Harlem Globetrotter Rock “Wham” Middleton, the great-grandson of a magician and cousin of standup comedian and actor Chris Tucker, comes by his showmanship naturally. And apparently, competitiveness runs deep in his veins, too.
Ahead of the team’s April 1 return to the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., Middleton called from Raleigh, North Carolina, to chat about the Globetrotters’ centennial, about what he’s learned by being on the team, and about his multitudinous world records—which he can’t even keep track of anymore. (This interview has been edited and condensed.)
Chip Chandler: Y’all are gonna be in Amarillo on April 1st. How perfect is that?
Rock “Wham” Middleton: April 1st, and it is not a joke.
CC: If somebody’s not seen the Globetrotters live, what’s the show like? What’s the game like?
RWM: Well, it’s honestly amazing, something that you haven’t seen before because we play some great basketball along with, you know, getting the crowd involved. We cherish that we are a very personable brand, like, you know, you could come up to us, can talk to us, take pictures, we do signatures. But also, you know, we got some of the best athletes in the world, some of the best shooters. You’re going to see some long-distance trick shots, some long-distance four-point shots, which is like 5 feet more than the NBA’s three-point shot. We have some of the best dunkers in the world. It’s just the experience that you do not want to miss.
CC: What does it mean to you to be on the team during this 100th season?
RWM: You know, it means everything to me because, well, first of all, an organization that’s been around for 100 years, obviously, is doing something right, and with the Harlem Globetrotters, we do something right on the court and off the court. We pride ourselves on being ambassadors of goodwill. We have broken barriers, and we continue to do that to this day. I’m just walking in the footsteps of those who walked before me, the greats of Meadowlark Lemon, Curly Neal and Sweet Lou Dunbar.
CC: How much of the history of the team did you know before you joined up?
RWM: Before I joined up, not much, to be honest. I just knew that the Harlem Globetrotters were an amazing team that was so good that they could just shoot from anywhere, could never miss. That’s what I thought as a child, you know, but that’s the only thing I knew.
CC: What have you learned since you’ve been on for nearly 10 years now?
RWM: I found that, contrary to belief, the Harlem Globetrotters originated in Chicago. Our founder Abe Saperstein just took the word “Harlem” because it was during the Harlem Renaissance, to make it known that we were an all-Black team. Black people couldn’t play in the NBA, so they just traveled around playing teams. It broke the barrier for Black people to be playing in the NBA.
CC: I read that your great-grandfather taught you some magic tricks and I know with your cousin (Chris Tucker), you’ve got showbiz in your veins. So how have those qualities helped you as a Globetrotter?
RWM: I would definitely say it helped me as a Globetrotter because I never shy away from the spotlight and, I guess, my sleight-of-hand wizardry transferred to the court because I have amazing handles. You just don’t know what I’m doing with the ball. And it just works. It’s a great balance.
CC: I also saw that you hold eight Guinness records, is that right?
RWM: It’s 13 Guinness world records now.
CC: Oh OK, what are the newest ones?
RWM: Right off the top of my head, I don’t know exactly what the other five are, but I know one is spinning, most transfers of a spinning ball between two people. … It’s just so many that I forget all of them off the top of my head.
CC: That’s a heck of a problem to have there. Are you working toward a new one?
RWM: Always. I always want to strive to have a lot of Guinness world records. One of my teammates has one more than me, so I need to get two more. My guy, Thunder Law, I was about to surpass him, but then he broke another record. Which broke our tie.
CC: You can’t let that stand.
RWM: That’s right.
Game tickets are $36 to $341, with additional add-on packages available. Call 806-378-3096.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Maul with Windchimes, Horrid Demise and Twelve2Six: 7 p.m. Tuesday; Atomic Yellow, 3701 Plains Blvd.; cover $10; atomicyellowict@gmail.com
Rachel & Griffin: 7 p.m. Thursday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
WT Opera’s Don Giovanni: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 1 p.m. Saturday; Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall; tickets $15 to $30; 806-651-2840
Annelida with NRWHL, Soothsayer, Unveiling and Trench Rat: 7 p.m. Friday; Atomic Yellow, 3701 Plains Blvd.; cover $10; atomicyellowict@gmail.com
Colton Amerson: 7 p.m. Friday; Patio Vista at The Barfield, 600 S. Polk St.; 806-414-2200
Opera of the Plains’ Little Red Riding Hood: 7 p.m. Friday; First Presbyterian Church, 904 19th St. in Canyon; tickets $15 ages 13 and older; operaoftheplains.org
“Parks and Recreation” Trivia Night: 7 p.m. Friday; Tabletop Tavern Game Cafe, 410 15th St. in Canyon; 806-452-7072; tabletoptavern24@gmail.com
Sketch Night: 7 p.m. Friday; Stoex Design Gallery, 723 S. Georgia St.
Amarillo Symphony presents Prokofiev’s Hymn to Freedom: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $30 to $80; 806-376-8782
The Prince of Egypt: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; continues through April 5; Amarillo Little Theatre Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle; ticket prices vary; 806-355-9991
Cameron James Smith: 8 p.m. Friday; West Texas Sports Grill, 1512 Fifth Ave., Suite 204, in Canyon; 806-452-7135
Stoney LaRue: 8 p.m. Friday; The Lumberyard, 850 N. 23rd St. in Canyon; tickets $29.90, plus fees; 806- 804-3000
Logan Ellis & The Fever Dream: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
DFW Card Show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Regency Room, 401 S. Buchanan St.; admission $5 ages 13 and older; 806-378-3096
Depot’s 101st Birthday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; Pondaseta, 1001 Second Ave. in Canyon; 806-656-5100
Willie Chuck: 6 p.m. Saturday; Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541; no cover; 806-488-2214
Amarillo Warbirds vs. Louisiana Rouxgaroux: 6:30 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-378-3096
Big G & The Tradewinds: 7 p.m. Saturday; Metropolitan Steak & Seafood, 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201; reservations $11; 806-242-0117
Casey Berry: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Moon Dog: 9 p.m. Saturday; Rounders, 2801 S. Virginia St.; no cover; 806-352-3317
Nelson McKinney: 9 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: Horror flick They Will Kill You (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (through Thursday, Hollywood 16); Rad 40th anniversary (Tuesday, Hollywood 16); concert film Bring Me The Horizon: L.I.V.E. in São Paulo (Wednesday and Saturday, Hollywood 16); faith-based documentary The First Hymn (Thursday, Hollywood 16); Stand By Me 40th anniversary (opens Friday, Hollywood 16); The Mummy Returns 25th anniversary (opens Friday, Hollywood 16); Ben-Hur (Sunday, continues April 1-2, Hollywood 16);and Secret Movie Series (Monday, Hollywood 16)
