What's In A Name? - My Thoughts On The Generals Current New Personas

We are a week into the 2012 tour and the confusion I expected has already begun. As anyone who has seen tweets given by fans during the game will tell you most are confused by where the Generals are, and what's up with the black, white, and yellow running across the court.

U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown

America now knows what fans in the Middle East, France and some of our boys and girls serving our country already knew. As of right now the Globetrotters new nemesis are the International Elite and World Select. 

I don't know the reason for this name change. It's strange that they're doing it considering the Washington Generals only resumed using that name 4 years ago. After a 12 year stint playing as the New York Nationals. 

I think part of the reason might be because the story line for this tour, is that the Globetrotters are playing a championship game. Some might find it hard to think a team which hasn't won since 1971 would climb the ranks to play in a championship game. 

Arguably, that might be true. But it isn't like a game between the Generals and the Globetrotters didn't stretch believably before. Even the kids in the audience picked up pretty quickly on what was going on. The Elite and Select don't play any differently so even if people didn't realize they were the same team as before (and have the same coaches), it would take minutes to realize it was the same show it has always been.

That isn't even counting that in some venues the Trotters will be winning this championship twice in one night.

Although it's possible I'm hoping it is that reason because if it is, then it would likely mean the Generals returning next tour. 

Whatever the reason, like it or not the Washington Generals seem to have currently hung up their green and yellow for black and yellow, or white and yellow depending on when you watch. 

This was probably the Globetrotter management's call. Not to pick on them, but I can't imagine the Washington Generals, who own their team's name with pride wanting to change it. And all the name changes before have pretty much been the Globies call. 

I think that is a bad move because as both Dan Gilbert and the Old Spice Man have recently shown, people know the "Washington Generals" name. It's become as iconic as the Globetrotters themselves. Hell, I can attest even after 12 years as the New York Nationals, the majority still associated the Washington Generals name with the Globetrotters put upon foils. 

I know that neither team wants the Generals to overshadow the Globetrotters. The business plan for both teams pretty much depends on them having a lower profile. But I don't see how being well known as being the team that loses consistently to the Globetrotters could do anything but help everyone involved. 

That being said, and although as a fan I hope that this name change isn't going to be another New York Nationals decade or longer change. At the end of the day, I don't really think it matters. 

They may not have the same name, or the same outfits. But just like when they wore red and became the New Jersey Reds, or maroon to become the New York Nationals. Their mission was and still is the same. 

It's to help the Globetrotters look good. To be the brunt of the comedy bits and to entertain the fans. And as reviews and fans who have been in the game will attest, they are as good as ever at being the world wide visiting team to the most famous basketball team on earth. 

So no matter what color their uniforms, or what the name is on the uniform. In the ways that really matter, they are still the Washington Generals. And the players of the Global Select and International Elite are continuing to do the teams legacy proud.

In the end, that's all anyone could ever really ask for. 

The 2012 Tour Has Begun

As some of you might know, the "Generals" 2012 tour is officially underway, having started the last week of December.

I put the Generals name in quotation marks, because as I suspected, it looks like they won't be using the Generals moniker much this tour. If at all. This season the Washington Generals will be playing under another persona, two to be exact.

As some who read this blog may have noted the Washington Generals in recent overseas games alternated between playing as the International Elite (in black and yellow) and the Global Select (in white and yellow). This carried over into their last military tour, when the Washington Generals took on the Globetrotters throughout the tour as the Global Select.

As is no surprise, they will be continuing this for the Globetrotters "2012 World Championship Tour" playing the Globetrotters as both the Elite and Select.

I will post my full thought on this name change, so recently after only re-assuming their Generals personal in 2008, in a future post. But to anyone who isn't certain, this is the same team with the same players just alternating between different names.

The story line for this years tour, will be that the World Select or International Elite are playing for the "World Championship Trophy" against the Harlem Globetrotters. Some hints of this were used in their last overseas and millitary tour, which also used this story line. Although it seems some tweaks have been made with the actual tour, the main story is still the same.

If you are in the area when the tour hits your city, I encourage you to come watch Red Klotz team take on the Globetrotters. And attempt the seemingly impossible task of winning the coveted trophy from the Globetrotters. And most likely fail. But some fun and nice shots by the Elite/Select will still be had.

I think now more than ever basketball fans of all ages should see a Generals/Globetrotter game. After the sour taste many got in their mouths over the recent NBA lockout, this is the time to see basketball played in some ways what is it's purest form.

Underneath all the showmanship and basically pre-determined outcome are two teams of very talented athletes. Teams that don't make millions and in the case of our beloved Generals (whatever uniform they wear) don't get any of the glory.

They do it because they love it, and because underneath the sneaker deals and million dollar contracts of their more famous counterparts, basketball is a game of athletics and entertainment.

On the surface what you will see is the Elite or Select take on the Globetrotters. But when doing that you will realize what you are truly watching, is people having fun playing the greatest sport in the world. Which is what basketball should be.

Highlights from an early game in the tour.