The Harlem Globetrotters certainly live up to their name, jet-setting (or perhaps more appropriately, trotting) across the globe. On this tour they went to the smaller cities of Jinjiang, Xiamen, Jiayuguan, Tangshan and Xi’an, which we’re sure was a huge thrill to old fans and new alike. The Globetrotters were last in Beijing in December and although they didn’t play in the capital this time around, “Hi Rise” Brown was good enough to spend some time with City Weekend before they made their way to Xi’an on the last leg of their trip. Shortly after the interview concluded we were sent racing for the Google machine to look up “Vertical Leap World Record”.

Are you enjoying Beijing?

Of course! This is my second time here and I always have a good time. I like to go to different places, different countries and just soak it in. Last year I went to see the Great Wall, so that was an experience. I’ve always wanted to do that and this time I really didn’t see that much. Just walked around and did some shopping.

You went to Tangshan, right? How was that?

It’s was cool. I really enjoyed it. I’m big on stuff like that. A lot of people don’t get to do the stuff that we do and see that stuff that we see, so it’s always something special.

Is there something about China that keeps bringing you guys back?

You know, the fans just accept us so much. I think they really enjoy what we do. We interact with them and we try to speak the language to help them out and let them know that we are here for them and just to have a good time.

I’m going to get right to the hard-hitting question. Big news in the NBA: the Miami heat have Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh now. You think you guys could beat them?

Of course! They have a great team and we are considered one of the best teams, and I think we would give them a run for their money. You know, the Globetrotters have been around for a long time and at one point we beat the Minneapolis Lakers when they were considered the best team in the world, two years in a row. I think anything is possible, so bring ‘em on!

That kind of showed people that African Americans could play basketball, right?

Exactly. It opened up the doors for us and for a lot of players to actually go play in the NBA, so the influence was definitely big.

Do you guys still beat up on the Washington Generals?

Of course! Why? You wanna play for them?

Haha, I don’t know about that … How come you never throw them a bone and let them win?

Hi Rise: Because they can’t beat us, that’s why. They try hard, but they can’t do it. Haha!

The And-1 tour was kind of like the Globetrotters but maybe a little more modern. What do you think of those guys?

And-1 was great but you have to think about it: And-1’s not around anymore. I’m not saying they took what we did, but I think they tried to do what we’ve done and been doing and tried to, I guess, modernize it. They’re great players, but I think we do it better. Not to shoot them down, but we do what we do and we are the best at it.

I remember when I was a kid I saw the Harlem Globetrotters on Scooby Doo helping them solve mysteries. How come you don’t do that anymore?!

We’re working on it, but we have done so many other things. A couple of my teammates were on the Amazing Race and the Bachelorette. We’ve done so many things that there’s a possibility that we might be on Scooby Doo again. Haha!

What does it mean to you to be a Harlem Globetrotter?

It means being a part of history. So many great players have played for the Globetrotters, and it’s an honor for me to follow in their footsteps. From “Curly” Neal to “Meadowlark” Lemon, "Sweet” Lou Dunbar to even Wilt Chamberlain, who I feel is one of my favorite players. For him to play for the Globetrotters and then for me to actually be a part of that legacy, it’s like being a part of history. Not too many people get to do what we do, and we do a lot. Not a lot of people see that, so it’s definitely an honor.

You guys going to come back to China after this? Any plans in the future?

Of course! We always come back, so maybe you can be a General and get you out there on the court. Heh heh.

I think you’d have a good chance of winning if I did that …

Haha!

Last question: do I even have to ask where you got the nickname “Hi Rise”? I assume it’s from jumping?

Yeah, exactly. My jumping ability. Last time I got it checked it was 48 inches. Actually my coach was the original “Hi Rise,” but they gave me that nickname because I reminded them so much of him, but, I’m better so … don’t tell him I said that … but yeah, I got the nickname because of my jumping abilities and it stuck with me ever since. I’ve been on the team for five years and they gave me that name when I first got here.

DETAILS

The Harlem Globetrotters don’t have a tour scheduled to come back just yet with their unique brand of family entertainment, but of course they’ll be back. It’s China.