Globetrotters Coming to SWOSU

WEATHERFORD -- Celebrating the 81st consecutive season of barnstorming across North America, the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their 2007 “Nothing Like It” Tour to Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The Globetrotters and their traveling team, the New York Nationals, will take to the floor Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Rankin Williams Fieldhouse beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets prices begin as low as $20 with even a greater discount for groups of 10 or more. A limited number of courtside seats will also be made available for $50. They can be purchases by calling the SWOSU Athletic Ticket office at 580-774-3068.

The Globetrotters combines athleticism and comedy to create one of the best-known sports entertainment franchises in the world. Their acts often feature incredible coordination and skillful handling of one or more basketballs, such as passing or juggling balls between players, balancing or spinning balls on their fingertips, and making unusual, difficult shots.

“We are excited to be able to bring this type of quality family entertainment to SWOSU and the Weatherford community,” Cecil Perkins, director of athletics, said. “Many people have grown up watching the Globetrotters on TV and now have a chance to see them in person.”

Among the players who have been Globetrotters are NBA (National Basketball Association) greats Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain, Connie “The Hawk” Hawkins and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, as well as Marques Haynes, George “Meadowlark” Lemon, Jerome James, former Temple coach John Chaney, and Reece “Goose” Tatum. Another popular team member in the 1970s and 1980s was Fred “Curly” Neal who was the best dribbler of that era of the team’s history and was immediately recognizable due to his shaven head. Baseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson, Ferguson Jenkins and Lou Brock also played for the team at one time or another. Another famous former player is comedy legend Bill Cosby who had a contract with the Globetrotters when he was younger.

In 1985, the Globetrotters signed their first female player, Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard, and their second, Joyce Walker, just three weeks later.

Over the years the Globetrotters have toured more than 100 countries, playing more than 20,000 exhibition games in front of Popes, presidents, kings, queens, celebrities and military troops.