Goose Tatum Biography To Air On ESPN

The Washington Generals original foil, Reese "Goose" Tatum will be getting a biography on ESPN. The special will premiere on February 26th (this Sunday) at 9:30pm Easter / 8:30pm Central time.

Tatum, who was recently inducted into the basketball hall of fame, was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters from 1941-1955 and is considered the original "clown prince" of basketball. He is the man who paved the way for all the other great showmen of the Harlem Globetrotters, from Meadowlark Lemon, to "Sweet Lou" Dunbar, to "Big Easy" and "Special K" today.

But even more importantly than that, "Goose" Tatum was one of the greatest basketball players of his era. Most of us fans today know the Harlem Globetrotters as showmen with fancy trick shots, funny reams, and one lone opposing team who is infamous for (almost) never beating them.

But back in the early days of the Harlem Globetrotters, they were literally the greatest basketball team in the world. Playing competitive games where they won championships, defeated everyone from local pick up teams to NCAA and NBA giants.

While the current number of losses the Harlem Globetrotters claim is not accurate, the reality was back then the underdog team in a Globetrotter game truly was whoever took on the Harlem Globetrotters. During that time they were even more popular than the NBA.

And heading the team during the prime of these competitive years was Goose Tatum. Not only was he a marvel on the court, wowing fans and leaving opponents behind, but it was when the teams would get a huge lead that he innovated the clowning around that would become the Globetrotters signature image.

I'm very much looking forward to this documentary, which I have know doubt will tell me a lot I didn't know.

Tatum left the Globetrotters not long after the Washington Generals were formed and back in those days, they were not the only team to play the Globetrotters. So I don't know if much, or for that matter anything, will be said about the Washington Generals. But if it wasn't for Globetrotters like Tatum who both helped make the Globetrotters so legendary before the Generals were formed, there never would have been a Washington Generals.

And that would have been a huge shame.

Randomness Week 24

Photo by Mike/mrghx4.
Used with permission

A website called "Dick's Courtroom" which features photos from a collection of basketball jerseys, has photos of what he reports are Nancy Lieberman and Red Klot's old Washington Generals uniforms. As well as a Generals uniform from an un-named player that looks to be from the 90's. He also has photos of the uniforms of Globetrotters from Inma Jackson, Goose Tatum, Marques Hayes, and Meadowlark Lemon. To view them and many others CLICK HERE!

I found a 2008 article on Red Klots, From New Jersey Monthly. If anyone wants to read it CLICK HERE!

And while I am reffering you guys to old articles, here is another one from around that time on former General Grant Herren, who is also pictured to the left. To read it CLICK HERE!

Randomness Week 15

Another short week to report in the Randomness post, as the Washington Generals and Harlem Globetrotters enjoy some well deserved down time.

Jacob Tucker, who as I reported a while back was one of the six draft choices for the Washington Generals, has  been reporting via tweets and elsewhere that he is currently training with the Trotters. This doesn't mean he made the team yet, but of the five draft pics who could play next year (I am not counting McCabe since he obviously won't be going anywhere next season) he has publicly shown the most interest. Looks like Tucker could be about to become the newest thorn in the Generals side.

The moving induction speech for Goose Tatum, given by his son Reece Tatum III, was posted online. To watch it CLICK HERE!

The Travel Channel has announced that the Harlem Globetroters will be appearing on Man vs Food, in an episode airing September 7th at 9PM. CLICK HERE! 


An e-bay seller has put up a copy of the out of print Globetrotter VHS tape "6 Decades of Magic". This is an excellent hour long tape that features highlight of the Trotters throughout their history. Which of course includes a lot of great highlights of the Generals facing the trotters, and I do mean a LOT. If you still have a VHS player this might be worth checking out. Although I will note I don't know anything about the seller so do exercise your own discretion. CLICK HERE!

And finally, below is a slideshow video someone posted of the Generals game against the trotters in Budapest.

Why Red Klotz Belongs In The Hall Of Fame

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Photo by rizha ubal. Used under creative commons. 

I mentioned in this weeks Randomness post how Goose Tatum is being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

I want to start off by saying that it's well deserved and long overdue. Tatum was one of the greatest basketball players of his era. Not to mention being the first marque star of the Harlem Globetrotters back when they were the greatest basketball team in the world.

It's  only a shame Tatum isn't alive to see how he is being honored. But I have no doubt he is looking down with appreciation from that big basketball court in the sky.

However, whenever I hear of someone being inducted, especially someone with ties to the Harlem Globetrotters or Washington Generals, it reminds me how sad I am that Red Klotz hasn't yet been inducted.

I know to some this sounds like a bias. That's a fair thing to wonder. After all, I wouldn't have started this blog if I wasn't a huge fan of Klotz.

But I am not alone in my feelings that Klotz should be in the Hall of Fame. Several names in basketball, including former Hall of Famer Chris Ford, have also campaigned several times in the past for Klotz induction.

It is a unique position to argue, I agree. Klots is the owner and former player/coach of a team that holds the largest percentage of losses in all of sports. And there is no doubt in my mind that the Washington Generals will hold that record for a long time to come, if not forever.

So why do I think the man who founded this "bunch of losers" deserves to be in the Hall of Fame? To me the real question is why is he not already in there. Lets look for a minute at the achievements of Klotz.

Red Kotz won an NBA title in 1948 while playing with the Baltimore Bullets. Which he managed to do in his one and only season in the NBA. He was a former owner of the Spha's one of the best teams of their era. He was also the oldest professional basketball player during his time with the generals, and has had the longest career in basketball.

We talk about some of the greats of the Harlem Globetrotters such as Wilt Chamberlain, Goose Tatum, Meadowlark Lemon, Connie Hawkins, Sweetwater Cliffton, and Lou Dunbar. You know what these men have in common? They all played against Red Klots, some of whom even spent their entire basketball career during Klotz reign.

But none of those reasons, as impressive as they are, are the reasons I think Klotz belongs in the Hall of Fame. No, the reason Klotz belongs in the Hall of Fame is because of everything he has done for the sport.

People are quick to point out the the Harlem Globetrotters are the ambassadors of basketball. And that is very accurate, the Globetrotters have introduced the sport of basketball all over the world. But you know who was there for the vast majority of their time helping them do that? Red Klotz.

From the early 50's to the mid 90's Klotz traveled the world along side the Globetrotters. Who knows how many miles he has traveled and how many countries he has visited, never mind how many people he has played in front of. I am betting even he doesn't know.

Klotz may have never been the featured act in the Globetrotters games against the Generals. But he spent a long time helping carry out their mission, of showing the world the great sport that the hall of fame honors. More than anyone I would wager.

Unfortunately, I sometimes fear that the Hall of Fame will never see that. To many people, Klotz is seen as "the guy who coaches the team who always loses." The Globetrotters, the players who once played for him, and his fans know the truth though. That Klotz is anything but.

I hope one day the Hall of Fame will see the same thing. If anyone deserves a spot in there, it's the man who devoted so much of his life to bringing the joy of basketball to the world. Literally.

And I hope unlike Tatum, they don't wait until he has moved on to the next world to do it.

Randomness Week 14

Copyright © by Bob n Renee. Used under creative commons.

On a quick note, I know I am behind. Once more life has kept me from the blog I would rather be doing. I will post the "Best of the Guest Generals" entry for the week later today to catch up. 


An article from the Phillidalphia City Paper archives about Red Klotz was recently posted. CLICK HERE!

Nancy Lieberman was briefly interviewed in an article about the Basketball Hall Of Fame class of 2011. CLICK HERE!

Holy Taco posted a list of the top "25 New Ways Kate Gosselin Can Exploit Her Kids." Number 18 was "Form a basketball team to oppose the Harlem Globetrotters, thus giving the Washington Generals a bit of a break". They really shouldn't give her ideas. To see the whole list CLICK HERE!

Since there isn't much Washington Generals news, and may not be for a bit as the Washington Generals are currently in the off season with the Willwoods games over, here is a short article I found about the Washington Generals 1971 win. It quotes Wade Cook, a reporter who was at the infamous game. CLICK HERE!

Finalle to celebrate Goose Tatum being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Something long overdue, here is a look back at the career of the Washington Generals original nemesis (and I mean that with affection).