https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/289 ... al-dies-77

Fred "Curly" Neal, the face of the Harlem Globetrotters for 22 years, died Thursday morning in Houston at the age of 77, the team announced on Twitter.

Neal, with his slick ballhandling skills, recognizable shaved head and playful banter, in 2008 became just the fifth Globetrotters player to have his jersey retired, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Marques Haynes, Meadowlark Lemon and Goose Tatum. His jersey was raised to the rafters of Madison Square Garden during a special ceremony.

He also was presented with the Globetrotters' prestigious "Legends" ring in 1993 for making "a major contribution to the success and the development of the Globetrotters organization." He had continued to make appearances for the team as an "Ambassador of Goodwill."

Neal was a good entertainer and even better man, but Meadowlark and Goose were my favs. RIP, Curly. Geez, my generation is departing this life in sobering numbers.

asu66 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:18 pm

Neal was a good entertainer and even better man, but Meadowlark and Goose were my favs. RIP, Curly. Geez, my generation is departing this life in sobering numbers.

Meadowlark was my favorite in the early days, but he has long passed. Curly was present. Even if a person knew nothing about basketball, they laughed their bellies off watching the Trotters. I saw them in Varsity Gym and was one of the victims of the water bucket (confetti).

NewApp wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:25 pm

asu66 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:18 pm

Neal was a good entertainer and even better man, but Meadowlark and Goose were my favs. RIP, Curly. Geez, my generation is departing this life in sobering numbers.

Meadowlark was my favorite in the early days, but he has long passed. Curly was present. Even if a person knew nothing about basketball, they laughed their bellies off watching the Trotters. I saw them in Varsity Gym and was one of the victims of the water bucket (confetti).

Me--Old Charlotte Coliseum and VG. Saw 'em do real, wet, cold, ice water in Charlotte in 1960-something but the screamin' "victim" was a "plant."

asu66 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:36 pm

NewApp wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:25 pm

asu66 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:18 pm

Neal was a good entertainer and even better man, but Meadowlark and Goose were my favs. RIP, Curly. Geez, my generation is departing this life in sobering numbers.

Meadowlark was my favorite in the early days, but he has long passed. Curly was present. Even if a person knew nothing about basketball, they laughed their bellies off watching the Trotters. I saw them in Varsity Gym and was one of the victims of the water bucket (confetti).

Me--Old Charlotte Coliseum and VG. Saw 'em do real, wet, cold, ice water in Charlotte in 1960-something but the screamin' "victim" was a "plant."

Weren't they at App sometime in the past year or so?

They seem to rotate in every 3 or 4 years.

A true entertainer and pride of Greensboro Dudley and JC Smith. RIP.

asu66 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:36 pm

NewApp wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:25 pm

asu66 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:18 pm

Neal was a good entertainer and even better man, but Meadowlark and Goose were my favs. RIP, Curly. Geez, my generation is departing this life in sobering numbers.

Meadowlark was my favorite in the early days, but he has long passed. Curly was present. Even if a person knew nothing about basketball, they laughed their bellies off watching the Trotters. I saw them in Varsity Gym and was one of the victims of the water bucket (confetti).

Me--Old Charlotte Coliseum and VG. Saw 'em do real, wet, cold, ice water in Charlotte in 1960-something but the screamin' "victim" was a "plant."

I may still have the poster when they came to VG In 74 75. It read “Harlem Globe Trotters, Varsity Gym Appalachina State University “ ha!

Brings back memories of seeing them in the 70’s in Guatemala. Always thought of that as their “heyday”. Great showmen.

I saw the Globetrotters play when I was a kid and Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal were both on the team. Great entertainment! I hate seeing another "great one" pass.

" Twiggy" James Sanders was my favorite. He was a great showman but I also got to know him on a personal level. He was just a great all around guy. Our families spent a night around a campfire I will never forget. We were both on houseboats, found each other on the radio and beached for the night. Great guy, great family. He grew up and played in Raleigh and last I knew he still lived there. I know he was coaching there and was an assistant at Shaw for a while.

MAD Doctor wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:00 pm

A true entertainer and pride of Greensboro Dudley and JC Smith. RIP.

It should not have taken this long for someone to mention the Greensboro connection. Thanks.

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 27, 2020 3:26 pm

Never heard that one. Sweet Georgia Brown was the real deal:

NewApp wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:49 pm

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 27, 2020 3:26 pm

Never heard that one. Sweet Georgia Brown was the real deal:

I can take a good guess on the answer. One is that this cartoon ran 1970-1972 so they needed a funky beat, and that cartoon is actually a good song/beat in its own right and for a Saturday Morning cartoon even more impressive.

But more important I bet is rights fees. The Sweet Georgia Brown song is from the 20's but the HG version is from the late 40s. I doubt it was free of rights fees by the late 1960s when the cartoon was in development. Solution, make a new song.

Now I have to post this.