OT: RIP Washington Generals' Player-Coach-Owner "Red" Klotz
For anyone who ever saw the Harlem Globetrotters play in person or on television before 1975, Louis “Red” Klotz, player-coach-owner of the Washington Generals, the Globetrotters’ regular opponent, might have been as important to the worldwide growth of the sport of basketball as anyone else. He died last weekend at the age of 93.
Despite decades of losing on the court to the Globetrotters, often over 200 times a year, Klotz was a member of the NBA championship Baltimore Bullets in 1948. He may forever have the honor of being the man who made the last shot in what long was thought to have been the only game that the Globetrotters had ever lost to the "Generals" who played that game on January 25, 1971 in Martin, Tennessee as the "New Jersey Reds." LINK
Saw him play against the Globetrotters when I was a young boy, many years ago. He looked like an old man back then! What an amazing career, playing basketball truly for fun, and owning your own team to boot. RIP Red.
This sad news made me remember that, back in December, someone released a brief piece that they made about Red Klotz called "The World's Best Loser", and it a nice little video indeed, featuring him talking about his life, showing off some photos and gear and yes, even playing a little hoops.
This is a man who lived a full life It is sad that he has passed, but I am happy that he got to stick around as long as he did. He entertained so many people that he really deserved an extended "victory lap" in retirement.