thePULSEBy Kimberly Dunbar
The lights go dark and the music pumps from the speakers. The crowd screams in anticipation of what they are about to see. This moment is what Andre “Hot Shot” Branch loves most about being a Harlem Globetrotter.
“The start of the show, when the crowd is chanting and the music is playing, that is my favorite part,” said Branch. “The hardest part is leaving the court when it’s over.”
The Houston, TX native Branch is entering his fifth season as a Harlem Globetrotter. A 1995 graduate of Baylor University, Branch joined the team in 2001 after spending several years playing basketball in the minor and development leagues as well as overseas in places like France, Spain, Turkey and China. “When I made the Globetrotters, I thought it would be just another team,” he said. “But with this organization, basketball is the last thing on the list. There are so many other community things we are involved in.”
Those community activities include holding youth basketball camps in various cities each summer and the C.H.E.E.R. Program, in which the team spends time visiting elementary schools teaching students the five important qualities to have a better life: Cooperation, Healthy Mind & Body, Effort, Enthusiasm, and Responsibility. “We teach them how to use those qualities in their lives,” Branch said. “We have a lot of fun.”
“Hot Shot” got his nickname because of the way he shoots the ball. “We are given our names based on our personalities and the things that we do well,” he explained. “I am a great shooter. I don’t miss many!” Branch loves playing for the Globetrotters because he gets the chance to showcase his skills. “I appreciate the opportunity to be able to bring joy and smiles to the fans. Even despite the language barrier, we always get the same results.”
Celebrating their 82nd consecutive year of touring the world, the Globetrotters bring their 2008 “Magic As Ever” Tour to the DCU Center on February 24th. “If you haven’t seen us, you need to take the opportunity to come to the show. This is a once in a lifetime experience; we only come around once a year,” advised Branch. “Hot Shot” also guaranteed that there would be plenty of family fun. He said that the organization is going back to its roots and back to what made the team famous by bringing more entertainment into the show. “You can expect to see great basketball, live entertainment and a lot of crowd participation,” said Branch.
“Hot Shot” said that after every game the team spends at least a half hour signing autographs, taking pictures and slapping high-fives with fans. “We are the Ambassadors of Good Will,” said Branch. “We are the most fun team in the world. It’s a real special thing and I am very priviledged and very lucky to be a part of this organization.”
If you would like to contact “Hot Shot” or any of his teammates, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com and send them an email. Branch said that the mail goes directly to the players who spend time reading and replying to their messages. Some of the players even keep running blogs of the tour.
Tickets to see the Globetrotters start at just $15 and are available at the DCU Center box office by phone at 617-931-2000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
