In advance of the Globetrotters coming to town for two games on Saturday, January 5, Westword caught up with Maddox to see how she was prepping for another year of bringing a unique brand of basketball to courts around the world.
See also: - Harlem Globetrotters at 1STBank Center, January 5 - Spanning the globe - Draton Mares, ex-Craigslist hookup, guilty in Globetrotters trainer Thomas Bashline's death
Westword: How did you get involved with playing for the Harlem Globtrotters?
TNT Maddox: They have scouts that go around the country looking for different talent, and they actually invited me to try out. I went to a few mini-camps before they offered me a contract. The main camp was in Philadelphia, and it was about a month after I had come home from overseas -- I played in Sweden for two years. It went really well. Fortunately for me, it worked out and it's still working.
What is your schedule like throughout the year as a Globetrotter?
We have a United States tour that starts on January 26 and will run until about roughly mid-April, where I alone will probably play 115 to 120 games. That's pretty much a different city every day. After that, it's more the European tour, where we go overseas. We've gone to Afghanistan and played for the troops for the first time ever -- so it's exciting.
Do you feel like you're treated any differently because you're a woman?
I'm glad you brought that up. I wasn't really sure how receptive the guys were going to be about having a woman on the team. But honestly, they're like my brothers now. They really welcomed me with open arms, as far as developing as a Globetrotter.
I tell people, I walked in the door with two brothers, now I have about thirty. (Laughs.) So that's how it feels and I mean, it has been great. The fans have also been really receptive. This opportunity has been awesome for me. Is there anything different about playing and training with the Globetrotters than, say, a more "traditional" team?Yeah, we're a little more (about) entertainment, more intimate with the fans. After every game we make sure we stay out and sign autographs and we do a lot of stuff off the court. That's what really brought me into the Globetrotters, as opposed to going back overseas.
Collectively, we've probably been to over 400 schools; we have a bully prevention program that we started just this year, and I'm excited about that. We go to hospitals and visit Boys & Girls Clubs.
We do a lot off the court as well -- and that's different for me. Not that I wasn't doing it before, but not at this level. We have a bigger stage to do things like that. Another thing I think is cool, especially as a woman, is that we're fighting against breast cancer throughout this whole U.S. tour. A portion of the game we play with a pink basketball, and I'm proud to be a part of team that helps out.
What is your favorite part about playing with the Globetrotters?
Personally, I'd have to say the fans. I get an opportunity to know them, they get to know me. At the end of the day, basketball is basketball, and I think that is what takes it to a different level, for me, at least. That's been my favorite part so far.
Follow @WestwordCulture
