Ryan Stride interviews former Harlem Globetrotter, author, speaker and philanthropist Herbert 'Flight Time' Lang. He is a former Harlem Globetrotter, an author, a motivational speaker and a contestant in The Amazing Race. He is Herbert 'Flight Time' Lang. A man from who has travelled the world wowing everybody, from Presidents to Popes, with his amazing skills. He received various sporting honours in high school; he then excelled at Centenary College, where he continued to display his high-flying mastery of the court. He participated and won the College Slam Dunk Contest, earning him an invite to the Globetrotter's training camp in 1999. After eighteen years, travelling the planet as a Globetrotter, he announced his retirement but continues to dedicate his time to giving back to the world, using motivational speaking and outreach programs. RS: Herbert, great to have you do this interview with us. So how has 2020 been for you so far? HL: Ryan, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your platform! For me, 2020 has already been one of the biggest years... in gathering knowledge and information. It has been a difficult year but one, I hope where we are all learning and becoming. RS: Yes, you have called it- learning is the key right now. One of your roles now is as a philanthropist and a motivator. You're a keynote speaker and I know you give talks to young people to inspire them. It's great that you're doing this. It's something that's really important right now. Can I ask you Herbert what are two keys lessons that you learnt as a youth that helped you to achieve so much in your career? HL: Great questions Ryan. Two key lessons I have learned in my youth that helped me. There were so many things. One thing I learned is to try treating people the same regardless of things they may or may not have. Another thing I learned is the importance of trying to never burn bridges. You never know when you may need to make a U-turn. RS: Yes, very true. In your 18-year career with The Harlem Globetrotters you had to have incredible physical and mental discipline. Outside of your basketball training, what were some of your favourite methods to maintain peak physical fitness? HL: My training methods are pretty basic and old school. I don't do a lot of the new methods of training. Nothing against them, but I just kinda stick to basics. I always ran. I never enjoyed running, but I still run since my playing days ended. I always took time off from training. Usually a month or two at a time to let my body heal. I don't think today's athletes truly take an off-season. I lift weights, but I have never been one to lift heavy weights. RS: During lock down, a lot of people have found fitness training to be helpful to maintain a positive attitude. Have you been training much over the last few months? HL: To be honest I didn't train a lot during the height of lock down. I spent most of my time connecting with the world as we were all home. I jumped on many many zoom meetings, launched my brand SwagBall, and did more than just try to get through the pandemic. I spent time thinking and creating like never before in my life! That's what I did! My attitude has never been more positive as a result. Since early May I have started back physical training. RS: Yes, I have found this has been a positive time to and setting up this platform has been part of that creative process. Having spent so long as a high-performance athlete you clearly understand the importance of attitude and positive mind set. Something that can be applied not just in athletics but in many, many areas of life. What were some of the things you would do to keep calm in the moments leading up to a basketball match? HL: My high school basketball coach Herbert Williams always expressed the importance of having fun with sport. I would get nervous at times, but I would always remember that at the end of the day it's just a game and meant to be fun. These thoughts always keep me calm. RS: Along the same line, did you have a mental technique to help you focus when about to dunk? HL: Dunking was something I probably spent way too much time working on and not enough time on basic fundamentals of basketball. Once I grew to be over 6 feet tall during the summer before my senior year of high school it became second nature. In the game if the opportunity came it just came naturally. So much fun being able to dunk. RS: So, Herbert, which was the toughest team you ever played against? HL: A team doesn't come to mind, but when I think of some of the toughest games it takes me back to my teenage years. When I was a kid I often played with adults and older kids in the courts and parks of my hometown. We had so many great players that never gained recognition. Those were the toughest games of my life! RS: Are there any athletes across sports who have inspired you over the years? HL: Scottie Pippen as a child was my biggest sports inspiration. We were both from small rural Arkansas towns. He showed me what was possible. There were more, of course Michael Jordan, Ken Griffey Jr., Walter Payton. Closer to my age. Ray Allen and Shaq are two of my favorite athletes of my time. RS: Interesting that you found inspiration from other sports personalities with Ken Griffey Jr being a Major League Baseball star and Walter Payton being an NFL star. Right now, there are a lot of people stressed by the economic effects of the pandemic. Do you have any words of motivation for people who are nervous about their business or the jobs at the moment? HL: My advice is to win the Pandemic! Get out of all of the negative news! Give it 5-10 minutes a day and move on to positive! So many people are just trying to get through the pandemic! Let's Go! There is so much you get to create and expand upon things already created! Have a look at what's working and turning profits during these times. That's my advice. RS: I like your can-do attitude. It is an important one for people right now. Ok so during your time with the Harlem Globetrotters you got to visit and play in many countries. Around 90 I believe. You also got to introduce your ball skills to a Pope and a US president. Can you tell us more about these encounters? HL: Ryan these were just a few of the many amazing moments granted to me during my Globetrotter career. I will say that meeting the Pope for sure was the most nerve-racking day of my 18-year career. LOL! RS: Herbert I know you talk a lot more about your journey and encounters in your touching book Projects, Popes and Presidents. As well as being an author you have also appeared on television shows such as CBS's The Amazing Race. I also notice you appeared in the tv series Hell's Kitchen. Did you get to spend much time with our UK celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay when you appeared on the show? HL: Hell's Kitchen was awesome and so was Chef Ramsay! He did come back stage to chat... with us which was a lot of fun. He also eventually attended one of our games with his family which was pretty cool! I have been so lucky to be a part of so many amazing productions. Productions that have inspired me to now take a similar path. RS: Some basketball stars have also appeared in various films or documentaries, including: Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Dennis Rodman and Shaquille O' Neal. Also, I believe Ray Allen, who you mentioned just now as someone who inspired you, was in the Spike Lee film He Got Game with another very inspirational man Denzel Washington. I think many people were really happy when Netflix released its documentary series The Last Dance which looked at Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Is the film world an area you would like to apply your talents in? HL: The film world among many worlds is for sure a world I have ventured into. I'm currently working on a documentary, details not to be released just yet. I also have two shows treated and registered in the WGA (Writers Guild Association). My sports game show is in the process of being pitched right now. RS: The sports game show sounds interesting. You will have to tell us more nearer the time. Speaking of Kareem Abdul Jabbar, he is also an honorary member of The Harlem Globetrotters, along with Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Hope and Nelson Mandela. Did you ever get the chance to meet any of these well-known honorary members? HL: I have had the opportunity to meet Kareem. I have not met Whoopi just yet. I only met Kareem in passing. My former teammate Stretch Middleton has amazing stories of Kareem teaching him the sky hook! RS: The sky hook sounds like a cool move! HL: Meeting him was like turning back the hands of time to the mid 80’s...I fell in love with the sport....watching the rivalries back then and Kareem winning his last championship I think which was against the Pistons. RS: People now are curious to see if sports personalities will play a bigger role in the political world especially with the news of basketball legend Lebron James forming a voting rights group along with other African American sports and entertainment personalities. Is this something you would like to get involved in? HL: I am involved in promoting equality, peace, and positive change. Whatever that looks like is what I'm involved in. Kindness Is Free is a motto I have taken on. #kindnessisfree RS: Good motto! I noticed it's something you mentioned when we first communicated. It seems that 2020 is a year when many issues have risen to the surface in a very intense way - a way that can't be ignored. Racial equality is certainly one of these issues. Could you comment on this for us, please ? HL: Racial equality is something I strongly support! I support equality for all! I believe that people should be allowed to be whomever they want to be, as long as they are happy! RS: So what projects are you currently working on? HL: Right now, I'm working on several projects. I'm working on writing a chapter in Volume 4 of Jim Britt's "Cracking The Rich Code." I'm working on officially launching my brand: SwagBall. Most importantly, I'm working on trying to help as many people as I can think with a more positive mindset through love and kindness. RS: In my book on meditation, I discuss this place of potential beyond time and space that is free from illusions that I refer to as The Peace Dimension. What does The Peace Dimension symbolise to you Herbert? HL: In my mind for me, The Peace Dimension symbolises a place where we can all see the world we need to create here on earth. RS: Then see you in that place! Herbert thank you so much for sharing with us. You are a good role model and an example of what hard work and belief can achieve. Keep flying bright. HL: Thank you for your time, Ryan! I look forward to connecting again sometime down the road, but before I go- one last message for the readers. I'm sure many already know, but we can all use a friendly reminder that "KINDNESS IS FREE!" Let it Go! It costs you nothing! Give it away freely and in abundance. Kindness Is Free! #kindnessisfree Herbert's website is: www.herblang.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themotivationalspeaker/ Twitter/Instagram: @datrotter4 The Peace Dimension by Ryan Stride is available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk Copyright © Ryan Stride 2020 All rights reserved Comments are closed.
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AuthorBorn in London, England, Ryan wishes to share with people how the mystical can be found in the moment, allowing great things to happen. Ryan is also a writer and social commentator who is currently working on a script and several new book titles. ArchivesCategories |