On court or screen, 'Trotter is a hot shot

Flight Time is a globe trotter in more ways than one.

The man formerly known as Herb Lang has crisscrossed the planet several times over as a star for the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, which plays this weekend in Minneapolis. He also is on his second worldwide trek as a contestant on CBS' "The Amazing Race."

On last week's episode, he and teammate Big Easy (Nate Lofton, a fellow Globetrotter) lost ground because Lang couldn't identify a type of tea that matched one he had tasted earlier on the trip. He sampled dozens of cups without success. Clearly, he's more adept at dribbling, shooting and dunking than at tasting -- although there was a lot of dribbling of tea, too.

Flight Time is no stranger to television, including an appearance on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" -- where he answered every question correctly. (In addition to leading his conference in scoring when he attended Centenary College in New Jersey, Lang made the Dean's List twice.)

And while he can't reveal how he and Big Easy ultimately fared on their second go-round on "The Amazing Race" -- filming has been completed, but the season doesn't conclude until May -- it's safe to say that his hoops team will triumph during Saturday's and Sunday's three-game stop at Target Center. The 'Trotters last lost to their exhibition rivals on Jan. 5, 1971.

Here's what he could talk about earlier this week:

Q Been drinking any tea lately?

Q Have you had any fans at games say, "I'm here because I saw you guys on 'The Amazing Race'"?

A Definitely. I'm probably more recognized for being on 'The Amazing Race' than for being a Globetrotter. When I have people lined up for autographs after a game, almost everybody says they saw me on the show. I think it definitely has helped ticket sales.

Q So, are you smarter than a fifth-grader?

A I got all the questions right, but the smartest thing was not going for the bonus. My friend Jesse got up to $25,000 and then lost it all going for $250,000. I was playing for a charity, not for me. No way could I risk losing all that on the bonus. If it would have been for my own self, I'd have gone for it.

Q Who's your favorite all-time Globetrotter?

Q What's your favorite country as a Globetrotter?

A My favorite country is the one I live in. But I really enjoy Latin countries, Mexico, Spain, Argentina. You watch a soccer game from there, to be in that same atmosphere at a Globetrotters game is great. You feel like it's something really important. They're always loud and excited. The things we do as Globetrotters, they understand.

Q What has been your favorite country on "The Amazing Race"?

A Well, it's not like we get to go out and sightsee a lot. Everything happens really fast. But the nicest people in the world would have to be in India. It seems like where people have less, they're more likely to give you anything.

Q Are the Washington Generals ever going to beat you guys again?

Bill Ward • 612-673-7643