Harlem Globetrotters
In 2007, Sam Worthen, the former Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Jazz guard, coached professionally in Puerto Rico. He also coached the Washington Generals the perennial Globetrotters punching bag. Worthen, impressed with Melendez's ability to play and entertain suggested Melendez try out for the Globetrotters after the two had bumped into each other outside the San Juan apartment building in which they both lived.
In 2008, Melendez became the first Puerto Rican-born basketball player ever to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. He was not however, the first Hispanic of Puerto Rican descent to play for the Globetrotters. That distinction belongs to Orlando Antigua, whose mother is Puerto Rican and who in 1995 made Globetrotters history by becoming the first Hispanic and non-black to play for the team.
Melendez whose position is that of "power forward", injured his knee during training camp. He had surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus. Melendez was well enough for the start of the December 26 domestic season.
Read more about this topic: Orlando Melendez
Famous quotes containing the word harlem:
“When I got [to Hollywood], all the movie moguls claimed to be astounded by the reality of my films. How did I do it? And I’d say, “Well, it wasn’t hard to make Harlem look like Harlem.””
—Shirley Clarke (b. 1925)