Harlem Globetrotters stop at Gurnee Mills
The red, white and blue basketball was a blur as the players flung the sphere around their backs, bounced it off their hips and whipped it through their legs.
Nate "Big Easy" Lofton and Herbert "Flight Time" Lang of the Harlem Globetrotters swept into Gurnee Mills Tuesday to sign autographs, show off ballhandling tricks and promote their games at the Allstate Arena next week.
"We came from Chicago to see this. My daughter thinks they are hilarious," said audience member Jeralyn Millan. "We're just amazed at their skills and they're really funny too."
Lang and Lofton joked with about 100 fans who gathered around the stage. They took questions from the crowd that ranged from the Globetrotters' appearance on the reality show the Amazing Race to which Globetrotters they admire from the early days.
The Globetrotters were eventually eliminated from the Amazing Race, but Lofton said their attitude was what mattered. "We smiled every time we advanced and we smiled when we were eliminated," Lofton said. "Attitude is everything."
The 84-year-old exhibition basketball team began in Chicago and has played more than 25,000 games in 120 countries, according to team officials. With a combination of comedy and athletic skill, the team has entertained everyone from popes to presidents.
Lang, of Arkansas, has been a Globetrotter for 11 years. Lofton, of New Orleans, has been with the team for five years. The players are on the road from December to May in the states and trot the globe at other times during the year.
Lang said some of the best crowds have been in Spain. "The people are really loud and fired up," he said. "These are soccer fans who know how to make noise."
The Globetrotters are scheduled to play Monday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 2 and 7 p.m.
An audience member asked the guys if they expect to win. Lofton answered with a wise crack that ripped on the Bulls loss last Monday.
"I'm sure we will. And I'm also sure we won't blow a 35-point lead," he said with a smile.
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