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Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Wire
The World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters Unveil New Logo for Historic 100th Season
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leaders in breaking barriers and making history for almost 100 years, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters ™ today announced its official countdown by unveiling their 100th Centennial brand logo. The Globetrotter logo, designed by Matt Lehman Studio of Nashville, Tennessee, will serve as a key creative link for the organization as the full plans for the Centennial take place. 'We wanted to find the balance of past, present, and future in a fresh new look that was both unique and exciting, whilst paying homage to the many men and women players that have honored us as Globetrotters. We believe this Centennial logo delivers on all fronts,' said Keith Dawkins, President, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios. 'This mark will connect all of the consumer touchpoints centered around our 100 year anniversary plans. It's a unifying principle that helps to bring this historic moment to life.' The new logo proudly displays the organization's signature red, white and blue color scheme, with five stars, symbolizing the original five members of the Globetrotters, who were Walter 'Toots' Wright, Byron 'Fat' Long, Willis 'Kid' Oliver, Andy Washington, and Al 'Runt' Pullins. The dates for when the team was founded in Illinois in 1926 and next year's official anniversary, 2026, are also on display. The organization's iconic red, white and blue ball sits in the middle of the logo, serving as a link to past, present, and future. The block letters used throughout the logo, which has a 3D component to it as well, symbolize the lettering from some of the organization's early game programs, which were, and continue to be, high quality memorabilia for fans of all ages. Additional details on partnerships, special event, commemorative memorabilia, media activity and other elements of The Centennial will be announced in the coming weeks. ABOUT THE WORLD-FAMOUS HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS™ / HERSCHEND ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS The Harlem Globetrotters™ are THE originators of basketball style; captured by their dynamic athleticism, unique skill and historical influence on the modern game of basketball. Since 1926, the Globetrotters, proud members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, have used their legendary global tour to showcase their iconic brand of basketball to tens of millions in over 124 countries and territories across six continents. They have expanded the brand by coming back to network television for the first time in 40 years with their Emmy nominated NBC series 'Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward' which also airs on Telemundo as 'Harlem Globetrotters: Ganando Con La Comunidad.' Content partners include Hidden Pictures, Atmosphere TV, and Hearts Media Production Group; consumer partnerships include, Sprayground, Undercrwn, Macys, Hybrid; and additional partnerships include our official tour partner Jersey Mikes, official ball partner, Spalding, Viral Nation, Hoopculture, and Citi. Coined by the U.S. State Department in 1951 as Ambassadors of Goodwill, the team leverages their moniker to drive its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts around their strategic pillars of Health & Wellness, Education, and Community Empowerment. These efforts have yielded partnership with the likes of Microsoft, U.S. State Department Sports Diplomacy, The National Archives, 'Great Assist' in partnership with Jersey Mike's Subs, Campus Multimedia Court of Creativity, and Comic Relief Red Nose Day. For more information about the Harlem Globetrotters™ and the Tour, visit the Globetrotters' official website: The Harlem Globetrotters™ is a subsidiary of Herschend, the largest family-owned themed attractions company. ABOUT MATT LEHMAN STUDIO Matt Lehman began his career in 2001 at Anderson Design Group in Nashville. It was there that he once laid out packaging for a cassette. In 2007, he joined CMT / MTV Networks focusing on show identities and the network rebrand in 2009. During his tenure there, he worked on the visuals for a NASCAR DVD and two Toby Keith movies. He has skeletons in his closet just like everyone else. In 2010 he formed Matt Lehman Studio working for brands such as ESPN, Delta, PepsiCo, The Atlantic, Esquire, Nickelodeon and NASA to name a few.
New York Times
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How a Polish Harlem Globetrotter literally trotted the globe to become a megastar
(Editor's note: Throughout the week, The Athletic highlighted the Harlem Globetrotters and their contributions to basketball, vision for entertainment and overall commitment to goodwill.) All he wanted was a picture. When Pawel Kidoń attended his first Harlem Globetrotters game in Poland in 2019, the ticket being a gift for his 21st birthday, all he wanted was a photograph upon leaving Tauron Arena Kraków was any of the players willing to lend their time. He had a Magic Pass ticket, allowing fans to meet the Globetrotters 90 minutes before tipoff, and his girlfriend had her phone ready for a photo. Advertisement Kidoń had practiced tricks with his basketball for years after discovering the Globetrotters on the internet. He'd watched the players, world travelers and basketball icons on a global stage. But he also knew his own skill set. If he could get that one picture with a player, his birthday would have been complete. Kidoń left the arena with a lot more than a photograph. He left with the respect of some of the best ballhandlers on the planet. He left with a reputation. Kidoń got to meet Globetrotter Joe 'Jumpin' Ballard during the Magic Pass pregame. He wanted Ballard to transfer a spinning ball from Ballard's finger to his, the move many Globetrotters do for fans, but once Kidoń got the ball, it was his opportunity to show he wasn't a regular fan — or a regular person with a basketball. 'Like, I can stand on one hand and do something with my other hand with the ball,' said Kidoń, who is a former world freestyle basketball champion. A post shared by Paweł Dazzle Kidoń (@kid_fsbb) Kidoń's girlfriend captured the moment on video, which ultimately went viral. That one clip led to the Globetrotters making a decision that would change Kidoń's life — and also pave the way for history. Kidoń, once just a Globetrotters fan, is now the first player in franchise history to hail from Poland. He learned to play basketball on his own while living in the small village of Zubrzyca Dolna, home to less than 2,000 people and located on the southern end of Poland minutes away from Slovakia. Kidoń has earned the nickname 'Dazzle' on the Globetrotters stage. It's quite the change for Kidoń, who once worked in Poland at an amusement park performing basketball tricks before being discovered. Dazzle Kidoń is the first Harlem Globetrotter player ever from Poland, and the first to be discovered at our pre-game Magic Pass event. 🔥 It wasn't until after when he revealed that he was actually a world freestyle basketball champion! #PlayerProfile — Harlem Globetrotters (@Globies) February 26, 2021 In some ways, Kidoń deems himself to be a self-made product. He first fell in love with basketball in 2013 after watching in disbelief YouTube highlights of the Globetrotters. Before Kidoń donned the red, white and blue, he'd never played on an organized basketball team, learned under a coach or even played a proper game of five-on-five. Advertisement 'To his credit, he's probably the hardest worker we've got out there,' said 'Sweet' Lou Dunbar, the Globetrotters director of player personnel and a member of the team as a player and executive for more than four decades. 'Every day, he's working on his game, because he knows as far as ballhandling, he's in a different stratosphere.' The pinnacle of his basketball experience growing up was being able to spin the ball on his finger. He then began practicing easy trick shots and freestyle handling moves. The moves became vibes. And then the vibes became a full-on show. One of Kidoń's first true loves was breakdancing. Through that, he's crafted a lane as one of the most unique Globetrotters — which says something considering the team's longstanding history of merging basketball with entertainment. 'When I started creating my own tricks, I noticed I could do everything with a basketball,' Kidoń said. 'I could stand and do some tricks, but I could also move my body, like, do a cartwheel or stand on my head or control a basketball between my legs. So, I just started to explore, not even just basketball, but dance, hip-hop, breakdancing. 'I was looking for some elements I could combine with basketball. That's how I started, basically. I started doing breakdancing because there are elements of breakdancing that are possible to connect with basketball.' For Kidoń, joining the Globetrotters meant more than adjusting to a new passion. He was getting acclimated to a new team, a new language, a new culture and demographic of people. Kidoń is the first person from his family to fly to the United States, let alone learn to build a life so far from home. He still remembers his first day with the Globetrotters, which included media duties with newspapers, TV networks and radio stations excited to meet him. That made waves back in Poland because the Globetrotters don't allow just anybody to try out for their roster. Once he was officially a member, Kidoń went from being nicknamed 'KID' to his current moniker. Advertisement And 'Dazzle' has been dazzling. 'If I could hear somebody bouncing the ball, I knew it was Dazzle,' Dunbar said. 'He's out there working every day, and he's competing with these guys, playing one-on-one every day. He's trying to get to their level.' In merging all of the adjustments into one life-changing transition, what has been most key to Kidoń going from a freestyling entertainer to a full-time basketball player? For the Polish star, preparation is beyond essential. 'I try to practice all the time because I know I've got a lot of work to do,' he said. 'I'm not as good in basketball as other players yet. Basically, I wake up, I eat breakfast, and almost every single day, I start my day with stretching and some movements. Then usually, we've got to travel, like three, four hours to the next city. 'Before every single game, I'm trying to be prepared. I practice my tricks, like, my old tricks to keep my shape. Also, I'll take some shots to be a better shooter. We play some two-on-two games, three-on-three games. I'm focused on improving my basketball skills, my basketball IQ. … When you see me in the arena all the time, you can see me all the time with the basketball in my hands.' A lot of what the Globetrotters do is entertaining, but it does require knowing the fundamentals of team basketball to work. In his adjustment time with the team, Kidoń has grown as a player and showman, and he's found himself able to become a wow factor on the court. Once a shy kid nervous about speaking English, Kidoń has honed his use of the language by using Duolingo language lessons and listening to rap music while traveling to new cities. Since joining the team, he has carved out a top-five list of his favorite American cities: New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas. Kidoń admitted to not being a big fan of traveling before becoming a Globetrotter, but that started to change once he began touring the United States, Africa and Asia. Adjusting to American life introduced him to a stable basketball experience, new food and music that has helped him grow comfortable within a new culture. Advertisement Kidoń is a huge fan of NBA star Steph Curry. He's also a big fan of hip-hop and Super Bowl halftime show headliner Kendrick Lamar. His cuisine choices vary from steak to chicken wings to hamburgers. And his freestyle skills are welcomed. They're always more fun when he has someone to practice with. A post shared by Rock WHAM Middleton (@rockmiddleton) The Globetrotter way has grown on Kidoń. He's taken the franchise's mission of giving back to the community back to Poland. He's now holding basketball camps and shows in his homeland for free. For everything Kidoń has enjoyed about being a Globetrotter, he still keeps a modest basketball bucket list, which includes his desire to meet Curry. He remembers watching the four-time NBA champion in 2016 when Curry became the first-ever unanimous MVP in league history. Kidoń described that version of Curry as 'unguardable,' which is high praise from such a well-traveled hooper who is versed in accomplishing what some might consider the seemingly impossible. GO DEEPER Steph Curry's fans include Harlem Globetrotters alumni: 3 showmen weigh in But such life lessons are why Kidoń obtained more than a picture when he attended his first Globetrotters game. He's gone from life in a small village and an amusement park to sold-out arenas for one of the world's most renowned basketball franchises. '(I want) to show kids it's important to have goals in your life,' Kidoń said. 'It's important to find something you love to do and just do it because everybody has a talent. It's important to find some hobbies, some passions, and just do something, because you never know how far you can go with your passion. 'I made it to the Harlem Globetrotters team, and I lived in a small village with less than 2,000 people. If I made it and it was possible for me, why is that not possible for you, too?' (Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Aldara Zarraoa / Getty Images)
New York Times
15-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Steph Curry's fans include Harlem Globetrotters alumni: 3 showmen weigh in
SAN FRANCISCO — The job requirements for being a Harlem Globetrotter go beyond the silly slickness and parlor-trick moves. There's also the matter of showcasing charisma, a difficult thing to hone on the practice court. 'Skill is one thing, but to have it, like what Meadowlark Lemon had, what Curly Neal had? That's not taught,' said Harold 'Lefty' Williams, a former Globetrotter. 'That's God-given. The Creator gives you that. Very few people have it.' Advertisement Does Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors have it? 'Absolutely, without a doubt,' Williams said. 'He would be a 2025 Curly Neal,' added Charles 'Choo' Smith, another former Globetrotter. 'He's probably one of the top players I would consider as far as potential to be a Globetrotter,' said Herbert 'Flight Time' Lang, a third former Globetrotter. Curry has partial Globetrotters experience on his résumé, spending time with them during a practice in 2018, though he four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP stayed with his day job. The Golden State Warriors have Curry locked up through the 2026-27 season, with a $62.6 million contract that puts him a tad out of the Globetrotters' price range. Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, played this year on Curry's home court, Chase Center, most likely will be as close as fans will ever get to seeing what he would do against the hapless Washington Generals. GO DEEPER Who are the Washington Generals? The Harlem Globetrotters' archrival, and much more With the loosey-goosey All-Star defense — even with the new game format — and a spirit of showmanship, Curry tends to dig a little deeper into his bag of wonders during these exhibition games. Across town from Chase Center, members of the National Basketball Retired Players Association gathered in a hotel ballroom for their annual media day. With several former Globetrotters in attendance, we asked three of them to analyze how Curry's game sits at the intersection of skill level and entertainment value. Cue up 'Sweet Georgia Brown,' and listen in. They're called the Globetrotters for a reason. They remain a popular attraction all over the planet, and there is some international diplomacy at stake with every tipoff. 'With the Globetrotters, we're ambassadors of goodwill,' Smith said. 'We put smiles on people's faces, and your personality has to be impeccable as it relates to engaging people. Steph is the prototypical person who does that. He smiles. He has fun. He enjoys the game. He loves people.' Steph Curry with an insane full-court shot from the tunnel! 🎥 @ — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 15, 2024 Curry also happens to come with a ready-made stage name — 'The Baby-Faced Assassin' — and offers a skill set that Smith compared to those of two memorable Globetrotters, Marcus Haynes and Larry 'Gator' Rivers. 'God bless his soul, Gator is probably one of the best ballhandlers that ever lived,' Smith said. Advertisement Curry is not alone. Smith's list of other NBA players over the years who would have fit with the Globetrotters includes Muggsy Bogues, Rod Strickland, Tim Hardaway, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard and Vince Carter. Curry, though, probably would be the top pick in the first round, should the Globetrotters ever get to select in an NBA dispersal draft. 'He creates an entertainment value with his talent and his gifts,' Smith said, 'and he includes the whole family experience when you come to a game: the 3s, getting the crowd involved and doing some type of trick play. 'He handles the ball well. He can shoot from deep. You know, we used to practice those shots. He can do 'em naturally off a jump shot.' Smith credited Curry's upbringing as the son of longtime NBA player Dell Curry. He reasoned that being around the culture for so long taught him how to blend fun with professionalism. 'You can't teach that. It has to be in you, and then you have to be around others who exude that,' Smith said. 'Growing up with his dad, he's been around so many different personalities. He's learned what to do, what not to do. And then, (there was) the discipline that his father had as far as the fundamentals. Now he can add the flair because he's mastered those fundamentals.' One of Williams' coaches and influences was the legendary Charles 'Tex' Harrison, a colorful character who played and coached for the Globetrotters for six decades. Harrison had a favorite saying. 'He used to say, 'I can do more things with a basketball than a monkey can with a peanut,'' Williams recalled. 'And that's the truth.' The quote came to mind as Williams discussed Curry's game, which overflows with creativity even at age 36. 'Greatest shooter I've ever seen,' Williams said. 'But being a Globetrotter myself, it's all about the show and entertainment. Steph is definitely a show within himself, from ballhandling to tricks to the shots. With his playmaking ability, is there anything he can't do?' Advertisement 'For someone who 'ruined the game,' gosh, if that's ruining the game, then put me in that class.' Williams, like the many Warriors fans who arrive early to Chase Center, knows Curry's pregame routine might be the most enthralling part of the night. That includes shots from a distant tunnel and what Williams calls 'bowling ball shots' — launching the ball underhanded like a bowler unleashing a Brunswick with a flourish. 'That's one that I used to do, which is pretty cool,' Williams said. Steph Curry trick shot season coming 🔜 — Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 19, 2024 Williams is the first left-handed showman in Harlem Globetrotters history. Before his debut in 2007, all of the trick plays were designed for righties. The New Jersey native said the key to captivating fans is to make the gimmicks look effortless, which involves endless hours of painstaking discipline. 'It's more mathematical when it comes to trick shots from the half court,' Williams said. 'It's about lining your leg up properly with the front of the rim.' His favorite Curry trick? Williams cited the now-11-time All-Star's trademark personal touch whenever he delivers in the clutch. 'His on-court persona is second to none,' Williams said. 'Especially in closeout games, everyone wants to see him make the 3 and then do the 'Night Night.' When he does that, to us Globetrotters, it just comes back to Steph and his greatness.' Steph's NIGHT-NIGHT resume continues to grow 💤 — NBA (@NBA) November 13, 2024 Back in 2017, the Globetrotters implemented the 4-point shot, raising the ante on long-range shooting by moving back points value to 35 feet. It's a wonder Curry didn't sign with the Globetrotters on the spot. 'Steph Curry, he changed the game with the way he would shoot the ball from pretty much anywhere on the court,' Lang said. 'Those are the shots we used to get in trouble for back in the day. I think it's great. Advertisement 'You see it now like it's a regular shot. I like to think that the Globetrotters were part of the evolution of a lot of things in basketball, even with the way you see guys like Victor Wembanyama, pulling up from 35, 40 feet. You see LeBron James pulling up from the Lakers logo at half court without the coaches even getting mad.' CURRY FROM THE LOGO 😱 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 14, 2025 Lang's mentors include legends like Neal, 'Sweet' Lou Dunbar and his first coach, Hubert 'Geese' Ausbie. But Lang knows showmanship beyond the court, too. He's participated in three seasons of 'The Amazing Race' with a fellow Globetrotter, Nate 'Big Easy' Lofton. Lang's also been on 'Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?' during celebrity week. Lang's brush with the entertainment industry gives him some insight into audiences, which is why he said other NBA players who might make the best Globetrotters include slick ballhandler Kyrie Irving, the famously flashy Magic Johnson … and an unlikely choice. 'Probably the personality — not for the antics, but for the entertainment phase — is Dennis Rodman,' Lang said. 'He probably would have been a great Globetrotter because of the way he interacted with the crowd.' Still, the A-lister remains Curry. 'It's about the behind-the-back pass. It's about doing the little bit of shimmy. It's about the connection with the crowd, the audience,' Lang said. 'The high-fives and things like that are probably things you didn't see quite as much about 10 or 15 years ago in the game. 'I love it. You have to look at the court as a stage that you get to perform on. When you're on stage, you put on a show.' (Top photo of Steph Curry: Kavin Mistry / Getty Images)
New York Times
12-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Meet the Harlem Globetrotters' ‘Sweet' legend who continues to impact the franchise
(Editor's note: This week, in honor of Black History Month, The Athletic will highlight the Harlem Globetrotters and their contributions to basketball, vision for entertainment and overall commitment to goodwill. This series will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 16.) Louis Dunbar II was about 10 when he first began to understand that his father was a big deal to so many people. 'Do you know who your father is?' 'Do you know what your father's done?' Dunbar's replies always were typical of someone that age. He knew his father played basketball. He knew his father was really good at the sport. But did 10-year-old Dunbar know exactly how big of a deal his father was? A post shared by Harlem Globetrotters (@harlemglobetrotters) 'That was just Dad to me,' Dunbar recalled. 'But that was around the age that I really realized how much impact he's had and just how great of a person he is. Everybody that I meet or encounter who has met my dad has nothing but positivity and joy whenever they speak about him.' His father is Lou Dunbar, better known as 'Sweet' Lou Dunbar of the Harlem Globetrotters. Dunbar is one of eight Globetrotters to have his jersey number retired after playing 27 seasons with the Globetrotters. Dunbar is in his 48th year with the franchise, now as director of player personnel and a coach. Tonight, we retired Sweet Lou Dunbar's No. 41 jersey. He is the 8th Globetrotter in our 93-year history to receive this honor. #Legend — Harlem Globetrotters (@Globies) February 16, 2019 Before his lengthy career as a Globetrotter, Sweet Lou was Louisiana's Mr. Basketball, a star big at Webster High School in Minden, La. He went on to play college basketball at the University of Houston from 1972 to 1975, where he averaged 22.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He was inducted into the Houston Hall of Honor in 2008. Advertisement At 6-foot-9, Sweet Lou was a walking highlight. He was one of the team's most popular showmen, a quick-witted comedy genius who also happened to be a basketball unicorn in the 1970s. Few players his size not named Magic Johnson handled the ball and ran an offense like him. Sweet Lou was one of the first big men to play point guard for a major university, as he suited up for the University of Houston from 1972 to 1975. Sweet Lou was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1975 NBA Draft, but he never played a game in the league. He played professionally overseas for Swiss basketball team SP Federale Lugano from 1975-77 and won a Swiss Basketball League championship in 1976. Dunbar played for the Globetrotters during the latter years of Meadowlark Lemon and Marques Haynes. He was there to play alongside Fred 'Curly' Neal and Hubert 'Geese' Ausbie. He is the only living Globetrotter with his jersey number (technically) retired, as it happened in February 2019. And when he wasn't on the court, Sweet Lou was showing off his charm and wit in a variety of television roles. He's appeared on 'The Love Boat,' 'The White Shadow,' ABC's 'Wide World of Sports' and 'The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island.' Basketball has been a promising ticket for Sweet Lou. It also has created a deeper connection between father and son who already share so much. Sweet Lou wore No. 41 playing for the Globetrotters. That once-retired number has regained a home on the court, as his son — who has the same name and affectionally is known on the Globetrotters circuit as 'Sweet Lou II' — is in his seventh season with the franchise. 'I've never really been nervous doing what I do, but sometimes I'm a little on edge when he's out there doing his thing — because I want him to do good,' Sweet Lou said of his son. 'Being Dad, you don't want to tell him all the time, but I think he knows.' Advertisement Globetrotters of the past say the son has the same wit and personality as his father. Or, as Sweet Lou puts it, they always have an answer for everything. But how does that work in family settings? Sweet Lou said he, his son and his daughter, Ashlynn, a former college volleyball player at San Diego State and Oklahoma, crack most of the jokes. His wife, Victoria, usually is the 'stern one' who has to be the voice of reason. Growing up with a father known for showmanship and basketball skills made for a different kind of expectation for Sweet Lou II. It wasn't just about the basics of the game; there was always the question of how many tricks he could do with the ball. 'I was probably like seven or eight (years old), and (people) expected me to do these tricks and stuff. I'm like, 'I can't do that stuff,'' Lou II said. 'I don't know how they do that stuff yet … but I figured it out along the way.' A post shared by Children's Health (@childrens) Dunbar jokingly said his son had a hoop in his room before he was born, but said there was never any pressure for him to be a Globetrotter — or even a basketball player. Sweet Lou II's first sport of choice, like his father's, was baseball. He said he was never pressed to play basketball, but he found himself to be a decent player. Sweet Lou II, a 6-3 guard, was a district MVP and Galveston (Texas) County Player of the Year at Clear Falls High School in League City, Texas, just outside of Houston. He was an honorable-mention All-Sooner Athletic Conference selection as a junior during the 2016-17 season at NAIA Oklahoma City University, averaging 15.2 points per game and shooting 45 percent from the floor, 44 percent from the 3-point line and 79 percent from the free-throw line. Sweet Lou once had a game against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma where he dropped 50 points, sank 11 3-pointers and hit 14 of 18 from the field. Advertisement It was during his senior season when Sweet Lou II began thinking about following in his father's footsteps to become a Globetrotter. 'Opportunity came,' Sweet Lou II said. 'I always wanted to travel … it was just a blessing. I've been to over 30 different countries so far in my career. I've loved every moment of it. I think it's been the greatest decision, and I really love what I do every single day.' Sweet Lou II being a Globetrotter has sparked a fun rivalry within the family. Sweet Lou concedes that his son has a deeper shooting range. Sweet Lou II said there are some things on the court his father did that he won't be able to duplicate because of his father's size. Plus, his hands are not as big. Sweet Lou sends videos to his old teammates of Sweet Lou II during the Globetrotters' famous Magic Circle, when players gather at midcourt before a game to show off their ballhandling. 'They say, 'He's better than you,' and I'll say, 'Man, you better be quiet,'' Sweet Lou said. 'He's become a really, really good ballhandler, and he's becoming a Globetrotter if he keeps it up. I just think he needs to work on a few things to become a showman. He is a showman in his own right, but he just needs more things to become a showman in his own right.' Sweet Lou II admittedly is still building his repertoire of tricks. (To be fair, his father has a sizable head start in that part of the game.) He also has gained a deeper appreciation for why his father was on the road so much. Perhaps most importantly, Sweet Lou II said he's found the same joy in making fans happy that his father had for nearly five decades. And Sweet Lou is happy watching his son enjoy the game. 'To get a chance to share it with him, and to get a chance to see some of his good memories that he's creating himself, I'm going to relish this,' Sweet Lou said. 'I'm going to enjoy this ride. I'm wishing the best for him, and I think he's on the right journey. He's on the right path to be a good Globetrotter. 'I mean, I think he's a good Globetrotter, but he can be one of the all-time greats.' Sweet Lou then smirked. Better than himself? 'I don't know about that part, you know?' he said. (Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; photos: Ethan Miller and Fairfax Media Archives / Getty Images)
