George “Meadowlark” Lemon may not have been the best basketball player ever, but he was one of the funniest. Lemon passed away at 83 on Sunday in Arizona.
Lemon’s prime was in the 1960s and 1970s with the Harlem Globetrotters, with whom he played in more than 1,600 exhibition games. The Globetrotters are essentially a travelling comedy act, and they’ve been clowning on weak opposition for decades. Lemon was famous for spying on his opponents’ huddles, as well as pretending to throw buckets of water into the crowd.
He was more than that though. Lemon was a truly talented player, capable of sinking halfcourt hook shots and wild passes. He was known around the world, appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, and was also featured in commercials.
Many people inside the game of basketball and outside it are mourning.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Meadowlark Lemon. He was 83. #RIPMeadowlark pic.twitter.com/tCRWkZUD3h
— Harlem Globetrotters (@Globies) December 28, 2015
The Great Meadowlark Lemon of the legendary Harlem Globetrotters dies at 83. Rest In Basketball Heaven Sir! pic.twitter.com/X8BXKLxiV9
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) December 28, 2015
RIP George "Meadowlark" Lemon, one of the reasons we all fell in love with basketball: https://t.co/n49PqEk4Dx
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) December 28, 2015
Rest In Peace to my first favorite basketball player, Meadowlark Lemon. https://t.co/bxXh2s9fOv
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) December 28, 2015
Meadowlark Lemon died at 83 - he and the Harlem Globetrotters were huge with 70s kids @Super70sSports pic.twitter.com/oTZAoxLFEN
— SabreToof (@sabretoof) December 28, 2015
Lemon’s reach extended beyond the court.
So sad better than MJ and Kobe combined. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/69n1CvX8pV
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) December 28, 2015
Perhaps a stretch, but Rock is astute to point out how impressive Lemon’s feats often were.
I mourn the passing of my childhood hero Meadowlark Lemon. As a cartoon, when paired with Scooby Doo and solving crimes, he was transcendent
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) December 28, 2015
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