Sports
Who are the Washington Generals? The Harlem Globetrotters’ archrival, and much more
Editor’s note: Throughout the week, The Athletic highlighted the Harlem Globetrotters and their contributions to basketball, vision for entertainment and overall commitment to goodwill. This series will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 16.
The Washington Generals epitomize the notion of an underdog. That’s an easy reputation to earn with more than 18,000 losses compared to three wins on one’s résumé, but the Generals have been on the losing end time and time again when looking at their decades-long rivalry with the Harlem Globetrotters.
When it comes to one of America’s favorite exhibition games, the Generals are rarely viewed as “losers.” If anything, they are supporting cast members for a beloved Globetrotters team that focuses on one primary goal: entertaining the masses. The Globetrotters need an opponent. They need a team to defeat.
Why not the Generals?
“You’ve got to make them look good,” Generals guard Jordan Fuchs told The Athletic.
That’s the job of a Washington General: to enhance what’s already on the table. The Globetrotters are the eye candy; somebody needs to make sure they receive the praise on the court. And because members of the Generals are so good at what they do, attending matchups between both teams provides a unique experience for fans.
Even if defeat is routinely inevitable for Washington — 1971 is a long time to taste defeat after defeat.
The Washington Generals often are the punchline of a Harlem Globetrotters joke. This 2019 photo shows the Globetrotters’ Angelo “Spider” Sharpless pulling the leg of the Generals’ Shaquille Burrell during a Las Vegas exhibition. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
It’s hard to explain the competitive value of knowing you’ll lose just about every basketball game you play. Imagine training your hardest, only to anticipate the scoreboard not tilting in your favor. The notion can be frustrating, right?
Or, to Fuchs, a former football and basketball athlete at Indiana University, games against the Globetrotters can be more than just what’s shown on the scoreboard.
“It’s a rewarding experience because I get to put smiles on everyone’s faces, even if I’m on the losing end,” Fuchs said. “Everyone enjoys it, and for me personally, I enjoy it because I get to play the game I love and I get to showcase my abilities.
“I get to travel and meet amazing people. The network that I’ve accumulated from doing this is incredible. Different people in different states, different countries. It has been amazing.”
For the Generals, created in 1952 by Louis “Red” Klotz and considered the most futile team in sports history, there is always joy in knowing the next day could be the one when they end the skid. The team initially was meant to legitimately compete against the Globetrotters but eventually became the ultimate crash test dummy for its opponents donning red, white and blue on the hardwood.
Being a General requires a unique focus. The roster features skilled players who have to be ambitious enough to recognize the awareness of always being secondary in the show. No matter the circumstance, the goal is to always ensure the Globetrotters come out on top, even though fans will leave arenas impressed by displays of athleticism, 4-point shots and dynamic dunks coming from the team wearing green and yellow.
The Generals, in many ways, take on the role of the ultimate antagonists. Fuchs considers himself “the lead villain.” It’s a responsibility he takes very seriously, all for the spirit of entertainment.
“If you remove the outcome, you know we’re going to lose, but if you remove the outcome and just focus on the process and the game, you find joy in that,” he said.
— Jordan Fuchs (@therealjordan81) February 18, 2022
On Jan. 5, 1971, in a matchup in Martin, Tenn., the Generals — then playing as the New Jersey Reds — snapped a 2,495-game losing streak with a 100-99 victory over the Globetrotters. As the Globetrotters entertained the crowd, the Generals stormed ahead in the final seconds. Klotz made the game-winning basket as the buzzer sounded to give the Generals their most exciting victory in modern-day history. It was the first time in 14 years the Globetrotters had lost a matchup against their archrival.
After the game, Klotz, who died in 2014 at 92 years old, famously quipped that beating the Globetrotters “is like shooting Santa Claus,” but how did the Generals legend feel about finally being on the right side of the scoreboard?
“I think it was probably the best day of his whole entire life,” Bronwen O’Keefe, Globetrotters head of brand marketing and content, told The Athletic. “I can’t imagine the celebration and happiness that he had. He probably held on to that day for a very, very long time or through the rest of his life.
“We still count that day as being a very important moment in the history of the Globetrotters. You can’t talk about the history of the Globetrotters without talking about the Generals.”
How the rivalry plays out has changed over the years. It’s been “good versus evil,” with the Globetrotters as the heroes and the Generals as the villains. There was even a masked General known as Cager who was the ultimate villain and played by multiple players. Other times, it’s simply the story of the underdog Generals trying to upend the Globetrotters.
Antics like this, against and not in favor of the Generals, have been happening for decades. (Don Emmert / AFP via Getty Images)
Given the lopsided nature of the rivalry, a question is why would someone want to play for the Generals?
For one, it is an opportunity to play professional basketball. The Generals aren’t simply props on the court; they’re real basketball players. Some have been scouted in the G League, some in the NBA Summer League, some internationally — just like some members of the Globetrotters.
One of the most famous names to play for the Generals is Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, who suited up for the Generals in the 1980s. Lieberman was the first woman to play for the Generals. Kayla Gabor is on the team now and is the second woman to play for the Generals. Gabor is a former all-conference guard from Division II Lake Erie College in Ohio, a leading scorer during the 2016-17 season for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“I’m a General, which is very unique,” Gabor said. “Nancy Lieberman, I believe, was 1977 to ’78, so for me, bringing back the female on the opponent’s side is a unique spotlight. I know in the past, we’re villainous and supposed to just be the enemy, but I always came in like, ‘OK, we don’t win every game, but I set personal goals.’ My personal goals are to get the crowd on my side.
“I always like to try and find people out of the audience to be like, ‘Watch this!’ and hit a couple 3s in a row. I’ll do it for them. Seriously, it is motivation for me.”
The Generals, like the Globetrotters, practice and work on a variety of areas on the court. They travel wherever the Globetrotters travel, with equal accommodations.
“We all understand it’s a show, and maybe the youngest members of our audience don’t understand the full kind of weight or meaning or impact of that,” O’Keefe said. “But we also have to account for the fact that on both teams, these are real people, real athletes with real skills, and they’re playing professional basketball. We want to give them the opportunity to be able to show those skills off.”
There also remains the hope for Generals to be moved to the Globetrotters. It doesn’t happen often, but Latif “Jet” Rivers is a Globetrotter who started with the Generals (formerly known as the World All-Stars in 2013 and 2014) after playing college basketball at Wagner College in the early 2010s. Rivers was moved to the Globetrotters in 2017 after spending time on the opposing teams.
This week we’re diving into the rich history of the Washington Generals and their unique rivalry with the Harlem Globetrotters! 🏀 Discover which current Globetrotter has a history playing for the Generals…Tune in this weekend to #PlayItForward on NBC! pic.twitter.com/kLrfzu6cJ5
— Harlem Globetrotters (@Globies) December 27, 2024
The Generals aren’t the stars of the show, but they are definitely an important part of Globetrotters history. Even with loss after loss, they’ve become fan favorites and role models for children.
In the eyes of many, they are far from an underdog.
“It seriously is almost like a dream,” Gabor said. “There are a lot of eyes on us, but it’s a really good role to take on. It almost gives me a purpose in basketball that I never knew the sport would bring.”
“It’s just awesome to be a part of history, as well,” Fuchs added. “The history of the Globetrotters.”
— Shakeia Taylor contributed to this report.
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; photos courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters)
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Tiger Woods was released from jail Friday night after he was arrested earlier in the day on a DUI charge following a car crash in Florida.
In a mugshot released hours after his arrest, Woods’ eyes appeared bloodshot, as he donned a blue polo inside the Martin County Jail in Florida.
Woods was seen leaving the jail in the passenger seat of a black SUV after his release on bail late Friday, according to The Associated Press.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed in a news conference that Woods was traveling at “a high rate of speed” when his vehicle collided with another car, resulting in his vehicle rolling over onto the driver’s side.
Tiger Woods was booked into Martin County, Florida, jail on March 27, 2026. (AP)
Authorities said Woods “exemplified signs of impairment.” He blew “triple-zeroes” for alcohol but refused a urine test.
“DUI investigators came to the scene here, and Mr. Woods did exemplify signs of impairment. They did several tests on him. Of course, he did explain the injuries and the surgeries that he had. We did take that into account, but they did do some in-depth roadside tests,” Budensiek added.
“We really weren’t suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case, and that proved to be true at the jail. … But when it came time for us to ask for a urinalysis test, he refused. And, so, he’s been charged with DUI, with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.”
Woods was spotted on the phone after the crash, wearing navy blue shorts.
Woods was charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a test, all misdemeanor charges. No one was injured, authorities said. Woods was alone in the car and crawled out of the passenger door after the crash.
Tiger Woods was driven from the Martin County Jail after being arrested for driving under the influence following a car crash on March 27, 2026, in Stuart, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
VANESSA, KAI TRUMP TAKE IN TIGER WOODS’ RETURN TO GOLF AT TGL FINALS
“This could’ve been a lot worse,” Budensiek noted.
President Donald Trump commented on the arrest of his “very close friend.”
“I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty,” Trump said. “There was an accident, and that’s all I know. Very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person, an amazing man, but some difficulty.”
Woods has not commented on the arrest.
Tiger Woods was arrested on a DUI charge after getting into a car crash on Friday. (Associated Press)
Woods currently is dating Trump’s ex-daughter-in-law, Vanessa, whose daughter, Kai, is set to play college golf in Miami next week.
This is Woods’ second DUI arrest within the last decade. In 2017, he was taken into custody, also in Jupiter Island, after taking prescription drugs and being asleep behind the wheel of a running car at 3 a.m.
In 2021, he got into a wreck that resulted in serious leg injuries that kept him off the golf course for the entire year.
Golfer Tiger Woods stands by his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Fla., Friday, March 27, 2026. (Jason Oteri/AP)
Woods made his return to competitive golf earlier this week in the TGL championship after rupturing his Achilles just before last year’s Masters (this year’s tournament is in less than two weeks). Woods has not appeared on the links since the 2024 PGA Championship, in which he missed the cut.
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For the second time in less than a week, Luka Doncic faces a one-game suspension because of technical foul accumulation.
Only a week after Doncic’s 16th technical foul was rescinded by the NBA, the Lakers superstar picked up another one in a 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday and is in line to miss the Lakers’ next game against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
In the third quarter with the Lakers trailing by one against the lowly Nets (17-57), Doncic was called for an offensive foul against Nic Claxton as the Lakers (48-26) were trying to inbound the ball after a dunk by Ziaire Williams. After the Lakers turnover, Williams and Doncic appeared to exchange words with Doncic pushing Williams aside with one hand. Williams then flailed his arms behind him and slapped Doncic in the throat.
“He was yelling in my face three times,” said Doncic, who finished with 41 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the win. “I just wanted to get out of there. … I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed. My push was exaggerated, which was obviously not [the case].”
Both were assessed technical fouls with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter, and Williams’ hit was reviewed for a possible flagrant, although it was not upgraded.
The NBA requires players to sit out for one game without pay after their 16th technical foul of the season. But Doncic avoided that fate after the NBA rescinded the foul that would have forced him to the bench for a critical road game last week. Lakers coach JJ Redick said the Lakers will try to appeal Doncic’s latest foul but he did not see what happened on the play.
Last week, Doncic avoided a suspension after the NBA rescinded the foul that would have forced him to the bench for a critical road game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons. Doncic is slated to miss Monday’s game against the Wizards, who have lost 17 of their last 18 games and have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference (17-56).
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts to a referee’s call during the second half Friday against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Doncic picked up his first 16th technical foul last week against the Orlando Magic after getting into an argument with Orlando forward Goga Bitadze. Doncic claimed Bitadze directed a vulgar comment about Doncic’s family in Serbian toward the Lakers star guard. Bitadze refuted the story, saying it was actually Doncic who said the curse word out loud first and that he was only repeating what he heard.
The NBA rescinded both fouls upon review the following day.
Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, has scored 30 points or more in 12 consecutive games, the longest such streak in his career. He has 43 30-point games this season, tying Elgin Baylor and Jerry West for sixth-most in a season by a Lakers player. He has scored 40 points or more in the last 12 games.
Against the Nets, Austin Reaves finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists and LeBron James had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Before the game, Redick said the Nets game would be like playing on the road since the Lakers had spent almost two weeks away from Crypto.com Arena and had returned home in the wee hours of Thursday morning from Indianapolis.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves celebrates after shooting a three-pointer against the Nets in the second half Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The challenge was to find the energy to play, which wasn’t a problem for Doncic, who had 24 points in the first half. Doncic was nine for 15 from the field in the first half and four for six from three-point range in 20 minutes. He finished shooting 15 for 25 from the field as the Lakers shot 54% from the floor. They shot 44% (11 for 25) from three-point range.
That the Lakers were facing a Nets team with the second-worst record in the NBA didn’t matter.
That the Lakers were facing a Nets team had lost nine of its last 10 games didn’t matter.
That the Lakers were facing a Nets team that’s last in the league in scoring (106.3 points per game) didn’t matter.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton, left, blocks a shot by Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore in the first half Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
What mattered to the Lakers was finding a way to win as the regular season winds down.
“I felt like we were a step slow,” Redick said. “And I told the guys at halftime, ‘This is our seventh game of the road trip. Anytime you come back, there’s a day in between, that’s just you’re in another city until you can get adjusted to the time zone and you get a couple days break.’ So the next two [off] days will be good for us.”
Notes: Lakers broadcast analyst Stu Lantz missed Friday night’s game against the Nets because of health issues. Derek Fisher, who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, took over Lantz’s role for the game. Public address announcer Lawrence Tanter also missed the game because of a health matter. Jason Barquero filled in for Lantz. “The entire Lakers organization is wishing Lawrence all the best in his recovery, and we look forward to welcoming him back soon,” the team said in a statement.
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Tiger Woods was involved in a car crash on Jupiter Island in Florida on Friday, according to multiple reports.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office told ESPN that the crash happened on Jupiter Island. Woods’ condition was not immediately known.
Woods competed in the TGL championship earlier this week with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, and her daughter, Kai, in the stands. It was his return to competitive golf after rupturing his Achilles last year, just ahead of the Masters.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club looks on before the match against the Los Angeles Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 23, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Adam Glanzman/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
The 15-time major winner, five of which have come at Augusta, was noncommittal about playing at this year’s Masters. President Donald Trump said on “The Five” on Thursday that he would be at Augusta but not play.
Woods has had trouble behind the wheel in the past. In 2021, he got into a wreck that resulted in serious leg injuries that kept him off the golf course for months.
This is a breaking story. Check back for more updates.
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