Tay “Firefly” Fisher was made for this game.
As a small child, his mother passed him a bounce pass, and over two decades later, the 5-foot-9 Kingston, N.Y., native is passing the signature red, white and blue ball to his Harlem Globetrotters teammates.
“My parents are both huge basketball fans, especially my father,” says Fisher. “I’ve always been a fan, too. I was always energetic, always playing. I was on the high school basketball team in eighth grade. But I think my parents were always more excited about it than me.”
Fisher’s love for basketball would lead him to play for Siena College in Albany, N.Y.
“Playing in college really gave me a chance to get my name out there,” he says.
“I was playing in front of crowds, and on TV. I got to relate to fans. It’s how I really got started. That’s how the Globetrotters saw me. It’s how I got drafted.”
Although playing for his college got him a chance with the Globetrotters, it wasn’t the only goal of his four years at Siena College.
“I wasn’t just showcasing my talents. I was going to college,” he said. Fisher majored in psychology and minored in education, preparing himself for a future outside of basketball. “I didn’t get on the team the first year I was drafted,” he said. “So I went on with school.”
Fisher began work on his master’s degree in childhood education after the disappointment of not makingthe team. “I was going to continue my career. I was the first person to finish college in my family, so I felt like I should keep going and finish my master’s, too. It’s what I plan to do when I leave the team.”
But Fisher’s advanced degree will have to wait.
Fisher was called back by the Globetrotters for a second time, and that time he made the team. Dressed in the red, white and blue, Fisher now plays across the globe. “I’ve traveled to 50 countries. We went to Egypt and saw the pyramids. It brought back a lot of memories from school.
I remember reading about them as a kid, and then I was actually there. It was really cool to me.”
Fisher and the Globetrotter team do more than entertain.
“We are getting to visit the troops in Afghanistan,” he says. “And I’m getting to go to schools and talk with the kids.”
Globetrotters act as ambassadors of goodwill, positions they take very seriously. According to their website, Globetrotter team members visit schools, hospitals and community centers to teach children the importance of staying active(S.P.I.N.), building positive character traits (C.H.E.E.R.) and anti-bullying messages (ABCs of Bullying Prevention).
“We go to the schools and introduce ourselves,” says Fisher. “I’ll tell them a little about Globetrotter history, how we’ve been around for 88 years. We’ll have some fun, do some tricks. Then we’llselect a few kids to teach some tricks to while teaching them the importance of working together.”
Firefly Fisher and the Harlem Globetrotters will bring their unique style and positive messages to Bentonville on Thursday, and according to Fisher, it will be a great show.
“There’s comedy, there’s music. We’re always in the stands. Maybe you’ll get some water thrown on you, maybe some confetti. It’s one of those shows if you get up to go to the bathroom, you’ll miss something.
“The game only lasts four quarters, but the memories will last a lifetime.”FAQ Harlem Globetrotters
WHEN - 7 p.m. Thurs
day
WHERE - Bentonville
High School Tiger Arena,
1801 S.E. J St. in Benton
ville
COST - $28-$73
INFO - harlemglobe
trotters.com
Whats Up, Pages 25 on 01/31/2014