Tiny is 7-foot-8, hails from Loughborough, England, plays for the Harlem Globetrotters, and can slam-dunk a basketball without jumping. His teammate Too Tall Hall is 5-foot-2 and might be better than LeBron. Globetrotter basketball, which combines athletic ability, jokes, and drama, also offers the most socially progressive team in the history of American sports. The Globetrotters, who started on Chicago’s South Side in the late 1920s, rostered African-American players 20 years before the NBA. The Globies signed two women to their team in 1985 and have one on the lineup today. Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain proudly wore their jersey, and the competitive history of the team is marked by multiple winning streaks that run in the thousands. With an emphasis on sportsmanship, team play, and a positive attitude, the Globetrotters have made a cultural impact that’s an awesome global phenomenon. So when the team performs at the American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami) this Sunday at 4 p.m., take the kids to the greatest show in sports. Tickets cost $24 to $166 and include options for bench seats, a magic pass for action on the court, birthday specials, and group rates. With trick shots like a 35-foot four-pointer and an upside-down hang-time dunk, the show is worth previewing at harlemglobetrotters.com.
Sun., March 3, 4 p.m., 2013