Ex-Player & Current Head Coach Approaching Career Milestones, Team Return To Charleston In April

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer 

While the world renowned Harlem Globetrotters are a professional basketball team in every sense of the word, they are more widely known for their theatrics, athleticism, entertainment, and comedy. Next year the organization that has brought smiles to millions of followers will celebrate their 100th anniversary, having started as the Chicago Globetrotters back in 1926. 

Former player and current Head Coach Lou Dunbar has been with the Harlem Globetrotters for nearly half of their existence. Dunbar spent 27 years on the court, becoming the team's Director of Player Personnel, with nine years on the sidelines.

Dubbed 'Sweet Lou' due to his smooth personality, Dunbar reflects on being with the Harlem Globetrotters for close to five decades. "That's a long time, and currently I'm the longest running member with the organization. But I'm not the longest ever. That would be my former coach and mentor Tex Harrison, who spent the better part of 60 years with the Harlem Globetrotters."

He adds, "This is pretty much all I've done my entire adult life. Tex lived and breathed Harlem Globetrotters. He passed the torch on to me, and I'm proud to be carrying on the great tradition that comes with the Harlem Globetrotters."

 71 years young, Dunbar admits it's been a joyride from day one. "I'm still having fun. I tell everyone, when it becomes a real job I'll move on. But when I see the smiles on the kids faces and the joy we bring to everyone I know I've been blessed to be right where I need to be." 

That includes coaching his son Lou Dunbar II. "I've had the opportunity to coach him a couple of times. He's doing pretty well, and continually working on his craft."

Any given time there are over 40 active players on the Harlem Globetrotters. While Dunbar is the overall head coach he has three younger coaches under him, with each coach overseeing one of three Globetrotter squads that tour regularly on a yearly basis. "We have multiple teams playing at the same time."

What is it like having been on both sides of the game, as a player and a coach. "I spent 27 years on the court. Had my share of fun. But there's that old saying 'the mind says go, yet the legs say no'. My body let me know when it was time to make the transition. Funny thing is, I originally thought I'd have 10 or 15 years with the organization and move on. But it's a family here."

During his playing days which began in 1977, Dunbar had the opportunity to share the basketball court with several of the all-time Globetrotter greats, including Meadowlark Lemon, Hubert 'Geese' Ausbie and Curly Neal. "Those were the glory days. It was the best thing that could have ever happened for me. I joined at just the right time. Honestly, I idolized those guys, and I learned so much of what it took to be a Globetrotter from those legendary players."

He adds, the team was just coming into their own about that time. "Obviously the Globetrotters were international stars back then, but people here in America started seeing them more and more on TV, and on shows like Wide World of Sports, so there was renewed interest, and players like Meadowlark, Geese, and Curly only added to the overall excitement. Collectively they revolutionized the team."

Over the years, each member of the Globetrotters has had a special skill, whether it being a master at dunking, expert dribbler, or doing tricks with the ball. However, Dunbar's expertise was just as vital to the team. "I became one of the showman. A player that brings funny to the game, interacts with the crowd."

Dunbar explains further. "Meadowlark was the ultimate showman, and crowds loved him. My first year with the team he would have me do the first dunk, then he said sit down and watch. He wanted me not only to take part, but be a student of Globetrotters. He was teaching me all it took to be best Harlem Globetrotter I could be."

Apparently Dunbar was a quick study. Meadowlark gave me one of the greatest compliments I had being a Globetrotter. He told me early on, I picked this up better than anybody who ever played with him. I knew all the positions on the floor. I'm forever grateful to have shared the court with him."

That begs the question, 'what does it take to become a Globetrotter?'. "There are three essential elements we look for. First of all, you need to have basketball skills. Maybe not at every level they require in the NBA, but you have to have the basics, and a general love of the game."

The other two things the team looks for are equally important. "You have to be personable. If you're not a people person you're not going to make it on the Harlem Globetrotters. And lastly we're always looking for players with good character."

Why do current and existing players need all three? "That's easy, because we are global ambassadors of good will. No one travels like us." Dunbar breaks it down on a game by game level. "Bottom line is we want everyone to have a good time. And we don't know if that person in the crowd is seeing us for the first time, or maybe it will be their last. We want to make the overall experience memorable, especially for families."

While many might assume the Harlem Globetrotters have always been of African American descent, they were one of the earliest organizations to cross race barriers. Several Caucasian members were on the roster prior to 1950 including club owner Abe Saperstein as a substitute in the team's first year. Canadian Rob Nichol joined them in 1941, with Bob Karsten playing on the All Black Team, eight years before the NBA was integrated. Karsten stayed on as a team manager from 1954 to 1994.

In 1985 Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard became the first female to join the all male squad, with Orlando Antigua becoming the first Hispanic to play for the Harlem Globetrotters in 1995. Their website indicates four female players currently, as well as three time Polish Freestyle Basketball Champion Dazzle Kidoń on the 42 player roster. "I think we've always been open-minded. The bottom line is, players have to fit our style of basketball."

The list of honorary members runs the gamut from varied backgrounds, with legendary entertainer Bob Hope accepting in 1977. Athletes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee are joined by Henry Kissinger, Nelson Mandela and Jesse Jackson. Two Catholic Popes are honorary members with Pope Francis accepting the nod in 2015, and Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Dunbar has fond memories of the latter. "In 2000 the Globetrotters were celebrating their 75th anniversary, and we gave the Pope an honorary jersey with the number 75 on it. These are just some of the special moments we get to enjoy being in an organization that is so well accepted around the world."

The word globe in globetrotters is fitting. Over the past century the team has performed in over 100 countries, including playing nine times in the Soviet Union, being greeted by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev back in 1959. "Honestly, I believe the Globetrotters introduced basketball to the world in the 1950's. Nobody outside the United States knew much about the NBA."

Dunbar goes on to say. "Without a doubt the NBA is much more diverse now, with many international players. But decades ago that wasn't the case. In the 1950's and 60's we brought the game to the masses."

After earning the title of 'Mr. Basketball' in Louisiana Dunbar would go on to be a standout player for the University of Houston, being selected in the fourth round as the 59th player overall in the 1975 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he never played in the NBA, opting to play professional basketball in Switzerland, with SP Federale. His team won the Swiss League championship in 1976. 

With the ABA (American Basketball Association) folding and four teams joining the NBA, Dunbar passed on an opportunity with Philadelphia that might have teamed him with Julius 'Dr. J' Erving. "No doubt one of the all time greats. But when I was drafted they were offering me 40K a year to play. Decent money back in 1975, but I could make more overseas, and it was tax free." Dunbar would join the Globetrotters in 1977. 

Just as iconic as their patriotic 'red, white, & blue' uniforms the Globetrotters are synonymous with their signature song 'Sweet Georgia Brown' which debuted a year before the team came to be. Released in 1925, the jazz standard was re-worked by 'whistling & bone' artist Brother Bones and His Shadows in 1949, and was adopted as the Globetrotters theme song in 1952.

Dunbar recalls warming up and providing hijinks to the song. "It's a feel good melody, and it fits our style of fun and entertainment." After nearly a century of travelling the globe providing goodwill to all, Dunbar agrees the Harlem Globetrotters are an international brand much like Coca-Cola and Budweiser. "Absolutely. We're welcomed everywhere we go. That makes it all the better even before we take to the court."

The Globetrotters are known to visit kids in hospitals and youth centers when they stop in a particular city. "Again, we're all about families. We especially enjoy bringing smiles to kids faces, even if they can't make it to the game. It's an extension of our overall commitment to goodwill." 

Lou Dunbar feels he is right where the good Lord has planned him to be. "No doubt I've been blessed. I've been married for 37 years and my wife is great. When you travel as much as we do, it can be tough on families, especially when we travel outside the country."  Adding, "I've been around the game of basketball my entire life, and in a couple years I'll have fifty years with the Globetrotters organization. I have truly been blessed." Dunbar's Globetrotters No. 41 jersey was retired to honor his legacy to the team.

The world famous Harlem Globetrotters return to the North Charleston Coliseum on Thursday April 3rd. "I know the team loves coming to Charleston. It's a great city." Don't miss out on this fun-filled family friendly entertainment. For tickets and info visit https://www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/events/detail/harlem-globetrotters-9