Fatima “TNT” Maddox has shot hoops with President Obama and has recently toured internationally as the only female player on the Harlem Globetrotter’s all-male basketball team. The Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining fans since 1927 with their quirky blend of technical skill, artistry and physical comedy. Born in Colorado, the 29-year old woman discovered basketball when she was 13. She was an all-conference selection in basketball throughout high school, and went on to be coached at the college level by three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley. Becoming a Harlem Globetrotter was out of the scope of her imagination; she assumed that girls weren’t allowed. She is the first woman to become a Globetrotter since 1993. Toronto Standard caught up with TNT on the road prior to her upcoming games at Rogers Centre. This is her second consecutive year with the Globetrotters. 

What’s your signature trick?

I have a move called the cyclone, it’s like a crossover move. We do a ton of tricks, so each player tries to find a niche and make a move ‘theirs’. I’ve been working on it and trying to perfect it.  We have a teammate named Scooter that has the Guinness world record for spinning the basketball on his nose and head. He does that for every game – that’s one of my favorites.

What’s a typical day as a Globetrotter?

We’ll get up and we will stop by a mall and get something to eat if we’re not already at the motel. Then we’ll get to the gym and we’ll practice for two hours before every game. Then we have something called Magic Pass, where people can come a little bit early and hang out with us a little before the game actually starts. We’ll spin the ball, let them take a shot, take pictures. Then we’ll go back to the locker room and get prepared for the actual game.

I get my own locker room since I’m the only female. So when I’m in there I’m watching something funny and something to try and get me up for the game. I’ll watch anything from Due Date to like, Megamind, something silly to get me prepared. About twenty to thirty minutes before the game, I’ll go to the guy’s locker room to get prepared, and they’re in there listening to music. They like anything that’s hi-tempo like 2 Chainz or Jay-Z, stuff like that.

We have the game, then go back to the hotel afterwards. Yesterday we had an early game so we had a chance to go bowling last night. When we do get a chance we try and do something fun.

What do Globetrotters talk about?

We actually talk about the game a lot. We talk about different plays and what we can do to make it better, what we can do to make it funnier. Or we’ll talk about NBA. 

Who’s your favorite player?

I’m a big fan of LeBron James, just because I think he’s blessed physically to be as big as he is and as strong as he is. I’ve never really seen a LeBron James before, out of all the players that I’ve seen. It’s kind of hard when you get older to have a favorite player because you realize there’s different positions and its kind of hard to compare everyone.

How did you become a Globetrotter?

We actually have scouts that go out and find talent across the United States. They invited me out to a tryout. I was with four women and fifteen guys, running alongside each other. It wasn’t like ‘girls over here, boys over there’. That is one of the things that makes me most proud about being a part of the team. It not gimmicky, I actually had to earn my spot on the team.

I played two years in Sweden before I got on the Globetrotters so I did get the opportunity to play at a high level. But with the Globetrotters, we do stuff off the court — we go to schools and hospitals and community centers — and that was something I was interested in before becoming a Globetrotter. I think that alone kind of made me feel like I was in the right place, just so that could be a part of my job description. This takes it to a new level where I can actually give back and try to help someone else.

How’s life on the road?

The travel is tough. You really have to get used to it, it becomes pretty grueling so you definitely have to take care of yourself — physically, mentally.  It’s kind of hard to find healthy stuff sometimes and you kind of grab what you can. I try and do my best and at least grab a salad here, fruit for breakfast. When I’m off the road, I’m decent at cooking, it’s not like Crap Boyardee anymore. I survive.

We practice two hours before every game and we play every single day for four months. 

I’m single right now but just thinking about it I know it’s going to be tough when I do decide to settle down or whatever. We are on the road for a significant amount of time. We start our USA tour and we’ll go from the end of December til about April. So that’s our longest tour. Then after that its just a tour here and there overseas. So you know, it kind of works out. I still think it’s worth it. A regular job you don’t get chunks of time off like that where you can go and veg for weeks at a time. I don’t know if I could have made up a better job. 

Best Moment?

My very first game as a Globetrotter. I didn’t really realize exactly how popular the Globetrotters are and how much people love the Globetrotters. We were at a junior high school and the response I got back — from not only from the little girls but the little boys — was really touching for me. Just to know that I could make other people happy just from doing something that I love to do.

I was curious about how receptive [the fans] were going to be, you know, the only girl out there — all male team. So I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but I haven’t had any problems. Every time I go out people are just so supportive and I think it’s great.

Rookie Moment?

Last year I went out on the court with my warm-up shirt on. All the guys did not tell me, they just all stood on the sideline and looked at me, blank-faced. I was looking around, like ‘what?’ I looked down and I thought, ‘oh man.’ I just threw it down.

What was it like shooting hoops with the President?!

That was an awesome experience. He is very down to earth, he made everyone feel comfortable. We didn’t talk much outside of him greeting us with handshakes and asking what games we were playing with the kids before he got there. We were playing a game with the kids that required anyone who missed a free throw to do push ups. He missed one, so he played by the rules and did push ups. We told him he didn’t have to do them, but he insisted. He has good shooting form, so I’m assuming he is a decent player. 

Do people recognize you on the street?

Every once in a while, I think that’s kind of cool. Especially at home and things like that. But it’s always fun to have people come up like; “Are you TNT?” My family doesn’t call me TNT, it’s still a little new for them.

How can I become a Globetrotter (complete lack of ability notwithstanding)?

I didn’t even know the opportunity [to become a Globetrotter] was here. I didn’t know females were allowed to play on the team. I’ve always wanted to be a professional athlete and I’ve definitely worked hard to get to that point. But to be a Globetrotter, I’ve been going above and beyond what I dreamed about.

I would say, have goals, it starts with you believing in yourself. It gets played out a little bit because everyone says it, but I don’t know if everyone really does it. I think it’s important. And it starts with you believing in yourself, getting a goal and believing you can actually achieve it — preparing yourself, mentally and physically to get to that place.

Catch TNT Maddox & the Harlem Globetrotters at the Rogers Centre on Saturday, February 9 at 7 pm and Sunday, February 10 at 2 pm. Visit here for more information.