Red Klotz

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Louis Herman "Red" Klotz was an American NBA point guard with the original Baltimore Bullets, who is best known for forming the teams that play against and tour with the Harlem Globetrotters; the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals.

1 Background
2 Generals
3 Achievements
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Background

Klotz was born in Philadelphia on October 21, 1921^[1], where he attended South Philadelphia High School. He led the school team to city basketball championships in 1939 and 1940, both times earning Philadelphia Player of the Year honors.^[2] After attending Villanova University and serving in World War II, Klotz played one season for the Baltimore Bullets, getting into 11 games and scoring 15 points.^[3] He also played in six playoff games, scoring six points. At 5' 7", he is the third shortest person to play in an NBA game.^[4]

[edit] Generals

Klotz had played for the Philadelphia Sphas of the ABL. In an exhibition game, the Sphas defeated the Harlem Globetrotters, Klotz's first game against them. Klotz later bought the Sphas, and changed the name to the Washington Generals. In 1953 Abe Saperstein, owner of the Globetrotters, approached Klotz about having his team tour with the Globetrotters and play them on a regular basis. From 1953 until 1995, the Generals played kayfabe exhibitions against the Globetrotters, winning only six games, the last in 1971, and losing more than 13,000.^[4] Klotz played with the team as a point guard until the age of 62, and at 50 years old hit the game winning shot for the New Jersey Reds with 3 seconds left in their final win. "The crowd wanted to kill me", he said.^[5] The Generals have changed their name from time to time, being known as the Boston Shamrocks, Baltimore Rockets, Atlantic City Seagulls, and the New Jersey Reds.^[6] In 1995 Klotz "disbanded" the Generals and formed the New York Nationals to take their place, to erase their record and "change their luck".^[5] The team remained the Nationals until 2007, when they reverted to the "Generals" name.^[7] The Generals remain a separate organization from the Globetrotters.^[8] Klotz claims the team still tries to win every game.

[edit] Achievements

Klotz was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He became the first non-Globetrotter to receive the Globetrotter's "Legend" award on March 10th, 2007^[9] Red has stated he has lost over 13,000 games in his coaching career.^[2]