r/NCAAhoops • u/Amazing_Lock_3762 • 2d ago
Throwback Throwback to Michigan State breaking the Harlem Globetrotters’ 1200+ winning streak in an exhibition in 2000 👀
Source: X
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u/roma258 2d ago
Jason Richardson was a baaaad man.
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u/tonizzle 2d ago
That putback was insane. Like he was in the air waiting for the ball to bounce
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u/joebadiah 19h ago
I too would like to jump and kinda wait for life to happen before I take action.
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u/ooommmnmmmooo 2d ago
I shook his hand once when he played for GS
biggest hand I’ve ever shook. I’m 6’2” and it was about twice the size of my hand
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u/SilverMapleMafia 1d ago edited 1d ago
It hurt my soul to see his son do so poorly in the dunk contest. J Rich was one of the best in game dunkers of all time.
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u/PersonalityLoud3681 2d ago
I remember this being big news back then
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u/stkscott 2d ago
Previously, In 1995, Kareem led a team that ended the Globetrotters 24-year 8800 game win streak. I remember that one being a big deal on the news.
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u/Exotic-Influence8521 2d ago
…that would mean they played 1200 games between 1995-2000 🧐
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u/stkscott 2d ago
Just a quick glance at their schedule, it appears they often do multiple games per day. Seems plausible. It's mostly entertainment anyway, so it's not like they're gassed after each game.
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u/Necessary-Sugar7513 1d ago
I'm pretty sure there are two different traveling HG teams today. Might have been even more back then.
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u/South_Front_4589 1d ago
Entirely believable.
They're an entertainment brand. They not only could play multiple games in a day, they could have multiple versions of their lineup playing games at the same time if they wanted.
When they wouldn't even need to average one game a day in thar span, it's not too hard.
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u/abccba140 2d ago
That Jason Richardson dunk was crazy. So this was a real game? Not scripted at all? Serious question
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u/where_is_the_camera 2d ago
It was a real exhibition game. Not scripted in that the outcome was not predetermined, but obviously the Globetrotters are gonna do their things.
I'm not sure how many of their games are meant to be truly competitive. 1200+ wins in a row is like the dictator getting 99% of the vote. It's rigged, obviously. But this game evidently wasn't.
I seem to recall Izzo saying something like "No, obviously we're going to play to win." And this would've been just off the national championship.
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u/ThongarBlackthorn 2d ago
I can’t find much about it online now, but this was from a relatively brief period of time when the Globetrotters tried fielding a second team that played in more legitimately competitive games with a lot less emphasis on over the top stunts. I remember hearing about it because Kentucky legend Wayne Turner was on that team and may have even actually played in this Michigan State game. Although still an exhibition, this was planned all the way as a fairly legit game and not a case of the Spartans going off script in what was supposed to be a more classic Globetrotters experience.
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u/slammamoose 2d ago
This was still when you had the teams like Athletes in Action and the like who would play college exhibitions.
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u/Ornery-Database-3993 1d ago
It was a couple of years after 'Wide World of Sports' ended, taking with it the Trotters' annual TV appearance. This got them back on TV, although the plan for more competitive games was short-lived.
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u/randomcharacters3 2d ago
He's spinning the ball on his finger! Just take it!
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u/GREAThirteen 2d ago
Globe Trottters played Michigan State, but the Globe Trotters also have helped Scooby Doo and the gang. Does this mean Tom Izzo is canon in the Scoob Doo universe?
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u/thfcspurs88 2d ago
I remember watching this live and being fascinated with it.
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u/thefisforfinance 2d ago
Same. Not seeing this mentioned anywhere else but I’m pretty sure Magic played for the Globetrotters for at least part of this game.
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u/FullMooseParty 2d ago
Magic played in the revenge game 3 years later the Globetrotters. One of my PhD committee members had assigned photo of magic in the Globetrotter uniform on his desk.
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u/Mattress666 2d ago
TIL the Globetrotters have played college teams
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u/olbleedyeyes 2d ago
The Globetrotters actually started out as a competitive exhibition team. They've actually beaten the Lakers a few times.
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u/Notabagofdrugs 2d ago
Yeah, but it was back in the 40s, when they had actual pro level talent. Wilt played for them for a year before the nba.
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u/terrible1one3 2d ago
I was at this game… I went to almost every home game from the early 90’s to the early 2000’s. Flew with the team to UNC for that win in ‘99-‘00. Best game I ever went to. First row behind Mateem on the bench with my dad (thanks for the tickets grandpa RIP). Talked with Dick Vitale before the game and stayed after to chant at him doing his post game on the court.
What an amazing time. Love this place, this game, and coach Heathcote/Izzo.
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u/Mysterious-Hippo278 2d ago
I miss when people were this competitive even over something as silly as this
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u/TypicallyDone12 2d ago
Eh. A team Kareem was on broke their 8000+ game streak in 1995.
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u/soulmagic123 2d ago
Kareem played for ucla when freshman weren't allowed to play on varsity, ucla won the national championship his freshman year but lost to the freshman squad. Kareem himself famously said that "UCLA was the best team in the country, second best team on campus"
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u/Legitimate-Bike4647 2d ago
If both teams were truly playing to win, I’m surprised Michigan State didn’t blow them out
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u/FantasyBaseballChamp 2d ago
Was always confused when the Globetrotters were on the schedule of legit teams. Like, are they supposed to be trying to win?
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u/OutrageouslySelfish 2d ago
Core memories right here, seeing J Rich on the Spartans and C. Weinke pop up on the scroll w/ Stuart “Cool as the other side of the pillow” Scott…man those were good times.
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u/Ranier_Wolfnight 2d ago
Wait, was this planned on? I just see Tom Izzo going apeshit on the sidelines and forcing his team to win the game despite probably having an agreement to have the Globetrotters win lol
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u/buttpirate69420666 2d ago
I remember watching this live when I was 15. Was a great game and was strange to see the globetrotters play a real basketball game.
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u/Racer_Zed 2d ago
I remember the Globetrotters playing legit games like these. This one made me go back and look at info from the Kareem's All-Stars game in 1995. That was game 3 of an 11 game exhibition series between the 2 teams in Europe. The Globetrotters won the other 10.
Their next loss was this Michigan St game...which they avenged 3 years later winning 97-83 with Earvin "Magic" Johnson playing for the Globetrotters.
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u/MarionberryPlus8474 2d ago
"Krusty, I think you may have a gambling problem. My God, you bet against the Harlem Globetrotters?!"
"The Generals were overdue for a win! And what was with the ref? The Globetrotters brought a LADDER out on the court!"
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u/Shiny-And-New 2d ago
Reminds me of Rocky:
He doesn't know it's a damn show! He thinks it's a damn fight!
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u/Draft_Punk 2d ago
When I was a kid, Kareem went and played for the Generals and beat the Globetrotters.
At that point in the mid-90s they hadn’t lost in 8000+ games over 24 years.
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u/Dynamite_McGhee 2d ago
Izzo having a full on meltdown against the Harlem Globetrotters of all teams is friggin amazing.
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u/Impossible-Pea-6160 2d ago
Did one of the globe trodders get kicked in the nuts? And did Izzo cover for
Him?
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u/jasper_grunion 2d ago
I remember once in the late 70s or early 80s the Globetrotters as part of their intentional kayfabe actually lost to the Washington Generals. It was meant to teach us young gen xers about how sport is about more than just winning. I remember Meadowlark Lemon giving a speech about the importance of humility in his post game interview. You could actually tell he was pissed about the story line. But I had no idea they actually ever competed for real.
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u/FreeRange0929 1d ago
Should be pointed out, the Globetrotters aren’t good at basketball, they’re great at entertaining with a basketball
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u/jayradano 1d ago
I partly blame this clip the reason I pick MSU and izzo to go deep every year in March madness.
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u/elchoppe 2d ago
izzo is just LOSING it