For 85 years, the Harlem Globetrotters have entertained fans in every corner of the globe with their basketball magic and hilarious hijinks on the hardwood.

The Globetrotters will be drilling their way across North America throughout 2011. The “4 Times the Fun” tour promises to be an event full of laughs and memories for basketball fans of all ages.

Texas is in the spotlight for the Globetrotters this weekend, with events in Austin and Waco on Friday, and Dallas and Houston on Saturday.

One fun thing to watch for: a 4-point shot. Taking the 3-point shot that changed basketball, two designated 4-point shooting spots are on the court for every Globetrotters’ game, 35 feet from the basket.

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The Globetrotters consist of a lot of former NBA and college basketball players who simply love the game and can’t seem to get it out of their system. They perform amazing, crazy tricks with the ball and display passing ability and chemistry that cannot be found anywhere else.

The players on the team are also very friendly and willing to interact with fans, which is something to embrace considering how unapproachable most pro athletes are these days.

If you have a chance to go see the Globetrotters live in person, don’t pass it up!  It’s one of the most entertaining events out there!