Recently I had the pleasure to head over to the 369th Harlem Armory to get a sneak peak at one of my childhood favorites, The Harlem Globetrotters. As a kid I was a huge fan, having gone to Madison Square Garden a few times to see them play and getting excited when I caught a rerun of their cartoon series on t.v.

So when I was invited to go see them play and perform as they kicked off their World Tour I couldn’t say no. It had been so long. It was exciting and fun from beginning to end.

The court at the Armory was filled with Elementary school kids and their teachers, all from neighboring schools, that had been invited to join in on the fun.

The Harlem Globetrotters where playing against their arch-rivals, The Washington Generals. Almost immediately the kids really got into the game, cheering and booing along with Wilt “The Silt” Chamberlain. I couldn’t help but laugh watching the little ones get worked up if they saw the other team trying to trick the Harlem Globetrotters out of a score!

As a child, I was enthralled by the agility and skills of the players, as an adult and parent, I am impressed by the history of the team and their involvement in good will efforts and in the community. The Harlem Globetrotters first appeared in the 1930s, introducing the sport to many around the U.S. It was a Harlem Globetrotter, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton who became the first African-American to sign a contract with the NBA becoming a player for the Knicks. It was the Globetrotters who first accepted a female, Olympic Gold Medalist Lynette Woodard, to play on a men’s professional basketball team.

The list of what they have done and accomplished is a really long one, but even longer is the list of kids whose lives they have touched and who they make smile at each game.

Hotshot Branch, me, Handles Franklin

I had a chance to sit with a few of the team members while watching the game, and can honestly say they truly are the sweetest guys one could ever meet. They really love the game, love what they do, but most of all really, really love the reactions they get from the kids and other fans.

I am looking forward to the Harlem Globetrotters playing in Madison Square Garden in mid-February. This is a wonderful family activity, something everyone would enjoy. They are awesome performers, awesome players, and it’s none stop fun. Kids also get a kick out of watching their team mascot, Globie.

Below are dates for games closest to NY/NJ area.  You can also take advantage of some presale plus 15% offers through Madison Square Garden. Click here and use code MSGINSIDER for discounts!

If you’re in NY, I hope you’ll join me in February at Madison Square Garden to watch all the fun brought to us by this iconic team so representative of New York and one if its most historical neighborhoods, Harlem.

Globetrotter 2010 NY tour dates

Friday, February 12, 2010

7:00pm Madison Square Garden

Saturday, February 13, 2010

1:00pm East Rutherford, NJ- IZOD Center

Saturday, February 12, 2010

7:30pm Newark, NJ- Prudential Center

Sunday, February 14, 2010

1:00pm East Rutherford, NJ- IZOD Center

Monday, February 15, 2010 (President’s Day)

11:00 am and 3:00pm Uniondale, NY- Nassau Coliseum

Photos courtesy of Coyne Public Relations.