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LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson (born July 23, 1961) is a former American professional basketball player and businessman. Robinson has been nominated twice to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,[1] and he is the founder and owner of the Harlem Clowns[2] as well as the National Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame.[3]
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 23, 1961 Warrensville Heights, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College |
|
| Playing career | 1987–Present |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 31, 36 |
| Career history | |
| 1987–1989 | Denmark |
| 1988–1989 | USBL |
| 1989–1996 | Meadowlark Lemon Harlem All-Stars |
| 1989–1990 | Harlem Globetrotters, Washington Generals |
| 1995–2011 | Harlem Road Kings |
| 2010-present | Harlem Clowns |
Early life
editRobinson grew up in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. He played for Warrensville Heights High School from 1976 to 1979, then moved to Jeannette, Pennsylvania, and played his senior year 1979–80 season at Jeannette High School. He then played for Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.[citation needed]
Basketball
editRobinson went on to play basketball professionally in Copenhagen, Denmark, leading the country in scoring.[citation needed] He also played for the Long Island Knights of the USBL in 1988 and then went to veteran training camp with the Columbus Horizon of the CBA before traveling to Russia in 1989 with the Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals Tour. From 1995 to 2010, Robinson was a member of the Harlem Road Kings. In 2010, Robison founded the Harlem Clowns,[4] where he continues to serve as the owner/player.
In addition to playing with Harlem Globetrotters’ great Meadowlark Lemon (“Clown Prince of Basketball”) in the late 1980s and 1990s, he has played in every state, traveled to over 50 countries, and scored over 10,000 points in over 5,000 games.[citation needed]
Robinson is the “Comedy King of Basketball” with his team, “ShowBoat Robinson’s Fabulous Harlem Clowns.” 2017 was Robinson's 31st year as a player and 22nd year as an owner and operator of a comedy basketball team. As well as his basketball camps "ShowBoat" Robinson All-American Basketball Camp and his Say No to Drugs and Yes to Life and Family and Education program that he has been taking into schools around the world since 1995.
On November 1, 2001, Robinson sent his Harlem Road Kings uniform to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to be displayed as an exhibit.[citation needed]
Music
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2023) |
In 2010, Robinson decided to pursue the idea of building a rhythm and blues museum that would include everything from radio personalities and owners of record companies to hip-hop and gospel music. Robinson founded the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame later that year, and the first induction ceremony was held on August 17, 2013. [5]
Since 2013, Robinson has held induction ceremonies every year that have included The Temptations, The O’Jays, The Four Tops, The Chi-Lites, Gene "The Duke of Earl” Chandler, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Chubby Checker, Berry Gordy, Ray Charles, Cathy Hughes, Morgan Freeman, Rev. Al Sharpton, and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Ties with inductees and their families have been strong and artifacts for the museum have been gladly and generously donated. The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame has honored and inducted more than 170 artists since 2013.
References
edit- ^ Beckner, Bill (2019-09-29). "LaMont "Showboat" Robinson starts new basketball hall of fame". TribLIVE.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-30. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ 'Showboat' pays $200K for proposed home of sports hall of fame Archived 2017-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ R&B Hall of Fame Looking For a Home in Detroit Archived 2017-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Comedy Basketball Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "History of the R&B Hall of Fame – National R&B Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2024-10-17.