead throughout the game but in the 4th, the Trotters come back to tie it. My guess is that the corrupt referee will call enough ludicrous fouls to allow the Generals to keep the game tied under the new show.
They also have the 4-point shot (4 circles on the court, 35 feet away) which can cut down leads in a hurry.
I’m wondering what would happen if a mishap occurred during the overtime where a General’s layup is accidentally tipped in…
They’d play to win when they’re on offense, but lay down for the Globetrotters to execute their hijinks when they’re supposed to be defending.
The Washington Generals are the subject of my favorite sports article of all times.
I’m a huge Washington Generals fan, just like my hero Krusty the Clown.
Krusty’s Accountant: Let me get this straight. You took all the money you made franchising your name and bet it against the Harlem Globetrotters?
Krusty the Clown: [miserable] Oh, I thought the Generals were due!
[watches the game on TV]
Krusty the Clown: He’s spinning the ball on his finger! Just take it! Take it!
[the Globetrotters score]
Krusty the Clown: That game was fixed! They were using a freakin’ ladder, for God’s sake!
