Hoop Dreams II

Yes, I'm a big basketball fan. Have been since an early age. The basketball scene in Arkansas City looks pretty good this year, especially at Cowley College where a nationally ranked team is playing several home games on the W.S. Scott Auditorium court.

Speaking of the Auditorium court, it was on this same court, years ago, that the Harlem Globetrotters played. I was just a young boy then but it was a real thrill to see the famed "Goose" Tatum and Meadowlark Lemon go through their bag of tricks while showing tremendous basketball skills. Impressive and funny at the same time. The late Tatum was called the "clown prince" of basketball, as I recall.

The Harlem style of basketball will return to Ark City early next year, but not at the Auditorium, which I am told was already scheduled for a Cowley Tigers event that day. Too bad, because I think W.S. Scott — which used to be called simply the Auditorium-Gymnasium — is the perfect place for a big community event like this.

Anyhow, the Early Bird Lions Club is putting together a team of 25 to play against the Harlem Ambassadors, a team of men and women players who play in the Harlem style featuring high-flying slam dunks and dazzling ball-handling tricks.

The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Arkansas City High School gym. Admission is $6 in advance or $8 at the door.

I hope to attend.

The Harlem Ambassadors team has players that are drug-free, college-educated and positive in appearance, according to a flyer on the group provided by the Lions club. They are committed to giving their audience quality family entertainment and serving as positive role models for young people.

BACK TO THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS:

The Ambassadors are patterned on the Harlem Globetrotters who played games against Ark City teams in the 1950s. Among the Globetrotter greats seen here during that decade wer Tatum and Lemon.

According to Traveler archives, the Globetrotters first came to town for a game March 9, 1951 in the Auditorium-Gymnasium.

The big star with the Globetrotters then was Duke Cumberland, a 16-year veteran with the team.

Former Ark City teachers and coaches were among the players who represented Ark City. The local Jaycees team included Fred Humphries, Orville Gregory, Bunt Speer, Gene Snyder, Charles Sewell and Dick Hatfield.

The Globetrotters won that game 62-41.

"In the second half, the Trotters treated the audience with several of their more famous tricks, including Duke Cumberland's attempt at kicking a field goal, the touchdown play and the elusive ball tricks," reported sports writer John Ogren.