I had only met Fred “Curly” Neal twice, but like so many people around the world, I loved him and was a huge fan. The former dribbler with the Harlem Globetrotters died last week (March 26) at the age of 77, at his home outside Houston.

Neal’s ballhandling skills were legendary, and he learned from one of the best, his former teammate and Sand Springs, Okla., native Marques Haynes. The man who wore No. 22, played 22 years (1963-1985) with the Globetrotters, appearing in more than 6000 games, and traveled with the team to 97 countries.

After he retired from playing, Neal continued to work for the Globetrotters as an “Ambassador of Goodwill.” The Globetrotters retired Neal’s jersey number during a game at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, in 2008.

A native of Greensboro, N.C., Neal played college basketball at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, where he averaged more than 23 points per game. Although he had several offers from NBA teams, Neal instead tried out for the Harlem Globetrotters and was signed to a contract. He was inducted in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

He often told the story of how Globetrotters coach Bobby Milton gave him his nickname, when he first joined the team. Because of his shaved head, Milton called him “Curly,” referring to Curly Howard of the Three Stooges.

MY MEMORIES OF CURLY

If you’ve read this column for any length of time, you know that I’ve been a huge Globetrotters fan since I was a young kid, and that I was blessed to realize my dream of wanting to be a Globetrotter.

My introduction to the Harlem Globetrotters was like that of millions of other people; watching what was their first of many appearances on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, January 13, 1973. That’s when I learned the names of Curly Neal, Meadowlark Lemon, Nate Branch, Marques Haynes, Geese Ausbie, and others.Then along came the team’s Saturday morning variety show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine (1974-75). This is where I watched Neal and his teammates sing, dance, and perform comedy sketches. I was hooked. That’s when I decided, someday I wanted to be a Globetrotter. The first time I saw the Globetrotters play in person was in March 1979, at St. Bonaventure University, in Olean, New York. As the team was getting off the bus in the parking lot on the backside of the gym, I was asking for their autographs, and that was my first ever encounter with Neal. He graciously signed my copy of the program and said a few kind words to me before heading inside to get ready for the game.

The team couldn’t spend a whole lot of time with me, a snow storm had delayed their arrival and the start of the game.The next time I saw the Globetrotters, was when I was a senior in high school (March 1982), and the team played at Jamestown Community College, in my hometown. That’s when I first met Larry “Gator” Rivers. Neal wasn’t with the team that day and I wondered why. Rivers told me Neal was rehabbing following knee surgery.

In February 1985, while I was attending ORU, the Globetrotters played a game at the Mabee Center, so you know I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to see the team. There was my friend “Gator” Rivers, and also with the team this time was Curly Neal. After the game, I went down to the railing where the players were signing autographs and got Rivers’ attention. He told the guard that I was his friend and to let me down on the floor.

Immediately, Rivers introduced me to Neal. “Curly, I want you to meet my friend Jeff,” Rivers told him.

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

After they finished signing autographs, the two players took me “backstage” and I spent the better part of an hour chatting with Neal, Rivers, Ausbie and some of their teammates. That’s when I became a member of the Globetrotters extended family. (As a side note; I’m still friend’s with Rivers to this day, and have spent time with him at his home in Savannah, Ga.)

Fast forward over 20 years later (2012-14), and now I was an announcer with the Globetrotters. I was fortunate to be on two tours with the team, and at the time, Neal was doing “Ambassador” work. He would make personal appearances and do interviews in promoting the Globetrotters prior to their games in many cities across the country. Although all the players and many of the staff I worked with had met Neal and knew him fairly well, in those two years, our paths never crossed. I kept hoping I would see him somewhere on tour, and be able to rekindle our “friendship,” but it never happened.

Until his death last week, I still held out hope that I would someday see Neal again in person. I guess now, it will have to wait.