The Team the Changed the World

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

The Team the Changed the World

I had a chance to see a wonderful documentary on PBS last night, “The Team that Changed the World”. Of course, this is the story of the Harlem Globetrotters . To me, they have always been a funny bit, with the confetti and the gags, but I had no idea the importance they played in the course of sports history, and more importantly, the course of sports racial history.

A real interesting hour of television, including footage of the Trotters playing games in bull rings and in the bottom of an empty swimming pool (I kid you not). Also, they discussed how back in the day, it was thought that blacks could not play basketball because “they could not jump” (again, I kid you not).

I have to tell you, nothing has improved a sport more than finally allowing the Black Man into the game of basketball. White guys play at a different height and speed, and the game I love was not built because of the two-handed set shot. Thanks goodness, the Globetrotters opened our eyes to what this sport could be.

I looked all over to find out when or if it will be replayed, but so far have not found anything, so you are on your own. But try to find it if you can.

Here is a Arizona Republic Review of the Documentary …

And, another from the Baltimore Sun …

NBA commissioner David Stern gives the Globetrotters - who have visited 117 countries - credit for spreading basketball's popularity worldwide.

In 1948, the Globetrotters, led by Marques Haynes and Goose Tatum, took on the fearsome Minneapolis Lakers, whose big man, George Mikan, was "the Shaq of his day," according to Phil Jackson, who has coached nine NBA championship teams. The Globetrotters won a fierce game, 61-59, on a last-second shot by Ermer Robinson.

In some ways, the world really did change after that. The Globetrotters defeated the Lakers again in 1949, and a year later, the NBA opened its doors to its first three black players, including former Globetrotter Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton.