The Harlem Wizards visited Big Lake last week to play an exhibition game in front of a packed gymnasium.
They did not disapoint.
On a balmy May evening last Friday the Harlem Wizards fired up the crowd in their traditional style of comedy and athleticism. Prior to tip-off, kids and parents lined up on the basketball floor to garner autographs from the talented hoopsters. Wizard helpers had a table set up near the doors that featured hundreds of merchandise items including full-size and mini basketballs, headbands, jerseys, sleeves, socks, drink cups, water bottles and team photos.
The stage was set for the Wizards to “compete” against Big Lake Elemtary’s team of teachers as a fundraiser for the PTO program. Each team had a shoot around before tip off and introductions commenced around 7:25 p.m.
The Wizards announcer was entertaining in himself as he used his voice influctions and rally cries to energize the crowd. Some of the Wizard players were miked up so their antics were heard throughout the gymnasium all night long.
History of Wizards
Howie Davis, the founder of the Harlem Wizards, (and father of current CEO Todd Davis and grandfather of Vice President Rick Schreiber) had a passion for the merger of sports and entertainment. He audaciously believed he could create a basketball show better than the Harlem Globetrotters. The seeds of rivalry were sown in 1943 when Howie, the director of recreation at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH was asked to replace the 8th team in the World Championship of Basketball in Chicago. His Dayton Dive Bombers had one of the greatest sports upsets ever, defeating the mighty Globetrotters.
Fast forward to 1959 and Goose Tatum, the Globetrotters’ original showman, world-renowned for his comic ability, had formed his own team the New York Stars and asked Howie to book him a series of games in NYC.
Those successful events led to Howie starting the Harlem Wizards in 1962.
More than 25 ex-NBA Players have played with the Wizards, a list that includes top 50 greatest Tiny Archibald, NBA All-Star Ray Felix, 6th man extraordinaire Mario Elie, and Wizard homegrown future NY Knick Hawthorne Wingo.
The Wizards have toured nearly all of the 50 United States and many countries.
The Wizards have played with celebrities in their travels. Numerous NFL players and former NBA players, such as John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Elvin Hayes, and Kobe Bryant. NY Mets Donn Clendenon and Ed Kranepool toured with the Wizards. So did Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman and NY Giants Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.
The Wizards primary focus is fundraising events for non-profits and school organizations. Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley, NY, holds the record for hosting the Wizards 27 years in a row.
