Harlem Globetrotters
In 1927 Abe Saparstein purchased the "Savoy Big Five," a team in the Negro American Legion League, and renamed them the Harlem Blobetrotters after the famous African-American neighborhood. aauseThe Globetrotters were initially a seriously competitive team, playing and beating premier professional teams like the Minneapolis Lakers. When the NBA started allowing black players in 1950, the Globetrotters found it increasingly difficult to attract top talent.
Thus, the Harlem Globetrotters worked comic routines into their act and became known as much for entertainment as for sport. The Globetrotters worked skillful ballhandling and incredibly difficult passing, juggliing, and balancing of the ball into the show and quickly became known for such antics.
Because nearly all of the players were black and because of the buffonery involved in many Globetrotter acts, they have drawn some criticism from such places as the Civil Rights movement. The players were accused of "Tomming for Abe," a reference to Uncle Tom and Globetrotters owner Abe Saparstein. Black leaders such as Jesse Jackson, though, defend the Harlem Globetrotters saying, "I think they've been a positive influence. They don't show blacks as stupid. On the contrary they were shown as superior."
Among players who have been Harlem Globetrotters are NBA greats Wilt Chamberlain and "Goose" Tatum, as well as former Temple University head coach John Chaney.
For over seven decades the Harlem Globetrotters have impacted the sport of basketball around the world. The Blobetrotters were instrumental in the development of the fast-break offense, the slam dunk, the development of a scouting system to recruit players, and introduced the figure-eight "weave" offense. The Globetrotters have played over 20,000 games in over 100 countries, a testament to the far-reaching impact this legendary team has had.