Harlem Globetrotters bring laughter, athleticism to audiences
Harlem Globetrotters games are known for their hijinks.
Shane "Scooter" Christensen has been with the Harlem Globetrotters for more than 10 years.
The Harlem Globetrotters have played in just about every arena in the United States.
Shane "Scooter" Christensen is a veteran member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
When Shane 无毛视频淪cooter无毛视频� Christensen graduated from the University of Montana in 2002, he hoped to embark on a career in professional basketball after being a standout on the school无毛视频檚 team.
It didn无毛视频檛 quite work out that way. But Christensen ended up landing a job on the court that无毛视频檚 been more enduring than probably anything he could have attained in the NBA.
Christensen was recruited for the Harlem Globetrotters, the long-running basketball squad that combines athleticism, showmanship, comedy and family-friendly fun. Formed almost a century ago not in Harlem but in Chicago to play exhibition games before dances, the Globetrotters have evolved into a beloved global brand. The Globetrotters have appeared in movies, had a regular presence in Saturday morning children无毛视频檚 television programming, and are the subject of a video game. Basketball greats like Wilt Chamberlain and Meadowlark Lemon have passed through the Globetrotters, and honorary members have included the likes of Nelson Mandela, Pope Francis and Henry Kissinger.
And, living up to their names, the Globetrotters have dribbled, passed and shot in just about every corner of the world, touching down in more than 100 countries. They will be at PPG Paints Arena next Monday for a traditional post-Christmas stop in Pittsburgh, replacing the strains of 无毛视频淪anta Claus is Coming to Town无毛视频� with 无毛视频淪weet Georgia Brown,无毛视频� the standard that has become the Globetrotters无毛视频� signature tune.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 the perfect Christmas gift for yourself, your friends, your loved ones,无毛视频� said Christensen, who is 44 and has been with the Globetrotters for more than a decade. 无毛视频淭here无毛视频檚 somebody out there who hasn无毛视频檛 seen the Globetrotters, or hasn无毛视频檛 heard of us, or they无毛视频檝e heard of us and they haven无毛视频檛 seen us play.无毛视频�
Aside from being in Pittsburgh that day, the Harlem Globetrotters will also be in Albany, N.Y. and Fort Wayne, Ind. That无毛视频檚 because the whole Globetrotters squad splits itself into three units for touring, and the team covers an immense amount of ground by doing so. It appears in both the biggest markets and smaller ones, too 无毛视频� New York and Boston see the Globetrotters, and so does Moline, Ill., and Regina, Saskatchewan.
In their appearances, the Globetrotters will go head-to-head with the Washington Generals, the hapless team they have faced for years on the court. It无毛视频檚 been said that perhaps a quarter of the game is 无毛视频渞eal,无毛视频� but the rest is played for fun, with the Globetrotters engaging in their trademark hijinks and skits. Aside from visiting sports arenas, individual Globetrotters also stop at elementary schools to offer students messages about hope, hard work and perseverance. The Globetrotters无毛视频� ranks now also includes women, with two female players in the current Globetrotters lineup.
无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檝e got to be a good basketball players and a Globetrotter second,无毛视频� Christensen said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a combination of both. Each one of us does something very special with that basketball.无毛视频�
He added, 无毛视频淏eing a Globetrotter is having the right attitude and helping to change somebody无毛视频檚 life with laughter and a smile. But, at the same time, we know what to do with that basketball.无毛视频�
Tickets or additional information on the Harlem Globetrotters is available at harlemglobetrotters.com.