"Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemmon dies at 83" Topic

George "Meadowlark" Lemon, the basketball star who entertained millions of fans around the world with his antics as a longtime member of the Harlem Globetrotters, died Sunday in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 83.

Lemon played 24 seasons and more than 16,000 games with the Globetrotters, the touring exhibition basketball team known for its slick ball-handling, practical jokes, red-white-and-blue uniforms and multiyear winning streaks against overmatched opponents.

He also was one of a handful of Globetrotters whose fame translated sports, especially among children during the team's heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. Lemon was immortalized in a Harlem Globetrotters cartoon series and appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show," episodes of "Scooby Doo" and many national TV commercials.

George "Meadowlark" Lemon, the basketball star who entertained millions of fans around the world with his antics as a longtime member of the Harlem Globetrotters, died Sunday in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 83.

Lemon played 24 seasons and more than 16,000 games with the Globetrotters, the touring exhibition basketball team known for its slick ball-handling, practical jokes, red-white-and-blue uniforms and multiyear winning streaks against overmatched opponents.

He also was one of a handful of Globetrotters whose fame translated sports, especially among children during the team's heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. Lemon was immortalized in a Harlem Globetrotters cartoon series and appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show," episodes of "Scooby Doo" and many national TV commercials.

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, Lemon joined the Globetrotters in 1954 after serving two years in the Army. Over the next quarter-century, he and the team played before popes, kings, queens and presidents in almost 100 countries.

Lemon left the Globetrotters in 1979 to form his own comedic basketball teams, which performed under the names Meadowlark Lemon's Bucketeers, the Shooting Stars and Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem All Stars.

He returned to the Harlem Globetrotters for a 50-game "comeback" tour in 1993.

Lemon was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. He spent the last several years of his life serving as an ordained minister and motivational speaker.

He brought smiles to millions.

May he RIP.

Damn. RIP.

He was also an ordained minister.

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Great man, great player, great entertainer.

I was a big fan of His
RIP

The GREAT Meadowlark Lemon.

I'm trying to remember, but I believe I may have seen Mr. Lemon and the world famous Harlem Globetrotters in person here in Fort Worth at what was then called the Tarrant County Convention Center (now called the Fort Worth Convention Center) back in the '70s, say, around '73 to '75.

Not only was he the "Clown Prince of Basketball", but he was also drafted by the U.S. Army for two years (1952-54) and, later, became an ordained minister in 1986. The great Wilt Chamberlain was once asked who, in his opinion, was one of the most talented basketball players he'd ever seen. His immediate answer was "Meadowlark Lemon" – and he was right!

Godspeed, Mr. Lemon, and thank you very much for all the laughs, good times, your ministry, and your service to our country. I salute you, sir.

A tribute to Meadowlark Lemmon

youtube.com/watch?v=yRdvXBFaBMQ

I saw Meadowlark and the rest of the Globetrotters in the mid-'70s, too. Great fun.

RIP, sir.

I saw the Globetrotters in the 70's too but really knew about Meadlowlark from the many times the Globetrotters appeared on episodes of Scooby Doo (that really dates me ) I'll have to google to see if they did their own voices for the show.

Caught a glimpse of him in person back in early 2000's. Rest easy,and thanks for the fun and everything.

I saw him with the Globetrotters twice. A great entertainer and basketball player. R.I.P.

I saw him for the first time at Madison Square Garden in 1977 with the Globetrotters. My Uncle used to take me to all sorts of sporting events when I was a child, and this is one of those memories that has endured the test of time.

Rest in peace Mr. Lemon. You were a great entertainer and you will be remembered and cherished by many and more of my generation.

rip a great sportsman

I got to see him play twice with the Trotters back in the Curly Neal days. Great player, showman, entertainer and good will ambassador. As well as a fine man and great example for our youth.

Thank you and Rest in Peace.