Curly Neal
Fred "Curly" Neal, born on May 19, 1941, in Greensboro, North Carolina, was a celebrated basketball player best known for his role as a dribbling wizard with the Harlem Globetrotters. Over a career spanning more than twenty years, he played in over 6,000 games across 97 countries, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in sports. Curly's trademark bald head was a style he adopted at the age of twelve, which later became iconic. After excelling at James B. Dudley High School and Johnson C. Smith University, he initially pursued opportunities in the NBA before securing a spot with the Globetrotters.
Curly's extraordinary ballhandling skills and ability to perform half-court shots captivated audiences and solidified his status as a sports entertainer. He appeared on various television programs, bridging generations through animated portrayals as well. Beyond his athletic achievements, Curly was committed to community service, promoting education through initiatives like the NBA's "Stay in School" program. His contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including induction into the Harlem Globetrotters' Legends Ring, the CIAA Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Curly Neal passed away on March 26, 2020, leaving a lasting legacy in basketball and beyond.
Curly Neal
- Born: May 19, 1941
- Birthplace: Greensboro, North Carolina
- Died: March 26, 2020
- Place of death: Houston, Texas
Sport: Basketball
Early Life
Fred “Curly” Neal was born on May 19, 1941, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Best known as the smiling, bald-headed Harlem Globetrotters’ ballhandling wizard for more than twenty years, Curly played in more than 6,000 games, traveled millions of miles, and played basketball in ninety-seven countries as a member of the team. His trademark shaved head was actually his creation: At the age of twelve, he decided to shave his head because it was fun to do and cheaper to maintain than a full head of hair. At the time, shaved heads were not popular, and the school principal sent Curly home. The look, however, became part of his image and the source of his ironic nickname. He became the most recognized Globetrotter and possibly one of the most easily recognized athletes around the world.
The Road to Excellence
Curly starred as a basketball player at James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro and received many scholarship offers. After high school he enrolled at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1961, he was awarded his first of two all-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) honors. During his senior season, 1963, he not only received his second such honor but also led his team to the CIAA title, while averaging 23.1 points per game.
The Emerging Champion
After finishing college, Curly had tryouts with the NBA’s New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Chicago Bulls. However, he was also 1 of 125 players invited to try out for five spots on the Harlem Globetrotters’ roster and made the team. Curly figured he would have done well in the NBA but may not have had as long a career, even though the Globetrotters played many more games than NBA players did every year.
Upon joining the Globetrotters, Curly did not envision himself as the team’s dribbling wizard. During his first year, his magic took hold. Owner Abe Saperstein asked him to give ballhandling a try when one of the other dribblers was injured. Familiar with behind-the-back and through-the-leg moves from college, Curly worked hard to incorporate other maneuvers into the routine. Soon enough, Curly had increased his dribbling arsenal to include a variety of techniques, including sliding on the floor while maintaining the dribble.
Curly soon took the place of Globetrotter legend Marques Haynes as dribbler extraordinaire. Although best known for his ballhandling skills, Curly was also an excellent shooter. One of his specialties was half-court shots. He often wowed crowds with his uncanny ability to make long baskets. On one occasion, while the team was appearing on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, he sank three in a row from half court.
Playing for one of the most entertaining teams in the history of organized basketball, Curly became an international celebrity. Often his travels with the team brought him to countries on various continents around the world. Because of the rigorous travel schedule, Curly was sometimes uncertain in what city he had awoken. Still, he loved the game and the fans. The fans, he said, were what made playing for the Globetrotters so rewarding. Curly, wearing jersey number 22, spent twenty-two seasons with the Globetrotters, retiring from the team in 1985.
Continuing the Story
As a member of the Globetrotters during one of the team’s most popular eras, Curly could often be seen on popular television programs such as ABC’s Wide World of Sports, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine, and the made-for-television movie The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island. Curly also bridged the generations as an animated character on The Harlem Globetrotters cartoon series and on episodes of The New Scooby Doo Movies. The team’s sports entertainment success also earned them a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Curly remained active in community programs. He worked for the Orlando Magic, in its community relations department, and directly with the NBA. In 1991 and 1992, he was featured in the NBA’s “Stay in School” program, which was designed to encourage more than 50,000 Central Florida middle school students to stay in school and stay off drugs. Curly always stressed the importance of education to children. He stated that not everyone will play professional athletics; therefore, a solid education is needed to be successful. Although his playing days were over, Curly remained active as a Globetrotter by making appearances as an ambassador of goodwill.
Summary
In 1993, Curly received one of his greatest honors when he was inducted into the prestigious Legends Ring of the Harlem Globetrotters. He was one of only twenty-seven people honored in the ring. Membership in the Legends Ring is bestowed on those individuals who made significant contributions to the success and development of the Globetrotters organization. The award honors those who have excelled both on and off the court, in athletic ability, showmanship, humanitarian contributions, and crowd appeal.
In 1986, Curly became an inductee to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame. In 2008, the Globetrotters retired Curly’s number at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He was the fifth Globetrotter to receive such an honor, placing him in the company of basketball legends Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, and Goose Tatum. Later that same year, he became the first John C. Smith University alumni inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Curly died on March 26, 2020, at the age of seventy-seven, at his home near Houston, Texas. He had two daughters, Rocurl and Laverne Neal, and lived his fiancée Linda Ware at the time of his death. In commemoration of his accomplishments, a mural was painted in the Hayes-Taylor Memorial YMCA basketball gym in his hometown of Greensboro.
Bibliography
Green, Bob. Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters. New York: Harper Collins, 2005.
Menville, C. The Harlem Globetrotters: An Illustrated History. New York: Benjamin Company, 1978.
Stein, Marc. "Curly Neal, Globetrotters’ Dazzling Dribbler, Dies at 77." The New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/sports/basketball/curly-neal-dead.html. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021.
Wilker, J. The Harlem Globetrotters. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1997.