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Globetrotters entertain fans at Covelli Centre
Photo
Globie, the team’s mascot, covers the face of fan Dominic Tarnoci with his jersey during a game of musical chairs prior to the start of the game. As usual, the Globetrotters topped the Generals, this time by a score of 69-67.
Globetrotters wow fans at Covelli Centre with …
By Steve WILAJ
YOUNGSTOWN
The first time Tracey Spooner saw “Too Tall” was in a hotel during a recent trip to New York City. Spooner and her son then approached the 5-foot-2 Harlem Globetrotters guard and took a picture with him.
“He was at the same one we were at and we just kind of got to talking,” said Spooner, a Columbiana native. “It was neat.”
Thursday marked the second time the Spooners saw Too Tall in person, as the Globetrotters 2015 world tour made a stop in Youngstown for a matchup with their longtime rivals, the Washington Generals, at the Covelli Centre.
“We hung out with Too Tall in New York, so it’s nice to see him in action,” Spooner said. “We were just happy he was going to be here tonight. We love it.”
The 89-year-old Harlem squad faced off with the Generals — back in action for the first time since 2010 and looking for their first win since 1971 — in front of a large crowd. And as usual, the Globetrotters came out on top, this time by a score of 69-67.
Urged on by 6-foot-9 inch front man “Big Easy,” the crowd ate up the Globetrotters’ antics — from their spontaneous dance routines to the fake water-bucket toss.
“The Globetrotters are a good time,” said Rob Komara of Poland. “They’re fun to watch and very entertaining. They’re good people, too.”
Midway through the first quarter, Big Easy took Komara’s 20-month-old son from their front-row seats onto the court.
“He lifted him up on court and he was smiling and everybody was cheering him on,” Komara said. “So it’s just a lot of fun.”
The Globetrotters — wearing blue tops with red pinstriped shorts — also displayed their signature flashy ball-handling and acrobatic dunks. Big Easy threw in an impressive half-court hook shot as well.
“We have a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old and they kept seeing the commercials on TV,” said Aaron Wallace, of Mineral Ridge. “So we came out and the Globetrotters put on a good show. They always have.”
Kristy Lopez of Garrettsville, whose family has made it a tradition of watching the Globetrotters, agreed with Wallace.
“We’re having a great time,” she said. “And I’ve never been to [the Covelli Centre], which is very nice. It’s nice because there’s really no bad seat. But our son is having a great time, which was our goal. Plus we got some great pictures.”
Not even a slightly deflated basketball (which was promptly replaced) during the Globetrotters’ signature football play could interrupt the show.
“It looked like it would be a lot of fun and it is,” said Zachary Ott, of Warren. “The jokes have been great and it’s been very lively and exciting.”