Globetrotters to bring new shot, usual fun to town
Written by Vicki L. Kroll | | news@toledofreepress.comFour on the floor has a new meaning in basketball. Well, at least for the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals.
Each team will be able to launch four-point shots this season.
“Some people say all the Globetrotters can do is dunk,” Tay “Firefly” Fisher said. “We have a lot of great shooters; we have a lot of great ball players. And we feel like this would be a great time for us to show our ability to not only continue to do what we’ve been doing for the last 85 consecutive years, but to also show off our shooting ability.
'Firefly' Fisher
“There’s no better way to show it but to add this four-point shot and show the difficulties of it and show how often we can make them. Right now, we’re all practicing, just getting ready, so we can come out there on December 28.”
The Globetrotters will play a double-header against the Generals at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Huntington Center. Prices range from $16 to $125.
“[The four-point shot areas are] going to be two 4-foot circles on each side of the court. They’ll be in between the three-point line and the half-court line, 35 feet from the basket,” Fisher explained. “The NBA three-point line is about 24 feet, so this is a significant difference from the NBA three-point line; it’s a very difficult shot.
“It’s only going to be activated at the three-minute mark of every quarter,” the 5-foot-9-inch guard said. “If we hit a lot of these shots, it’ll open the floor for us and they’re going to have to respect them; therefore, I’ll be able to showcase my dribble a little bit more.”
Fisher brings firepower to the court. The Globetrotters noticed his sharp-shooting skills during his senior year at Siena College when he led the Saints to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season and post-season titles and an upset over Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Fisher shot 44.4 percent from three-point range as a senior.
“I had a really good year with Siena in 2008 when we went to the NCAA Tournament and I was on CBS and I did really well. [The Globetrotters] just followed me from there,” he said. “They just happened to call me and told me they were interested, asked me how I felt about it, and they then invited me to a tryout where they could meet me personally. I didn’t look back from there.
“Everything just worked the way it was supposed to, which leads me to right now being with the team for a second year.”
The team had no trouble coming up with his nickname.
“I’m one of the shortest players on the team. They say I’m quick and I light it up as soon as I get on the court,” said Fisher, who also is known for his bright smile.
What’s the best part of being a Globetrotter?
“Besides traveling the world, seeing different cultures, meeting new people, I have to say it’s just seeing the smiles on people’s faces after the game,” Fisher said.
“I can’t think of a better situation to be in at the age of 24 than doing what I’m doing so far; it’s great, I love it.”
Tags: Harlem Globetrotters, Huntington Center, Vicki L. Kroll
