Charles Oliver
Dalton Daily Citizen
DALTON — Five years ago, Nate “Big Easy” Lofton, like many other residents of New Orleans, had fled the Crescent City to Houston after Hurricane Katrina came roaring through.
That’s where the 6 foot 9 inch former Southeastern Louisiana University basketball player was asked to work out with the Harlem Globetrotters. The team liked what they saw and invited him to join the team. Since then, he’s traveled across the United States and to more than 30 countries, entertaining thousands of fans each night.
“We are on the road December to April domestically, then we go overseas in the summer. It can be anywhere from six months to nine months,” he said.
The Globetrotters are currently on a swing through the Southeast, which will take them to the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center tonight.
Lofton says he was a born showman who loves entertaining fans. But he was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection in college, led his team in blocks, rebounds, assists and steals in his senior year. And viewers of the TV series “The Amazing Race” got to see just how competitive he can be last year, when he and fellow Globetrotter Herbert “Flight Time” Lang finished in the top four in that season’s contest.
How did they get to take part in the show?
“We made a video and sent it in. We watch the show, and we like the show,” he said.
He says that when they were racing around the world, trying to win the $1 million prize, they were often recognized as Globetrotters.
“People would come up to us, and if we needed help they’d try to help us. Sometimes you run out of money on the show or need a ride. They’d do what they could for us,” he said.
Lofton said he’d like to do another reality show if the opportunity arises, but right now he says he focused on entertaining people with the Globetrotters.
“Everybody is a fan of the Globetrotters. It’s good, wholesome family fun,” he said. “Every year we try to do something new and innovative. But people have kept coming back every year for a reason, so we’ll be doing the things they want is to do, the water bucket, the interaction with the crowd.”
Lofton says the best part of performing each night is the reaction of the crowd, especially children.
“It’s family entertainment at its best. It’s something the children and their parents can enjoy at the same time, and that’s an honor and a pleasure for us,” he said.
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The Harlem Globetrotters perform tonight at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. Tickets are still on sale. The trade center box office opens at 10 a.m. and will remain open until game time.
