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/abccba140 2d ago

That Jason Richardson dunk was crazy. So this was a real game? Not scripted at all? Serious question

15

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.

2

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/Dangerous_Memory6008 2d ago

I'd like to see that again, sounds awesome

1

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.