Photo of the Day, November 20, 2009: Red Leaf
Bite Size News, November 19: Old Ironsides & Bunker Hill Edition
Bite Size News, November 20: Who Needs The Money? Edition
Boston Seventh Strangest City in U.S.
Boston Blotter: Gang Shooting in Dorchester
On Saturday, Bostonist had the opportunity to interview a member of the most famous basketball team in the world, outside of the Celtics of course, the Harlem Globetrotters. We met with Buckets Blakes at the Square One Mall in Saugus, MA and had a chance to speak with him after he was done signing autographs and entertaining the crowd.
Bostonist: Buckets, the Globetrotters are an American icon, they’ve been around for a long time now and they’ve always strived to be a positive influence. How does it feel to be a part of such an organization?
Buckets: It’s a wonderful feeling. I'm wearing my uniform with pride. I know the accomplishments that the Globetrotters have made over our 83 year history. It’s overwhelming, traveling all over the world and always getting to be the home team no matter where we are. The Globetrotters have introduced the game of basketball to parts of the world that don’t have electricity or running water. We’re definitely innovators and trend setters and I think what keeps us around and what people love the most is that for at least two hours of everyone’s night not only can we put a smile on their face but the whole family can come and hang out together. A lot of kids don’t like to hang out with their parents but at a Globetrotters game you’ll see the children, their parents, and their grandparents and that’s really rare now at a sporting event.
Bostonist: With modern technology and competing with the internet, and computers, and TV, how do you compete with that? Is it about making it a family friendly atmosphere?
Buckets: Well it’s always been family oriented and that’s what has kept us around. For the young and the young at heart I think the Globetrotters have made such a positive impression on the parents when they were kids, that they want to bring their kids so they can have that great experience. Our CEO said it best, “Everyone has a good Globetrotters story.” and we want to continue all that with this new generation of Globetrotters in 2009.
Bostonist: For kids that come to the show and say “Wow! I wanna be a Harlem Globetrotter!” Obviously they’ll need more than just basketball skills so what do they need to do to help make that dream a reality?
Buckets: The Globetrotters are known as guys with great character. Not only guys with great basketball talent, but guys who will be able to carry that torch and be able to go into the schools, into hospitals and rec centers and visit kids and get that positive message across. That it’s about being a great person. It’s not just about being a great basketball player or the most popular kid. So not only should they work on their game and their fundamental skills, but on being the best person they can be every day because that’s what the Globetrotters are all about.
The Globetrotters will be at the TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday 3/29 @ 1pm and Monday 3/30 @ 7pm. The Monday event will also feature an appearance by the Blue Man Group.
Bostonist has learned that there will be a family special:
Family Four Pack Offer - Good for Monday evening ONLY 3/30 @ 7PM
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four junior soda's for $99.00
Promo Code: FAMILY
These are available through Ticketmaster.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Post a comment (Comment Policy)