In the early 1980’s, Spinney Johnson, an All-American basketball player at Geneva College, played alongside the likes of Meadowlark Lemon during a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. Today, Geneva College has another connection with those basketball legends.
Matt Farago has been the voice of Geneva College men’s and women’s basketball for the past few seasons at Metheny Fieldhouse. Now, Matt is stepping into a new role as their public address announcer for the Harlem Globetrotters.
“I was recruited,” Matt laughs as he relates how he obtained his job at Geneva College. “I was doing public address at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, and the [Geneva] coaches were there recruiting one of the players. They ended up talking to me after the game about filling-in and that was closest I've ever felt to being recruited for college basketball.”
Farago, who recently returned from a trip to Dubai with his new team, is certainly excited about the chance to tour new places with the Globetrotters. “The opportunity to travel and be the voice for the most beloved team in the world is surreal to me, but I'm also excited to get the chance to announce in some of the historic stadiums in the country. I have always believed that it’s important to never forget where you came from and who helped you get there. Geneva is a special place and I'm so blessed I've had the opportunity be the voice of the Tornadoes. I hope as I continue to further my career I can be added to the list of people Geneva is proud to welcome back in the future,” he says.
Although Farago will enjoy his new job, he will miss saying "Welcome to the Birthplace of College Basketball” most of all. “It’s just something that only a few announcers ever get the chance to say,” he explains.
Geneva College Athletic Director, Van Zanic put it this way, “Matt did an outstanding job for us at Geneva. We are thrilled for him that he has this amazing opportunity with the Globetrotters. He is certainly welcome back to Geneva anytime he chooses.”
The Golden Tornadoes open their new home season next Friday night, November 18 in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-Off Tournament against John Jay College at 7:30 p.m.
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