On Jan. 4 at Evraz Place in Regina, three Moose Jaw Families for Change (MJFFC) clients hopped onto the court with American basketball exhibition team the Harlem Globetrotters to shoot hoops, learn tricks, and get autographs.
The Globetrotters are a legendary basketball team known for their comedy, athleticism, and being ambassadors of goodwill and charity. They are known and loved all over the world.
Among a long, long list of accomplishments, the Harlem Globetrotters broke barriers for Black basketball players in the 1940s, had the world’s first female to play on a men’s pro basketball team in 1985, and in 2002 were inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Well, one of our participants saw that the Globetrotters were coming to Regina for a show,” explained Mike Bachiu, residential program co-ordinator at MJFFC, who was the driver and photographer for the trip. “He wanted to get tickets and bring his friends, so we booked this trip together.
“For some of (the MJFFC clients), this was their very first sporting event ever, so they were a little nervous. The Globetrotters made it an enjoyable experience, one that every person said they wanted to repeat.”
The group purchased Magic Pass tickets, which gave them the opportunity to get on the court with the Globetrotters and opposing team the Washington Generals before the show began.
“It was awesome, and we won!” said Devin Magnuson. “They beat the other team, the Washington Generals. And I spun a basketball on one finger.”
“I never got to do that before,” said Calvin Schaaf. “They were very friendly. My favourite part was watching ‘Bulldog’ (Mack, one of the players) being funny.”
One of the friends who was originally supposed to join the crew for their trip was unable to make it — so Schaaf, Magnuson, and Jason Nanan, the third member of the group, bought a Globetrotters basketball and collected autographs for him.
The entire team, including the coaches, signed the ball.
“It was a really great experience, and we hope to do it again,” Bachiu said.
