‘Sweet Georgia Brown’: Local volunteers to play former Harlem Globetrotters
Next weekend local heroes who work behind the scenes will get their moment in the spotlight as they take on some of the greatest hoopsters to ever play the game, all for charity.
The Stutsman County Sheriff’s reserves and the Jamestown Fire Department will take to the hardwood against a team of former Harlem Globetrotters.
The reserves cover events the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t have the manpower for, and volunteer firefighters are usually first on the scene for fire calls, even though most have full-time jobs.
On Saturday, Feb. 25, they will take on a team of legends featuring Hollywood Brown and the Clown Prince of basketball himself, Meadowlark Lemon.
Aside from wooing more than a million fans on the court, Lemon is also an actor and minister, known for his signature half-court hook shoot.
“I guess the game plan right now is just to not get hurt,” said Cory Genter, a reserve deputy and team captain of the Guns and Hoses team made up of reserves and volunteers. “We’re going to attack their front court. I heard they’re soft in their front court a bit so we’re going to attack that — not that I know what that means or anything.”
Genter and the rest of the team have the mentality that they don’t stand a chance, but that it’ll be a fun game for a good cause.
“It’s going to be a good competitive match, we got a lot of young kids out there that I think are going to really give these guys a run for their money. Well, maybe they’re not that young anymore,” Genter said of his squad.
Meadowlark started playing for the Globetrotters in 1955. He donned the red, white and blue uniform until 1980, when he left to form his own team and play with another legend, Wilt Chamberlain.
Genter’s game plan was sitting down with his son and watching videos online of Meadowlark from back in the day schooling the Washington Generals.
“That’s a pretty cool deal that he takes time out of his life and comes here to Jamestown to put on a show for everyone here,” he said.
Skill levels on Guns and Hoses greatly vary, from those who haven’t played since high school to those that play ball every week.
“They’re just looking for some guys to bring the ball up the court so they can do whatever they want with it,” said Larry Hust, a volunteer firefighter and member of the Jamestown Dive and Rescue Team. “Anyways there’s no way we’re going to compete with them — that I understand.”
Hust hits the hardwood once a week, but sharing the court with a legend like Meadowlark has never crossed his mind before now.
“I thought I’d donate my time,” Hust said. “It’s for a good cause and it would be a privilege playing against them no matter how old they are.”
Meadowlark is pushing 80, but that didn’t stop him from coming to Jamestown last year to give the reserves a run for their money.
An estimated 3,000 people were at the Jamestown Civic Center last year for that game and high school hoops tournament held on the same day.
The former Globetrotters bring to town a nostalgia that many may remember seeing on ABC’s “Wild World of Sports,” or on a Saturday morning cartoon. They also bring a lot of shenanigans, where the crowd may never know what to expect.
“It’s just that genuine fun,” said Pam Fosse, director of the Civic Center. “It doesn’t involve technology or computers — it’s just that genuine fun we grew up with.”
Guns and Hoses will take one the former Harlem Globetrotters at noon on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Civic Center. Tickets are $10 in advance at the Civic Center, Hugo’s or Stop N Go locations. Tickets are $15 at the gate. One ticket is also good for admission for two children 12 and under.
Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com