The notorious Harlem Globetrotters are currently having their 2024 World Tour traveling to over 25 countries and 400 cities. One of those cities is Fayetteville.
Now is the chance to see them live at the Crown Colosseum on April 19 at 7 p.m. This part comedy show part basketball game is fun for the whole family, as they compete against the Washington Generals. The Crown Complex states on its website, “You’ll be amazed by new levels of mind-blowing trick shots, expert ball-handling skills, and big laughs with unrivaled opportunities for pre-game, post-game, and in-game fan engagement.”
Fans of the Harlem Globetrotters can purchase the VIP Bench Premium Ticket for the best Globetrotter fan experience possible. This premium ticket allows the ticketholder to sit on the player bench with the Harlem Globetrotters or the Washington Generals during the game. Fan engagement like this can't be beat. The Premium VIP Bench Ticket tickets are limited.
The Harlem Globetrotters have almost 100 years of groundbreaking history of basketball talent and quality comedy appropriate for all ages. According to their website, “The Globetrotters were socially influential and quickly became recognized as the world’s best basketball team, showing that African-Americans could excel on a professional level.”
They helped pioneer many aspects of basketball, including the iconic slam dunk. The team also started the figure-eight weave, the forward and point guard positions, and the fast break.
Victories of past members include Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton being the first African-American player to sign an NBA Contract, and the team receiving accolades from former Presidents Ford and Eisenhower. Another accomplishment is Olympic Gold Medalist Lynette Woodard joining the team in 1985, becoming the first woman to play on a men’s pro basketball team. Her presence as a member of the Globetrotters helped lead the path to the creation of the WNBA.
Two of the team players of the Harlem Globetrotters are North Carolinians. Angelo Sharpless, also known as “Spider Sharpless”, joined the basketball team in 2014 after playing for Elizabeth State University. He is from Plymouth, NC.
Sharpless has won Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in his career with the CIAA. He was also introduced to basketball and inspired to play by former Globetrotter Magic Johnson. Spider Sharpless’s favorite quote is “I’m closer to my goal than I was yesterday, so keep working forward.”
Another native to North Carolina is Zavian “Sky” Jackson, who is from the town of Burlington. He has won four awards in his career: Triad NC All-Star 2016, Top 100 Junior College Player in the Nation in 2017, Queen City Pro-Am Slam Dunk Champion twice, and Offensive Player Of The Year HS, in 2016. Before becoming a Harlem Globetrotter, he played for the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. According to his bio, he wrote that he “joined the Globetrotters to impact people’s lives through laughter and the game of basketball…to be a part of an almost 100-year tradition, it’s a beautiful feeling!”
For tickets, visit https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/detail/harlem-globetrotters-2024-world-tour or call the Crown Coliseum’s ticket office at 910-438-4100.