THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
The Harlem Globetrotters by Josh Wilker
Bookshare Date November 20, 2009
By Devari Ford
The Harlem Globetrotters by Josh Wilker
Bookshare Date November 20, 2009
By Devari Ford
The Harlem Globetrotters were founded in 1926 in Chicago by Abe Saperstein. Abe Saperstein grew up watching black boys play basketball in the streets of Chicago. Their talent impressed Saperstein, so he thought about a pro team for black players. At the time they weren't allowed to play on the all white professional teams. Abe Saperstein was only five-foot-three and had been a basketball player himself. Abe Saperstein
named the boys"Savoy Big Five" because they played their games in Chicago's Savoy Ballroom. They played several games with that name. Back in those days they didn't have home courts, so they just traveled around.
Their name changed to Saperstein's New York Globetrotters to Harlem New York Globetrotters. Then they decided to have their name as the Harlem Globetrotters since they grew up in Harlem. On January 7th 1927, they played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois with sport Jerseys having "New York" written on them to make people think it was where they came from. Living in the United States, they had to deal with a lot of prejudice. When they were on the road, it was hard for them to eat in the restaurants because they were black. In a lot of cities, they had to play two games a day. One was for the white people and the other was for the blacks.
In the 1940's, the Harlem Globetrotters beat the Chicago Bruins at the World Tournament, winning the National Pro Title. In 1950, their coach booked a tour to Western Europe and North Africa. In 1952, they played for the Pope. They also played before Kings, Queens, Princes, and Sultans over the years.
In 1966, their coach Abe Saperstein died, and in 1967 the Globetrotters were sold to three Chicago businessmen. In 1969, after 9,500 games in 42 years, the Globetrotters made their first appearance in Harlem, New York, at Intermediate School 201. In 1970, they began appearing in the Harlem Globetrotters Show, and Harlem Globetrotter Popcorn Machine and Show. They were called the Ambassadors of goodwill by President Gerald Ford.
On December 6th 1974, they went to the White House to receive a Presidential citation from Gerald Ford. In the 1980's, the teams popularity started slowing down, so in 1985 they added women to the team.
In 1993, a businessman named Mannie Jackson bought the Harlem Globetrotters to get them back popular. The teams 70th Anniversary was in 1997 and they showed no signs of ever slowing down again.
The Harlem Globetrotters are an all black team who travel around the world and have played in 115 countries for 120 million fans. They had 20,000 victories and only 332 losses and the only team that played so many games. On July 23, 2007, the only original Halem Globetrotter passed away in Midland, Texas. He died at the age of eighty-five.
To this day, the Harlem Globetrotters continue to travel around the world lighting up the hearts of the young and old people with their talent and sporting skills. I chose this book because I want to become a Professional Basketball Player when I grow up and I wanted to learn more about basketball skills. This story was very interesting because it taught me about team effort and never to give up on my dream.
named the boys"Savoy Big Five" because they played their games in Chicago's Savoy Ballroom. They played several games with that name. Back in those days they didn't have home courts, so they just traveled around.
Their name changed to Saperstein's New York Globetrotters to Harlem New York Globetrotters. Then they decided to have their name as the Harlem Globetrotters since they grew up in Harlem. On January 7th 1927, they played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois with sport Jerseys having "New York" written on them to make people think it was where they came from. Living in the United States, they had to deal with a lot of prejudice. When they were on the road, it was hard for them to eat in the restaurants because they were black. In a lot of cities, they had to play two games a day. One was for the white people and the other was for the blacks.
In the 1940's, the Harlem Globetrotters beat the Chicago Bruins at the World Tournament, winning the National Pro Title. In 1950, their coach booked a tour to Western Europe and North Africa. In 1952, they played for the Pope. They also played before Kings, Queens, Princes, and Sultans over the years.
In 1966, their coach Abe Saperstein died, and in 1967 the Globetrotters were sold to three Chicago businessmen. In 1969, after 9,500 games in 42 years, the Globetrotters made their first appearance in Harlem, New York, at Intermediate School 201. In 1970, they began appearing in the Harlem Globetrotters Show, and Harlem Globetrotter Popcorn Machine and Show. They were called the Ambassadors of goodwill by President Gerald Ford.
On December 6th 1974, they went to the White House to receive a Presidential citation from Gerald Ford. In the 1980's, the teams popularity started slowing down, so in 1985 they added women to the team.
In 1993, a businessman named Mannie Jackson bought the Harlem Globetrotters to get them back popular. The teams 70th Anniversary was in 1997 and they showed no signs of ever slowing down again.
The Harlem Globetrotters are an all black team who travel around the world and have played in 115 countries for 120 million fans. They had 20,000 victories and only 332 losses and the only team that played so many games. On July 23, 2007, the only original Halem Globetrotter passed away in Midland, Texas. He died at the age of eighty-five.
To this day, the Harlem Globetrotters continue to travel around the world lighting up the hearts of the young and old people with their talent and sporting skills. I chose this book because I want to become a Professional Basketball Player when I grow up and I wanted to learn more about basketball skills. This story was very interesting because it taught me about team effort and never to give up on my dream.
