Reese “Goose” Tatum

I am not a great fan of sports. I’m the first one to admit this. I watch sports when others watch it, just to be with them. I have many friends and family who love sports, who watch it avidly and know the rules. Today on the A to Z blogging challenge the letter is G. I thought I was going to write about goosebumps. Not the books but the appearance of skin when it’s cold. However, upon searching the internet for photos of goosebumps I came across the name “Goose Tatum.” I wondered who that could be since it sounded like a name. 

Low and behold he was an internationally known basketball player with the Harlem Globe Trotters, in fact one could say he helped put them on the map. Goose was "only" 6'4" but had a "wingspan" of 84"! That's 4" more than my husband is tall! He also went on to have his own basketball team. 

I found a New York Times  article “Coronation for Harlem Globetrotters” and read it. Goose’s life would make a very interesting movie, especially if someone concentrated on his private life and what made him tick the way he did. I read that he’s just been inducted into the basketball hall of fame and that his son gave an acceptance and thank you speech. I watched his speech and also another short ESPN film and found myself glad to have found such an interesting subject to write about today.

Goose seems to have been a man ahead of his time and I thought he deserved mention here, on this blog for the innovative person he was. I would like to know more about him and so will study a bit more. Even though I am not the ‘greatest’ fan of sports, I do appreciate a great story especially when it’s based on a great life. I hope someone makes a movie about him someday because sports fan or not, I would surely go and see it. 

Watch Goose play

Watch Goose Play

 

Washington Generals Fan Blog

http://washingtongeneralsfan.blogspot.com/2012/02/goose-tatum-biography-to-air-on-espn.html 

New York Times article

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/sports/basketball/coronation-for-harlem-globetrotters-clown-prince-reece-tatum.html?_r=1   

Short USPN movie on Goose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_2laD1yBLHk  

Son's Acceptance Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=moljx66W_yw#

 

Photo:

hometeamsonline.com goose bent 

bamstudios.com goose arms

life.com funny man Goose