Harlem Globetrotters Review

One of my favorite annual activities when I was a child was going to see the Harlem Globetrotters when they came to town.  If you have seen them before, then chances are you can vividly remember their red, white, and blue colors, their silly antics, and you may even be able to whistle along to their catchy theme song. In case you have never had the pleasure of seeing the Harlem Globetrotters in action, let me fill you in. The basketball team mixes amazing skills with humor and a bit of trickery. Whether you are a basketball fan or not, you will probably be amused by their comedy and awed by some of the incredible moves and shots they make.

Review: The Globetrotters games are designed to entertain from the very beginning. We went to the local show this week and even before the game began, Globie, the world's "most famous mascot" came out on the court and engaged the crowd with some dancing, tricks, and goofiness. From the moment the Globetrotters entered, they entertained. Between amazing dribbling skills, hilarious improv with the audience, and constant comical commentary by the players, the night was continually entertaining. 

Globie, the mascot

New this year, they introduced a new rule each quarter, such as a 4-point shot. The crowd favorite was the double basketball rule where two balls were simultaneously kept in play for 2 minutes.  They do bring some new bits ever year, but I will admit that there was a lot of repeat material from last year and we were hoping that it would be a little fresher. Since my kids are getting older and their memory is pretty good, I think we will need to start going every couple of years because they were not quite as entertained as last year since so much was repeated. Despite this, my family and I still had some good quality time together. Here were some highlights:

The Globetrotters do not run out in a typical way when the team is introduced. Instead, they get in a circle and perform one amazing ball trick after another. They were spinning and tossing and twirling the basketball around their bodies in unbelievable ways while their theme song is played (and my daughter whistled along).

They never fail to entertain, even if getting a laugh meant pulling down each other's pants to reveal some...well, interesting, undergarments.

The audience interacting was my favorite part of the experience. They would grab people out of the crowd, harass individuals who came late, and give out prizes. Here the Globetrotters came together in "prayer" to help a little boy make a basket so he could get a free jersey.

See them: You can check out the Harlem Globetrotter's 2013 schedule here.

I was provided complementary tickets in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.