A legend passes: The joy Meadowlark Lemon brought to so many is what truly made him great

Whenever a great man or woman dies, it is often said that "there will not be another one like him, or her."

That is true in some cases, in others it is mere hyperbole.

But in the case of Meadowlark Lemon it is true.

The basketball wizard who lent his talents to the Harlem Globetrotters for decades can never be replaced. Not just because of his amazing skills on the court but because of the joy he brought to millions of people with his ability to make people laugh.

The fact that he is a member of both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the International Clown Hall of Fame is testament to that.

Lemon, who grew up just down the road in Wilmington, N.C., could have been a superb player in the professional ranks. Anyone who ever saw him play could attest to that. But he wanted to make people happy and through the years he brought joy to millions as he and his teammates barnstormed throughout the world.

We truly will not see another like him.

Published in Editorials on December 29, 2015 12:18 PM