CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Harlem Globetrotters will stop in Charleston this week as part of a tour, in Huntington on Tuesday and at the Charleston Civic Center on Wednesday.
El Gato Melendez, the Globetrotters first Puerto Rican-born member, said they’ve mixed old and new routines for their 90th anniversary tour.
“We have a lot of spectacular dunks and a lot of interaction, but we’ve also still got some of the vintage stuff like the three-man weave and the bucket of confetti,” El Gato said. “We always bring new stuff and a lot of excitement.
One new touch El Gato described was wearing vintage short-shorts that basketball players used to wear until the early 90’s. He said being a Globetrotter was as much about charity as it is about putting on a show on the court.
“We visit about 400 school and hospitals around the nation,” he said. “I speak Spanish, so we get a chance to reach outside of the United States to Spanish-speaking countries. They need some support as well.”
It’s a competitve selection process to become a Globetrotter, Melendez said.
“We have recruiters that go all around the nation and pick up good players first and good athletes, and good people. Because you have to have both,” he said. “That’s why there hasn’t been that many Globetrotters in 90 years; about 800.”
El Gato, born Orlando Melendez, played college basketball for UNC, appearing in Final Fours in 1998 and 2000. He became a member of the Globetrotters in 2008.
Wednesday night’s show at the Civic Center begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available at the Charleston Civic Center website.