Harlem Globetrotter Fred "Curly" Neal dies at 77

[Schoonerman]

Former Harlem Globetrotter great, Fred "Curly" Neal, died today at 77. Neal is one of five Globetrotters to have his number retired and he played in more then 6,000 games as a Globetrotter. RIP Curly. Thanks for the great fun.

 

[iasooner1]

Yes indeed RIP Curly !

 

[Senior Sooner]

RIP, #22...

 

[Plainosooner]

Thanks for the info. Except for Meadowlark Lemon, most likely the most well known Globie.

 

[iasooner1]

Was Curly & Lemon on the team that won a real game against a pro team once ?

 

[Plainosooner]

Was Curly & Lemon on the team that won a real game against a pro team once ?

No. Curly was 5 when the Globies beat the Lakers in 1948. They repeated the feat in 1949.

Meadowlark Lemon was a decade older, but he didn't join the Globetrotters until 1955. The pro league that eventually became the NBA did not integrate until later. So the Globetrotters beat all white pro league teams, which likely had an impact on the NBA changing their racial views.

 

[Patriotgame]

Former Harlem Globetrotter great, Fred "Curly" Neal, died today at 77. Neal is one of five Globetrotters to have his number retired and he played in more then 6,000 games as a Globetrotter. RIP Curly. Thanks for the great fun.

How awful! The Trotters from back in the 70's were the best IMO...