FRESNO, CA—Twist, twirl and dunk –that’s what historically describes the athletic theatrics of the Harlem Globetrotters who will be in Fresno Jan. 12th. Fans are never worried about who wins, or scores in the game, it’s all about the cool basketball tricks that intrigue the masses and make the crowd roar with laughter.
So where did the exhibition basketball team Harlem Globetrotters begin?
Ironic to the name, the Harlem Globetrotters did not play in Harlem, New York until 1968, four decades after the team's formation. Here’s a quick history note from Wikipedia:
The Globetrotters originated on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, in the 1920s, where all the original players were raised. The Globetrotters began as the Savoy Big Five, one of the premier attractions of the Savoy Ballroom which opened in November, 1927as a basketball team of African-American players who played exhibitions before dances.
In 1928, several players left the team in a dispute. That autumn, several of the players, led by Tommy Brookins, formed a team called the "Globe Trotters" and toured Southern Illinois that spring. Abe Saperstein became involved with the team as its manager and promoter.
By 1929, Saperstein was touring Illinois and Iowa with his basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters". Saperstein selected Harlem, New York, New York, as their home city since Harlem was considered the center of African-American culture at the time and an out-of-town team name would give the team more of a mystique.[2]
More show than competition, the superior talent of the Globetrotters today is why they have played in more than 26,000 exhibition games in 122 countries and territories, and now they will be coming to Fresno, CA, Jan 12th. Buy tickets here.