Lessons From a Basketball Legend

Students visiting the Los Angeles Children’s museum Tuesday received a lesson in art, basketball and success--all rolled into one.

Two representatives of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, including the legendary Curly Neal, demonstrated ball-handling tricks to a group of kindergarten through 4th-graders. He then led the group in the creation of a mural. The students rolled basketballs in red and blue paint and then across a canvas.

“It’s fabulous in this day and age to have athletes that are role models,” said Frank Pittarese, director of exhibits and programs for the museum. “They encouraged the children to stay in school and pursue their dreams.”

Neal, who played 22 seasons for the Globetrotters and retired in 1985, is now a team “ambassador,” said Lori Gutknecht, the team’s spokeswoman.

The team, which is in town for two games this weekend, views work with young people “as part of its mission,” Gutknecht said.