By Nate West & Jimmy McCarthy
News Editor / Staff Writer
On Wednesday, the Harlem Globetrotters brought their famous show to the Reilly Center, and fans of all ages were more than pleased with what they saw.
“I did enjoy the game very much. It was basically a bunch of tricks with a basketball but they were playing an actual game,” Rachel Noone, a freshman accounting major said. “The game was suited to all ages, and I think I enjoyed it as much as the younger kids did.”
Steve Marcus said he also had a good time. He was excited to see them because he saw them play as a child and knew what to expect.
“My roommate Marquise Simmons got us tickets and I was excited since I hadn’t seen the Globetrotters since I was probably six or seven,” Marcus, a junior journalism and mass communication major, said. “They have unbelievable athletes on that team and watching all those alley oops is always entertaining. They aren’t just the best athletes in the world, but great showmen as well.”
The theme for the Globetrotters 2013 world tour is “You Write the Rules.” Now, for the first time in Globetrotters history, the crowd dictates the outcome of the game by choosing the rules. Marcus said the crowd’s involvement really added to the atmosphere in the Reilly Center.
“The crowd interaction has also been what the Globetrotters have been about,” he said. “It’s great seeing all the little kids so excited but I liked how you can now vote in new rules. A 35-foot shot is no joke and should be worth four points. It got the crowd into it but the best part was the two ball action. I didn’t know where to watch.”
The rules can be found on the Globetrotter’s website where people can vote for the set of rules they would like to see play out on court by the team. Playing with two basketballs, scoring double points, or six players on five are a few options that kids and families can set for the game, according to the Harlem Globetrotters Website.
Shea Raff, a sophomore journalism and mass communication major, enjoyed the involvement from the crowd.
“The crowd definitely got involved between all the kids interacting with the players. They also had the crowd decide the rules of the fourth quarter which was neat,” Raff said. “I loved the old-fashioned skit with the bucket of water and confetti. The young boy in front of me looked like he was having a blast.”
Before the game started, families and students took part in the 30-minute pre-show, “Magic Pass,” where they had the ability to spend time on court with Globetrotters that included Big Easy Lofton and the 7’4″ Stretch Middleton.
Shooting, learning unique tricks from players, and collecting autographs and photos allowed families and students to have a special experience before tipoff, according the Globetrotters website
Noone believes this shows that just because Bona’s has a small student body, we can still draw big names to campus. Raff believes it’s a great event not only for Bona’s but for the surrounding community. Marcus agreed.
“It’s always great when a top tier organization known worldwide, and that has performed in front of the largest basketball crowds in the world, comes to Olean and St. Bonaventure,” he said. “It’s great that they don’t change the show no matter if they’re performing in front of 35,000 or 3,000. They still give the audience a wonderful show. I truly enjoyed myself.”
