20/08/2009 Harlem Globetrotters

[Xirix]

I'm not American, so this comic kinda flew over my head, could anyone explain this comic to me?

[Hirschof]

No problem, wiki can give you a better explanation than I can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Globetrotters

The globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that really only play for stunt/skill display and comical entertainment. They perform quite a bit of basketball tricks/stunts in their games and often play jokes (usually misdirection/pranks) on the opponents, officials, and fans.

They have also had several cartoon shows (and guest appearances) in the past where they solved mysteries and/or fought crime. Again, basketball trickery and "comedy" ensued.

An American sports icon of the 1970's.

[darcerin]

I only thought of the Scooby-Doo episode where they guest-starred when I saw this comic.
Were they in any others?

Go me for not reading the Wiki article first.

[Mav]

I just want to say I f'ing loved that comic. And it proved to me that the whole thing really was reader-written since even Greg isn't awesome enough to make a Harlem Globetrotter reference.

[Mae Dean]

It's true, and while I remember the globetrotters well as a child of the '80s (the whistled theme song in my head always ends with "Makin' it Great" 'cause of the pizza hut tie-in promotion going on back then, the commercials for which ran CONSTANTLY) I probably never would have just pulled them out of the air for that comic. Mike Steele (besides having the BEST NAME EVER) really got me laughng with that one.

[Roundtop]

I remember going to a globetrotters game when I was a kid. they were facing... it was the Washington somethings... but I can't remember. Their standard "opponent" for their games.

As for references, they have also shown up in Futurama, where we find out that they are so great because they are from another planet, and have PHDs in basketball physics.

[ampersand]

Washington Generals. It was the Washington Generals.

I remember when whoever had the contract for the NBA would usually do one Saturday or Sunday showing a game between Harlem and Washington. And if I recall correctly, the Generals actually beat the Globetrotters once. That must have been one hell of a party in the Generals locker room after that shocker.