I’ve written many times about my longstanding relationship with the Harlem Globetrotters, and how I eventually became the P.A. announcer for the team on a couple tours in 2012 and 2013-14. But, I don’t think I’ve ever written about how it all began.

My relationship with the Globetrotters began because one player went out of his way to befriend me. His name was Larry “Gator” Rivers. Gator died recently at the age of 73 (1949-2023), and I will surely miss him.

In March 1979, I saw the Globetrotters in person for the first time. It was at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. I was hanging out in a back hallway, talking to a guy at the merchandise table and he mentioned the players bus would be pulling up on that side of the building at any minute. I watched out the window, and sure enough, the guy was right.

As the players were getting off the bus, I saw them and ran outside to get their autographs on the official Harlem Globetrotters program I had just bought. I was the only person around and they were all willing to sign; Curly Neal, Geese Ausbie, Nate Branch, and others. It was a dream come true. I was meeting my favorite basketball players of all time, whom prior to this night, I had only watched on television numerous times, thinking, ‘boy would I love to meet those players.’

That was a memorable night. I attended the game with both of my parents, I was only 14 years old. Some how I was able to get down to the end of the court and take photos with my Kodak Instamatic camera, with flash cubes, and no security guarded chased me away. Boy, how times have changed.

In March of 1982, I was taking some classes at Jamestown Community College and had tickets for the Globetrotters game that night in the JCC gym. One girl came into the building where I was waiting for a ride and said she had just seen the Globetrotters downtown at the Holiday Inn. So, I rushed to the Holiday Inn to see if I could meet some of the players.

As individual and groups of players were coming into the hotel lobby carrying food they purchased from a restaurant nearby, I began to strike up a conversation with each of them. I ended up riding the elevator with a couple players and helped them carry their bags of food and drinks.

Geese Ausbie, again was very friendly to me (and we would later become good friends), but there was one player in particular, Larry “Gator” Rivers, who befriended me immediately and said, “come and see me after the game tonight, and I’ll have something for you.” Well, of course that piqued my interest. I told my date, “I have to go see Gator after the game. He said he has something for me.”

So, after the game I approached Gator as he was mobbed by kids on his way to the locker room. He said, “Jeff (remembering my name) come in the locker room.”

So, I pushed my way through the crowd and went into the locker room (something that is forbidden these days). Gator said, “Hey man, I have my knee pads here for you.”

He signed one of them and gave them both to me.

A few years later, I saw Gator again when I was attending ORU and the Globetrotters played a game at the Mabee Center. Gator remembered me and took me backstage to meet the rest of the team. He introduced me to Curly Neal, “This is my friend Jeff from Jamestown.”

“Any friend of Gator’s is a friend of mine,” Neal said.

I kept in touch with Gator over the years and in February 2015 he invited me to his home in Savannah, Georgia, to M.C. a basketball event he organized, and to play my trumpet at a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the Oldest Black Church in America (First African Baptist Church). I was honored!

Gator was a great guy and a pillar of the community in Savannah right up until his recent illness. He has been serving for many years as the Chatham County District 2 Commission, and a special election will be held in September to fill his seat.

I know he has received his ultimate healing, but I will certainly miss his friendship and our conversations. In a huge honor, the Sunday morning version of the “Today” show on NBC last week, aired a eulogy type video on Gator’s life and accomplishments. That’s a testament to the fact that he was well known and well loved, but he will forever be the very first link to my life-long relationship with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters.

TULSA BEACON RADIO

My guest this week on “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” will be the CEO of New Life Ranch, Tom Graney. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.