Washington Generals Dedicate Upcoming Season To Louis 'Red' Klotz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The team playing against the Harlem Globetrotters rarely gets recognition. Rarely do they deserve it, but there is one man associated with the Washington Generals who earned the respect of the Globetrotters and the basketball community alike.
Louis Klotz, a former Villanova Wildcat and Philadelphia native, passed away this past summer at the age of 93. The Generals announced on Thursday that they would be dedicating the upcoming season to Klotz, better known as "Red." Klotz served as a player, coach and owner of the Generals throughout 60 years.
Klotz will be honored by the team with the wearing of a uniform patch with his signature. His memory will be honored as the Generals take on the Globetrotters during their 2015 world tour which kicks off Friday, Dec 26th in Baltimore.
"Red's spirit will live on each time the Generals take the court against the Globetrotters, and each game will represent a renewed opportunity for victory," said Generals GM John Ferrari.
The Globetrotters almost always come away with the victory when they square off against the Generals, but they do not always win. Klotz, serving as a player/coach at the time, sealed the Generals' last victory over the Globetrotters in 1971 with a last second shot.
Klotz became the first non-Globetrotter to have a jersey retired by the franchise in 2011.
Klotz starred at South Philadelphia High School before going on to play collegiate ball at Villanova. Klotz then went on to play professionally for the Philadelphia SPHAS of the American Basketball League.
He then went on to play for the Baltimore Bullets of the NBA during the 1947-48 season. Klotz won the league's title that year when the Bullets defeated the Philadelphia Warriors.
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