In 7th grade, I made a list of 60 goals I wanted to achieve in my life. Some were big (Win an Oscar, a Tony, and a Grammy) and some not so big (Read Gone with the Wind). After having a fabulous experience checking one SUPER item off, I decided to keep at it and achieve as many of my 7th grade goals as possible.
22. See the Harlem Globetrotters.
There are exactly three entries on my 7th Grade Life List that have anything to do with sports.
See the Harlem Globetrotters. Be able to do a back handspring. Learn to play golf and tennis.
Needless to say, sports have never been a big part of my life. I played t-ball. I was a middle school cheerleader but that's about it. I did have a lot of fun as a child going to San Francisco Giants and Seattle Seahawks games with my dad but it never translated into a longterm love for the game.
So, it's not surprising that the one sporting event on the list is a little less sports and a lot more entertainment. For any of you who don't know, the Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combine athleticism, comedy, and plain old shenanigans for a whole lot of fun.
I reached out to the team when I heard they were coming to our area and told them all about my list. They were incredibly generous and gave us four tickets to a game at SIU Arena in Carbondale AND invited us to a pre-game meet and greet.
We met the shortest Harlem Globetrotter in history whose name is (obviously) Too Tall and brand new player Rocket. Both players were so kind and generous with the boys and clearly very excited to be on the Globetrotter team.
The pre-game entertainment also included lots of dancing and silliness from the Globetrotters' mascot Globie - a HUGE hit with the under 10 set. The game itself was a match off between the Globetrotters and their infamous rivals the Washington Generals.
I'm sure I would have had fun no matter when I crossed this particular item off the list. However, attending a Globetrotter game with my two young sons was a blast. Silliness and shenanigans are basically the summit of all humor when you're 5 and 3 so Griffin and Amos were thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.
Griffin was totally swept up into the game and burst into tears when it looked like the Washington Generals might win. Luckily, the Harlem Globetrotters pulled out a win during overtime and there was some major celebrating among the Holland family.
I think Griffin best summed it up on the way home...
"The Globetrotters are definitely a special team."
Thank you to the Harlem Globetrotters for sponsoring this post. Check out their event schedule here and get in on the fun with your own family!
