Basketball legend Meadowlark Lemon dies at the age of 83

Born in 1932, Meadow George Lemon III trained in harsh conditions, using a coat hanger and an onion sack for the basket and an empty milk can for ball

He joined Globetrotters in 1954 and left the team fourteen year later over a contract dispute.
He later formed the Meadowlark Lemon’s Bucketeers, the Shooting Stars and Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All-Stars and continued to tour an play until he was 70. Lemon is remembered as the “Clown Prince of Basketball” for the pranks he was playing on referees and fellow players. Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider surely remembers him like this: “He was an incredible entertainer and brought happiness and lifelong memories to millions around the world. We have lost a great ambassador of the game.”

Lemon received the John W. Bunn Award in 2003 for his outstanding lifetime contributions to basketball and the Globetrotters dedicated their 90th anniversary tour to him and his former teammate Famer Marques Haynes, who also passed away, earlier this year.

A cheerful guy, Lemon also appeared as an animated character on “The Harlem Globetrotters” cartoon series and on episodes of “Scooby Doo.” He enjoyed life and basketall and in his own words, he was one of the most fortunate athelets : “I was one of the most fortunate athletes that ever lived,”…”I was able to watch history.”Globetrotters will retire Lemon’s No. 36 jersey as well as Wilt Chamberlain’s (13), Fred “Curly” Neal’s (22), Haynes’ (20) and Reece “Goose” Tatum’ (50).

Born in 1932, Meadow George Lemon III trained in harsh conditions, using a coat hanger and an onion sack for the basket and an empty milk can for ball

He joined Globetrotters in 1954 and left the team fourteen year later over a contract dispute.
He later formed the Meadowlark Lemon’s Bucketeers, the Shooting Stars and Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All-Stars and continued to tour an play until he was 70. Lemon is remembered as the “Clown Prince of Basketball” for the pranks he was playing on referees and fellow players. Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider surely remembers him like this: “He was an incredible entertainer and brought happiness and lifelong memories to millions around the world. We have lost a great ambassador of the game.”

Lemon received the John W. Bunn Award in 2003 for his outstanding lifetime contributions to basketball and the Globetrotters dedicated their 90th anniversary tour to him and his former teammate Famer Marques Haynes, who also passed away, earlier this year.

A cheerful guy, Lemon also appeared as an animated character on “The Harlem Globetrotters” cartoon series and on episodes of “Scooby Doo.” He enjoyed life and basketall and in his own words, he was one of the most fortunate athelets : “I was one of the most fortunate athletes that ever lived,”…”I was able to watch history.”Globetrotters will retire Lemon’s No. 36 jersey as well as Wilt Chamberlain’s (13), Fred “Curly” Neal’s (22), Haynes’ (20) and Reece “Goose” Tatum’ (50).