The Washington Generals were the mainstay opponent of the Harlem Globetrotters for years, but were best known for their spectacular losing streak in staged exhibition games. They were formed in 1950 by Louis "Red" Klotz, who served as owner, player and coach, when Klotz purchased the once-great Philadelphia Sphas from Eddie Gottlieb and changed their name. The Generals provided deliberately ineffective opposition as a foil for the Globetrotters' comedy routines. The Globetrotters' acts often featured incredible coordination and skillful handling of one or more basketballs, such as passing or juggling balls between players, balancing or spinning balls on their fingertips, and making unusual, difficult shots. The Generals on the other hand would try to play a game of "serious" basketball in return.
During the 1971-72 season, the Generals' name was alternated with the Boston Shamrocks, New Jersey Reds, Baltimore Rockets, and Atlantic City Seagulls. It was actually the same team of players but they would change uniforms between games to give the appearance of more teams. The team would rotate between these identities for a few seasons before going back to the Generals identity full-time. It was as the New Jersey Reds that the Generals' first win came in a game against the Globetrotters. On January 5, 1971, the Globetrotters lost a game in Martin, Tennessee in overtime to the Reds. It was Klotz himself who sank the winning basket for a 100-99 score that ended the Globetrotters' 2,495-game winning streak. From 1953 until 1995, the Generals played exhibitions against the Globetrotters, winning only six games, the last in 1971, and losing more than 13,000. Klotz eventually "disbanded" the Generals in 1995, forming a new team, the New York Nationals, which also has achieved an impressive losing streak. In reality of course it was the same team; Klotz merely retired the Washington Generals identity. The Nationals remain a separate organization from the Globetrotters. Harlem claims its exhibition games are "real" and "competitive" contests.[1]
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Return of the Generals
After a 12-year hiatus, the Generals returned on October 9, 2007, playing against the Globetrotters at the 369th Harlem Armory. The Globetrotters won 54-50.[1]
Cultural references
- In The Simpsons episode "Homie the Clown", Krusty bets $5,000 he earned franchising his name against the Globetrotters, telling his financial advisor, "I thought the Generals were due!"
- In another episode of The Simpsons, entitled "Lisa the Tree Hugger", Homer refers to the Luftwaffe as "the Washington Generals of the History Channel."
