Local Globetrotters help kids reach new heights

By Kevin Beese For Chronicle Media
Rocket Pennington, from Chicago Heights, displays his dribbling skills as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Pennington is heading into his third year as a full-timer with the basketball ambassadors. (Photo courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters)

Rocket Pennington, from Chicago Heights, displays his dribbling skills as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Pennington is heading into his third year as a full-timer with the basketball ambassadors. (Photo courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters)

Rocket Pennington and Flip White take great pride in donning the red, white and blue uniforms of the Harlem Globetrotters.

The two Cook County residents have a combined eight years with the basketball ambassadors and both want to stay on the hardwood with the squad for as long as possible.

“I know the greats like Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon and the big impact that they made,” White said. “Playing for the Harlem Globetrotters is a big responsibility. I know I have to take it to the next level after the greats paved the way for what we do today.”

Pennington agrees.

“To say it is an honor is an understatement. You need to live up to the legacy,” Pennington said. “I look at it as one of the toughest tasks I’ll do in my life.”

White, from Summit, is going into his sixth year with the Globetrotters. He has a friend who knows a Globetrotter and advised White to send the organization footage of him in action. He sent a video of him dunking, his forte, and the Globetrotters flew him to Atlanta for a tryout.

A fitness freak, White, who has twice competed on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior,” says it is important to stay in shape to handle the more than 150 games he will play in a season.

“We get days off, but the body gets tired,” White said. “But as soon as the lights come on and there are a thousand kids smiling, you are ready to play.”

While others train for the grueling Ninja Warrior competition all year long, White went into the challenge with no practice whatsoever.

“It is something just to be a part of,” White said of the competition. “You can have all the athleticism in the world, but you’ve got to be conditioned to make it. All of them practiced all year-round. I had no practice. I just went in and did it.”

Pennington, from Chicago Heights, has been with the Globetrotters for two years as a full-timer after a year as a contract player for the squad.

The 5-foot-5 guard said he plays for undersized kids who come to his games.

Flip White, from Summit, shows his jumping ability as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. White is heading into his sixth season with the legendary squad. The Globetrotters will play at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 28-29 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. (Photo courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters)

Flip White, from Summit, shows his jumping ability as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. White is heading into his sixth season with the legendary squad. The Globetrotters will play at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 28-29 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. (Photo courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters)

“I try to make shots for kids who are smaller,” Pennington said. “I play for all the kids who are told they are too little for this and they can’t do that. I play for them.”

Although almost always the smallest player on the floor, Pennington does not look at going against players more than a foot taller as a problem.

“I see plays before they happen. I’ll go against 7-footers,” Pennington said. “I make the game as slow as possible for me, but it is too quick for them to catch up.”

Pennington and White are part of the 30-member troop that is divided into three teams to tour the country and overseas. The organization will soon be having its training camp to prepare for their next season of games.

The Globetrotters will play at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 28-29 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

Although local guys, neither Pennington nor White has ever been part of the team that has played at Allstate. The closest they have gotten to Chicago as Globetrotters is Bourbonnais.

Pennington said if he does make the team playing in Rosemont this year or sometime in the future, ticket requests will be through the roof from family and friends in Chicago Heights and Richton Park.

“I’ll have 5,000 people in the stands,” Pennington laughed. “My grandmother says she needs front-row seats. I told her I am not sure I have the wherewithal to do that.”

White said it is a joy to go to work every day.

“It is like a comic book superhero, especially when you see the kids’ faces,” White said. “When it’s time to go, you know you have to put on a good performance.”

Basketball has been a huge part of White’s family. His father played with Los Angeles Clippers coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers at Proviso East High School and against legendary NBA guard Isiah Thomas, who was at St. Joseph High School in Westchester at the time.

“I heard them talk about my dad on TV,” White said. “I’ve never seen him play, but I’ve heard stories.”

Both local Globetrotters share their message with kids whenever they can.

“I talk about being yourself and focusing on their dreams,” White said. “I tell them, ‘Don’t listen to the people who put down your dreams.’ I tell them the world is hard and that people will try to distract them. I tell them to stay focused and pay attention in school.”

Pennington also tells kids to keep reaching for the stars.

“I tell them, ‘Never let anyone deter you. Stay in school. Even if you are not in sports, you need that paper (college degree). Follow your dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you can’t amount to anything,’” Pennington said.

 

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