Watch Paul Simon Show Off His Basketball Skills On SNL In 1975

Singer-songwriter Paul Simon is a Grammy award-winning musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Best known for his legendary collaboration with Art Garfunkel, he's spent decades establishing himself as a successful solo artist in his own right. What he isn't known for is his basketball prowess. So it was surprising, in October of 1975, when professional player and former Harlem Globetrotter Connie Hawkins challenged Simon to a game of one-on-one.

The fact that the 5-foot-3 Simon not only accepted the challenge, but won the game, would be shocking if not for its context: the game was filmed as one of the skits on the second-ever episode of Saturday Night Live, which Simon was hosting that week. Nevertheless, it's hilarious to watch Hawkins and Simon on the court and to hear their amazingly deadpan pre-game interviews.

The classic Saturday Night Live video is a treat for fans of Paul Simon, old-school NBA, early SNL—or just pure silly slapstick comedy. Check it out below:

Paul Simon, Connie Hawkins - Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard - SNL 1975 from Simon and Garfunkel News on Vimeo.