Friday, July 4, 2008

The Harlem Globetrotters

Dododo dodo dodo dodo do dodo! Yes, they really do play that song as they play, or perform, or do tricks, or what have you...

So, I was fortunate enough to see the Harlem Globetrotters destroy the Washington Generals last night at the Coronilla dome in Cochabamba. The gate was 50 Bolivianos (approx. $7). They were awesome, as was to be expected, although I could have done without their team captain "Special K" being mic'ed through an excrutiatingly loud PA system for the entirety of the game...
It was also funny watching small Bolivian children charge the court on multiple occassions for various contests sponsored by TIGO, a privately-owned Bolivian cellphone carrier. On one occassion there was a scrum of kids fighting over a free soccer ball. I could have sworn I saw one of 'em get literally thrown out of the pile and another accidentally stepped on what looked like his throat. Our paternalistic American culture would have never permitted such a riotous scene, so I was grateful for the experience. (That and the relatively limited access most Bolivians have to effective methods of litigation...)

The real suprise of the evening came after the game when one of my new friends/ roommates, EB, managed to score the Globetotters' first-string center "Big Easy's" digits. (I guess it helps if you're the only group of English-speakers in the entire stadium.) He promised to party with us but later reneged and instead requested EB's presence in his hotel room. (The R Kelly tune of the same name comes to mind...) Apparently, they had a 7am flight to La Paz the next morning. Poor little sleepy head...

Alas, no Globetrotters after-party, but we did manage to spot a local Bolivian professional b-ball player at the bar after the game. He was fat and old. Then we went to Pimienta and danced the night away. (Yes, they really do have a dance club in Cochabamba called "Pimienta.")
It happened. It was awesome. Dig it.

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