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The Harlem Globetrotters Take Over Brooklyn!

Harlem Globetrotters Photo Credit: Unknown Harlem Globetrotters

Excitement and anticipation was in the air when the Harlem Globetrotters came to Brooklyn and entertained thousands at the Barclay Center as part of the 2014 "Fans Rule" World Tour. The event was sponsored by Hojo, the official hotel partner of the Harlem Globetrotter, Greyhound, and Wonderful Pistachios. All the proceeds from the event went to World vision, an organization with a mission to help families around the world who are in poverty.

The pre-show started with the Harlem Globetrotter's mascot, Goldie, running on the court and receiving a loud reception from the crowd. Goldie and a couple of young children participated in musical chairs, freeze dance, and a dunking contest. The crowd stood on their feet as children from IS 228, the David A. Boody Middle School in Brooklyn, sang the national anthem. The Harlem Globetrotters came out and started their fancy basketball spinning and dribbling tricks against their opponents the All-Stars. The current roster of Globetrotters who entertained the crowd were Woody, Bull, Ant, Hot-Shot, Doc, Hawk, Titan, Turbo, and T-Time Brawner (who is the 10th female in history to join the Harlem Globetrotters). The coach for the Harlem Globetrotters was Barry Hardy, who played for the team for six years before coaching the Globetrotters for the past eight years.

They started dancing to old school music. Ant gave a little history about the Harlem Globetrotters, stating that they have been around for 88 years. They made fun of the All-Stars and the referee throughout the entire game. They called the referee Sherlock Holmes and made hilarious references to his bald head. Doc and Hawk made the first couple of points with some fancy dunks. The coach for the All-Stars dared the Globetrotters to perform trick challenges throughout the whole game. Bull passed the first challenge when he hung on the rim, threw the ball in the air with his feet and dunked the ball. T-Time ran on the court and made a quick pass for a monster dunk by one of the Globetrotters. She then showed a girl from the audience how to spin a basketball on her finger before showing off some nice ball moves against the All-Stars.

Woody missed his trick shot challenge when he attempted to make a layup while the ball was spinning on his finger. Turbo passed his challenge with dunking two balls at the same time. The second quarter started and the Globetrotters gave the All-Stars a balloon to make fouls shots. The crowd was loud with laughter as the balloon ended up in the air. Ant covered his face with a SpongeBob Squarepants mask and pulled down the shorts of one of the All-Stars . He then Jumps up on the top of the basket and is told by the ref to get down. Old school music start playing and all the Globetrotters begin to dance. Turbo made a 4-point basket near the middle of the court. The second quarter ended 61-59 All-Stars.

Young boys and girls from In the Spotlight Dance Studio and the ASL Club of IS 302, the Rafael Cordero School from Brooklyn entertained the audience during halftime with dance performances. The second half started and Hot Shot made a 360 dunk with the ball between his legs as part of his trick shot challenge. Ant continued to show off his shooting skills by making three 4-pointers in a row. The team then did the Harlem Shake. Ant passed his trick shot challenge when Bull and Hawk lifted him to the rim to dunk the basketball. The Globetrotters chose an 8-year old boy from the audience to make a basket so they could get Five (5) extra points, or if he misses then the All Stars would get the extra points. After two misses, the third time was a charm as the young boy made a basket, giving the Globetrotter the extra points. Toward the end of the game the Globetrotters continued to show off their fancy dunks and comedic antics against the All- Stars. The Harlem Globetrotters won the game 112-105.

Basketball, entertainment, plus a good cause equals fun. The Harlem Globetrotters brought all three ingredients to Brooklyn used the Barclay Center as a pot to mix everything together to serve fun for the fans of Brooklyn and beyond.