Washington Generals Top Players: Derick "Dizzy" Grant

Before he was entertaining YouTube users with impressions of basketball greats, or nailing 4-point shots, he was a New York National.

I am talking about none other than current Globetrotter Derick "Dizzy" Grant.

Born December 3rd of 1982, Derick first saw the Washington Generals play the Globetrotters when he was 7 years old. Little did he know he would one day be part of the show, playing for both teams at different times.

Indeed, Grant has stated in interviews that many people told him he wasn't good enough to make it as a basketball player. But Derick set out to prove them all wrong.

Indeed, Derick eventually went on to play for the College of New Jersey. While playing there, Derick was a first team all-conference selection in both his junior and senior year. Grant also was the New Jersey Athletic Conference player of the year during his senior year.

Among his other college accomplishments, Grant led the league in scoring for his senior year with 20.8 points per game. In addition his 1542 points are the second highest in his school's history and he ranked third in the conference in 3-pointers made per game. The last turned out to be a sign of things to come.

After graduating in 2005, Derick proved the critics wrong when they said he could never make it as a pro-basketball player by being recruited by the New York Nationals, the name the Washington Generals were going by at the time. Among his team mates were other notable Nationals, Shawn Faust (one of the few players to play for both the Nationals and Generals) and future elite basketball trainer Michael Atkinson.

After playing a season for the Nationals, Globetrotters owner Manny Jackson liked what he saw, and Grant was "traded" to the Harlem Globetrotters. Derick took on the name "Dizzy" and has been with the Globetrotters ever since.

One of the more popular current Globetrotter players, Dizzy has also gained a cult following with his recent YouTube videos where he impersonates NBA players.

Dizzy made Globetrotter history in December of 2010 when he scored the first ever 4-point shot in a game against the Generals at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, which aired nationally on ESPN2. Both the ball, and the 4-point circle he scored the shot from, have since become immortalized in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

From being told he couldn't make it, to being part of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Dizzy has shown he has the heart of a champion. Whether he wears the colors of a New York National or a Harlem Globetrotter.

Related Links

DIZZY'S GLOBETROTTER PROFILE

"DIZZY" SPINNING AROUND THE GLOBE WITH HISTORIC TEAM

LIFELONG HOOP DREAMS COME TRUE FOR HARLEM GLOBETROTTER

Buckets Blake to Promote Games in Willwood from August 10 -13

With the Argentina and China tours over the Washington Generals will be off this week, before heading out to play in the Willwood Convention Center the week after.

That will be the Generals first game in the US since I started this blog. While I appreciate how much both teams do all over the world, it is nice to finally see them "come home" as it were.

Since there is no schedule I wanted to share some appearances Buckets Blake will be making to promote the games in Willwood.

Friday, July 29 at 1 p.m.
At the Splash Zone Water Park, 3500 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ
Buckets will be shooting basketballs into Giant Water Bucket

Friday, July 29 at 7 p.m.
At the Ocean City Library, 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, NJ
Features Story Time with Buckets Free Admission

Saturday, July 30 at 1 p.m.
 Gateway 26 Arcade, 26th & The Boardwalk, North Wildwood, NJ
Fans meet Buckets, free admissions.

Saturday, July 30 at 4 p.m.
Byrne Community Center, 401 W. Youngs Ave, Wildwood, NJ
For a free basketball clinic (first of two clinics) and is free to kids ages 6-12

Saturday, July 30 at 6 p.m.
At Tony Luke’s, 6200 New Jersey Ave, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Bucket will be searing up Tony Luke’s famous Cheesesteaks

Saturday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. (before Bennie and the Jets take the stage)
Centennial Park, 6700 Ocean Ave, Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260
Where Buckets performs at the Crest Summer Concert Series, Free admission

Sunday, July 31 at 5 p.m.
Scoop Taylor Park (outside), 5800 Ocean Ave, Wildwood Crest, NJ
For a free basketball clinic (second of two clinics) for kids ages 6-12.

If you are in the area and have any little Globetrotter fans, or even better little Washington Generals fans, be sure to take them to meet Buckets. Just remember, be respectful. Fun is the first order of business, and not all fans realise who the REAL stars of the Washington Generals / Harlem Globetrotters games are. 

Randomness Week 11

Washington Generals vs The Harlem Globetrotters in
Nintendo 64 action. 

First off, I recently heard that Brian Tracey, of Bentley University was drafted by the Washington Generals. Good luck to Tracey in what will undoubtedly be the start of some great memories touring with the Globetrotters. Maybe he will even help bring the Generals to their next win. What? It could happen!

Yahoo! Answers had someone ask the question "Should the Washington Generals basketball team release a movie called "The Undefeated" like Sarah Palin?" Palin haters might like to read some of the responses, I especially liked the one that pointed out that the Generals actually have a better track record than she does. CLICK HERE!

I reported a while back about former General Chris Poore, being named the coach of Scott High School after replacing their existing coach. Turns out Poore apparently got a better offer, as he was named the head coach of Jefferson County High School, coaching the Patriots. To read more CLICK HERE!

A lot of the Washington Generals recent series of games at the Obras in Argentina has been making it's way to YouTube. But the stand out comes from YouTube user jmzurdo8916. A good chuck of coverage from one of the games at the Orbas has made it onto his channel, with well over an hour of footage from the game, including the warm ups and the first ten minutes of game play, as well as clips from the rest of the game. Below is a list of the clips.

Globetrotters Magic Circle 

Warm Ups and 4-Point Shot Explanation

The First 10 Minutes of Game Play

The Bucket Trick

Dribbling Tricks By Slick (I believe, the shot is far away) and More Gameplay

The Purse Ream

YMCA 

Air Ball and the De-Pantsing

Gameplay Followed By Globetrotter Football

While not the entire game as you can see that was definitley the highlights. Thanks to Jmzurdo8916 for sharing so much of the game. While the footage was not in English as is often pointed out for a Generals vs Globetrotters game, laughter is universal. Which is definitley shown here.

And to close off the post, here is a clip from a different game in Orbas on July 22nd featuring Special K teasing the Generals before the game starts.

The New Coach - A Washington Generals Parody From Funny or Die

I just got an e-mail directing me to an epicly funny video.

"The New Coach" is a video from Funny or Die made by Sean Kearney and Mark Saul. It is a parody of various inspirational sports teams, starring none other than our favorite group of underdogs, The Washington Generals.

Although they get the time and location wrong (hey, it says "based on" a true story), it is a funny look at what might have happened in the locker room during the Washington  Generals infamous win.

I encourage everyone to give it a watch, I think you all will be happy you did. And if you liked it GO HERE to comment on and rate the video.

The New Coach - watch more funny videos

An Awesome Video Of The Generals and Trotters

For today's update I am sharing a video I found, and love, that features a look at some of the best of the Globetrotters moments.

This video, features a musical montage of some of the Harlem Globetrotters greatest moments from their early days all the way to the late 80's. There is a version of this that has been on YouTune for a long time. But unlike the YouTube version, which only features the first 10 minutes this video is the full, almost half hour version.

Not surprisingly this video is all about the Globetrotters. But as anyone can tell you, you can't show a video of the best moments of the Globetrotters without showing their dancing partners for the majority of their existence. There are even a few shots of the Generals making baskets, which is rare in such videos.

It features everything from clips from public appearances and interacting with the fans, but the bulk of the video is shots of the Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals doing what the do best. Performing impressive trick shots and comedy that will make anyone laugh.

Best of the Guest Generals: Mark Winnie

While having a TV news reporter as a Guest General is certainly nothing new, Mark Winnie is still something of an anomaly among the Guest Generals.

Most guest Generals who come from TV are sports reporters, or the main anchor men. Sometimes they are morning show host as well or people who handle fluff pieces. Which is logical, a Washington Generals game is definitley not hard hitting news. But on 2009 in Atlanta, GA Mark Winnie found a way to break the mold.

A reporter out of Atlanta, Mark Winnie is best known for covering hard hitting crime stories in the area. First with the news papers, and then eventually on TV with WSBTV.

But on that night Mark took a break from covering the ugly side of the news, and became part of one of the best nights of family entertainment on earth. Donning the "00" he tried, without success of course, to help the Washington Generals get that elusive win.

But what I loved most about his time with the Washington Generals was the almost obligatory article he did afterwards.

Mark focused his coverage not on himself, or on the Globetrotters. No, Mark devoted his coverage to my favorite team, the Washington Generals. He even went so far as to give a mention to each member of the team he played with.

It is no secret that I respect the Washington Generals for working just as hard as the Trotters, without taking the glory. So seeing a reporter show that same appreciation definitley made me smile.

You can CLICK HERE to read the article. For one night Mark Winnie let the Washington Generals take center stage.

Washington Generals Top Players: Herman Schayes

Schayes (Right) as a Texas Cowboy.

Born in 1933 to Romanian Immigrants, Herman Schayes came from a family of basketball greats.

His older brother, Adolph "Dolph" Schayes, was an NBA great and basketball hall of famer, who played for the Syracuse Nationals (later the Philadelphia 76ers) for 16 years. Dolph's son Danny also played in the NBA for a whopping 18 years.

Some would say with a lineage like this, the 6-3 Schayes would seem a likely candidate for the NBA himself. And while basketball did define his life the same way it did his brother. Fate had different plans for Herman Schayes.

Herman started playing basketball in DeWitt Clinton High School until his senior year, when the city banned extra after school activities. With no team but a desire to play, Schayes and a group of neighborhood boys formed their own team playing in city parks, police leagues, or anywhere else they could.

With the help of his brother, Herman earned a scholarship in 1951 to what is now known as Colorado State University. He eventually transferred to Hofstra University in New York to be closer to home.

During the Summer after transferring to Hofstra, Herman played basketball for upscale hotels in the area. At the time it was common for such hotels to draft college players to play games, as a means of entertaining the guests.

During this time Schayes met hotel athletic director William "Red" Holzman, a friend of Red Klotz. Holzman asked the young player if he was interested in playing against the Harlem Globetrotters.

At the time, as the NBA was still struggling, The Globetrotters were considered the best there was in basketball. So Schayes jumped at the chance to be part of their legacy, even if it was as their opponent and foil. So it was that in 1954 Herman Schayes became the newest member of the Washington Generals.

Schayes played with the Generals from 1954 to 1959. But ironically, his most notable contribution to the team was playing as a member of the Texas Cowboys, one of the Generals many alter egos over the years.

The all white Cowboys persona was invented for a 98 game European tour in 1956. The Cowboys wore leather jackets with fringes and cowboy hats. Playing up the cowboy gimmick for the European crowd.

The team was advertised on the tour as a team equal to the Globetrotters in skill and experience. A team that seldom ever lost in the US, but had never faced the Harlem Globetrotters prior to the European tour. This was in actuality a fabrication, created to build up suspense for the games.

But no matter what the publicity claimed, the Texas Cowboys were still Washington Generals underneath. The Cowboys lost all 98 of their games during the tour, but they did help the Globetrotters bring laughter and an escape to a country still sober from World War II. Because as I said, they were still Washington Generals underneath.

Schayes returned to the states once the tour was over, and shortly thereafter he earned a tryout with the Syracuse Nationals, the team his brother belonged to. Unfortunately, he was drafted into the army later that same year in 1956 and never learned if he was good enough to play for the NBA.

Herman spent most of his time while enlisted playing in the Army's basketball league before returning to the Washington Generals in 1958. The same year Wilt Chamberlain joined the Globetrotters.

Shayes left the Generals in 1959, and took on several jobs; including managing a bowling alley, selling insurance, managing a health and beauty store.

After retirement, the former world traveler found himself feeling restless and took on a job as an athletic director in Springbrook Hospital in Florida. There he deals with patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, and schizophrenia. Helping people who, like him and the teammates he once traveled the world with, were wrongfully dismissed as losers themselves.

Herman Schayes never made it to the NBA. But in many ways he was the real winner.

He was part of the Globetrotter legacy at a time when the Trotters were the pinnacle of basketball. And while he may have spent his 6 years on the team as a "loser" on the court, Shayes has said in interviews he never saw himself as a loser in life.

Indeed, Shayes made his mark in the legacy that the Washington Generals and the Harlem Globetrotters have built together. He will never follow his brother into the Basketball Hall Of Fame. But when all is said and done, Herman Schayes became his own kind of superstar.

Related Links.
 
"Athletic Director No Stranger To Losing" - St. Petersburg Times