Meadowlark Lemon, a star with the Harlem Globetrotters for almost a quarter century, died on Sunday at the age of 83. Since then, Lemon played in more than 16,000 games for the team before retiring in 1979 and then returning in 1993 for a 50-game comeback season.
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“For a generation of fans, the name Meadowlark Lemon was synonymous with the Harlem Globetrotters”, Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider said.
The 83-year-old Lemon, whose blend of hook shots and humor brought joy to millions around the world was skilled enough to play professionally but wanted to entertain.
It is easy to say the Globetrotters are the greatest ambassadors of the game of basketball, and that Lemon “The Clown Prince of Basketball”, was its ultimate ambassador. Arguably the most well known Harlem Globetrotter Lemon visited more than 100 countries performing for royalty, popes and presidents.
‘I said, “That’s mine”. His talent and application was rewarded in 2003 when he was inducted into the hall of fame. Meadowlark Lemon is perhaps the most widely recognized Harlem Globetrotter that has ever played for the team.
Lemon, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
I got to see the Globetrotters-with Meadowlark Lemon, Curly Neal, Geese and others play in person a couple of times as a kid and multiple times on TV.
Crothers also voiced Lemon on the CBS animated series, The New Scooby-Doo Movies.
Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein signed Chamberlain to a one-year contract in 1958 and he developed a gag where Chamberlain would pick Lemon up, toss him into the air, and catch him like a baby.
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No matter where Lemon and the Globetrotters went, fans left with huge smiles and memories of the tricks they saw. Later in life, he became a minister and motivational speaker. Lemon said he rose every day at 4 a.m. and, after prayers, headed for the gym to run sprints and practice shooting.
