The Harlem Globetrotters are a worldwide icon; not only do they provide outstanding family entertainment with their unbelievable basketball skills, their involvement with the community and fans goes beyond the game bringing smiles to faces of kids all over the world.
The team is making a stop at Canadian Tire Centre on March 31st, and we had the chance to chat with Champ Thompson, who was drafted in June of 2018. She is known for her stellar playing career at Stanford University and the University of Notre Dame. She fell in love with the sport at a young age while growing up in Honolulu. Thompson is fluent in sign language, attended the same prep school as President Obama, and would love to learn to fly an airplane someday. Read on to find out some more fun facts about this Class of 2002 Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer…
The Harlem Globetrotters perform entertaining and unbelievable basketball stunts and routines in which require a high level of balance, skill, and focus. Take us through a typical day for you in terms of training, working out, and practicing these tricks.
Everyone has their own ways that they like to train, be it in the hotel workout room after games, at the arenas we play in, etc. I definitely like to work on my tricks in the hotel with my teammates, as well as the practices that we have before every game.
Do you have any unique rituals or superstitions you do before every show?
Just like when I played in college, I have a “game day playlist” that gets me in the right mindset to go out and perform.
What is one food you could not live without?
Pancakes! I try them in every city we go to because they’re made differently all around the world.
What’s the hardest part about performing basketball tricks for a huge live audience?
Making it look easy! We try some really tough tricks but we always remember to do it with a smile.
What is something people would be surprised to know about the Harlem Globetrotters?
We all come from different backgrounds, have different skill sets, ages, etc.
You can catch Champ and her team in town this weekend.
