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Meadowlark Lemon, star attraction of the Harlem Globetrotters, dies at 83 Meadowlark Lemon, star attraction of the Harlem Globetrotters, dies at 83
(about 5 hours later)
Meadowlark Lemon, the “clown prince” of basketball’s barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters, whose blend of hook shots and humor brought joy to millions of fans around the world, died Dec. 27 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 83. Meadowlark Lemon, the “clown prince” of basketball’s barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters, whose blend of hook shots and humor brought joy to millions of fans around the world, died Dec. 27 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 83.
Globetrotters spokesman Brett Meister confirmed the death but did not know the cause.Globetrotters spokesman Brett Meister confirmed the death but did not know the cause.
Mr. Lemon had the skills to play professionally in the NBA, but he preferred to entertain. His dream of playing for the Globetrotters took shape after watching a newsreel of the all-black team at a movie theater in his native Wilmington, N.C., when he was 11.Mr. Lemon had the skills to play professionally in the NBA, but he preferred to entertain. His dream of playing for the Globetrotters took shape after watching a newsreel of the all-black team at a movie theater in his native Wilmington, N.C., when he was 11.
He ended up becoming arguably the team’s most popular player, a showman known as much for his confetti-in-the-water-bucket routine and slapstick comedy as his half-court hook shots and no-look, behind-the-back passes.He ended up becoming arguably the team’s most popular player, a showman known as much for his confetti-in-the-water-bucket routine and slapstick comedy as his half-court hook shots and no-look, behind-the-back passes.
As a sign of his crossover appeal, Mr. Lemon was inducted into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the International Clown Hall of Fame.As a sign of his crossover appeal, Mr. Lemon was inducted into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the International Clown Hall of Fame.
“My destiny was to make people happy,” he said as he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of fame as a “contributor to the game” in 2003.“My destiny was to make people happy,” he said as he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of fame as a “contributor to the game” in 2003.
Mr. Lemon played for the Globetrotters during the team’s heyday from the mid-1950s to the late-1970s, delighting fans with his comedy, showmanship and basketball skills. Traveling by car, bus, train or plane nearly every night, Mr. Lemon covered nearly 4 million miles to play in more than 100 countries and in front of popes and presidents, kings and queens. Mr. Lemon played for the Globe­trotters during the team’s heyday from the mid-1950s to the late-1970s, delighting fans with his comedy, showmanship and basketball skills. Traveling by car, bus, train or plane nearly every night, Mr. Lemon covered nearly 4 million miles to play in more than 100 countries and in front of popes and presidents, kings and queens.
He averaged 325 games per year during his prime, his luminous smile never dimming despite the heavy workload.He averaged 325 games per year during his prime, his luminous smile never dimming despite the heavy workload.
“Meadowlark was the most sensational, awesome, incredible basketball player I’ve ever seen,” NBA great and former Globetrotter Wilt Chamberlain said shortly before his death in 1999. “People would say it would be Dr. J or even (Michael) Jordan. For me it would be Meadowlark Lemon.”“Meadowlark was the most sensational, awesome, incredible basketball player I’ve ever seen,” NBA great and former Globetrotter Wilt Chamberlain said shortly before his death in 1999. “People would say it would be Dr. J or even (Michael) Jordan. For me it would be Meadowlark Lemon.”
Mr. Lemon spent 24 years with the Globetrotters, touring with the team until he left in 1979 to start his own team. He played on a variety of other exhibition teams before rejoining the Globetrotters for a short tour in 1994.Mr. Lemon spent 24 years with the Globetrotters, touring with the team until he left in 1979 to start his own team. He played on a variety of other exhibition teams before rejoining the Globetrotters for a short tour in 1994.
Playing against the Globetrotters’ nightly foil, the Washington Generals, Mr. Lemon left fans in awe with an array of shots, passes and the nifty moves.Playing against the Globetrotters’ nightly foil, the Washington Generals, Mr. Lemon left fans in awe with an array of shots, passes and the nifty moves.
He kept up a running commentary throughout the games and was known for his tricks of putting confetti in a water bucket or pulling down the pants of an “unsuspecting” referee.He kept up a running commentary throughout the games and was known for his tricks of putting confetti in a water bucket or pulling down the pants of an “unsuspecting” referee.
“We played serious games too, against the Olympic teams and the College All-Stars,” Mr. Lemon said. “But that didn’t stop us from putting the comedy in there.”“We played serious games too, against the Olympic teams and the College All-Stars,” Mr. Lemon said. “But that didn’t stop us from putting the comedy in there.”
In the 1970s, Mr. Lemon appeared in movies, including “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh,” and was featured on talk shows and in the cartoon “Scooby Doo,” with Scatman Crothers doing his voice.In the 1970s, Mr. Lemon appeared in movies, including “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh,” and was featured on talk shows and in the cartoon “Scooby Doo,” with Scatman Crothers doing his voice.
Meadow George Lemon III was born April 25, 1932, in Wilmington, N.C. (He lengthened his name after joining the Globetrotters.)Meadow George Lemon III was born April 25, 1932, in Wilmington, N.C. (He lengthened his name after joining the Globetrotters.)
Rigging a makeshift hoop in his backyard, he taught himself the sport and eventually became a standout high school player. He briefly played at Florida A&M University before joining the Globetrotters in 1954. Rigging a makeshift hoop in his back yard, he taught himself the sport and eventually became a standout high school player. He briefly played at Florida A&M University before joining the Globe­trotters in 1954.
He missed a game in 1955 because of food poisoning in Germany, but that was the last one. What followed was a run, by his calculations, of more than 16,000 straight games that took him to places he never could have imagined.He missed a game in 1955 because of food poisoning in Germany, but that was the last one. What followed was a run, by his calculations, of more than 16,000 straight games that took him to places he never could have imagined.
“I was one of the most fortunate athletes that ever lived,” he said. “I was able to watch history.”“I was one of the most fortunate athletes that ever lived,” he said. “I was able to watch history.”
Mr. Lemon became an ordained minister in 1986 and was a motivational speaker, touring the country to meet with children at basketball camps and youth prisons with his Scottsdale-based Meadowlark Lemon Ministries.Mr. Lemon became an ordained minister in 1986 and was a motivational speaker, touring the country to meet with children at basketball camps and youth prisons with his Scottsdale-based Meadowlark Lemon Ministries.
“I feel if I can touch a kid in youth prison, he won’t go to the adult prison,” Lemon said in 2003.“I feel if I can touch a kid in youth prison, he won’t go to the adult prison,” Lemon said in 2003.
He never lost touch with his beloved sport. Lemon said he rose every day at 4 a.m. and, after prayers, headed for the gym to run sprints and practice shooting.He never lost touch with his beloved sport. Lemon said he rose every day at 4 a.m. and, after prayers, headed for the gym to run sprints and practice shooting.
“I have to keep that hook shot working,” he said.“I have to keep that hook shot working,” he said.
— Associated Press— Associated Press