December 19, 2008 01:30 PM Eastern Time 

Harlem Globetrotters Create “Official Ball” for President-Elect Obama

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Inaugural Ball will be arriving a month ahead of schedule for United States President-elect Barack Obama.

“President-elect Obama understands, perhaps better than any other chief executive in our nation’s history, the power that basketball has in its ability to bridge cultural barriers and bring people together”

To be more precise, there will be four “Inaugural Balls”—basketballs, that is—courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their official ball supplier, Spalding. The team has created an “official” red, white and blue presidential ball especially for Obama, a noted hoops (and Globetrotters) enthusiast, along with each member of his immediate family, in advance of his historic inauguration.

Globetrotters player Wildkat Edgerson helped the team pack up and ship the specially-made balls, each of which are official Harlem Globetrotters Spalding red, white and blue microfiber composite game balls which have been specially-embossed with the presidential seal and the words “Official Ball of the White House.”

“President-elect Obama understands, perhaps better than any other chief executive in our nation’s history, the power that basketball has in its ability to bridge cultural barriers and bring people together,” said Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. “Plus, he has clearly demonstrated his desire to play on a regular basis, and we can think of no better ball to show off his skills with than our official Harlem Globetrotter game ball—which is already, appropriately, red, white and blue. The ball should fit in nicely around the White House, or wherever his pickup games will take place.”

As part of their gift to the President-elect, the Globetrotters will also be donating 50 brand new game balls from Spalding to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, D.C., in the new year.

Obama has spoken in the past of his fondness for the Globetrotters, whose visits to his native Hawaii always provided “a wonderful, fun filled afternoon” during his youth.

“The strength and determination of (the Globetrotters of) that generation…laid the groundwork for people like myself,” he said during an interview in 2005 for “The Team That Changed The World,” a documentary on the history of the Globetrotters. “I was never that skilled to do what the Globetrotters did on the court, but occasionally, by accident, I would have to do a Marques Haynes (the Hall of Fame Globetrotter dribbler), because I would fall down and I’d still be dribbling, but it wasn’t on purpose.”

Sponsored by Campbell Soup Company, Spalding, and America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, the Harlem Globetrotters are in their 83^rd consecutive season of touring the world; their 2009 “Spinning the Globe” World Tour begins December 26. The Globetrotters have played in 120 countries on six continents, entertaining over 128 million fans. For the latest news and information, including the 2009 World Tour schedule, visit the team’s official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com.