Harlem Globetrotters make a splash in Crown Point

BY RYAN METZ

Times Correspondent

CROWN POINT | When 10-year-old Zaire Moss got invited by his grandmother to watch the Harlem Globetrotters on Tuesday night he didn't know what to expect. Watching the banter as a spectator in the second row for the majority of the night, Moss got a chance to join the fun late in the game.

Moss scored a critical bucket down the stretch to help the Globetrotters win 99-90 over the hapless Washington Generals. The win secured the Globetrotters' winning streak over the Generals dating back to 1971.

"It's not like regular basketball games on TV because they don't say a lot of jokes," said Moss, of Merrillville, who left smiling with a souvenir replica jersey. "It was really fun, and I like the trick when they throw the ball high in the air and the other guy jumps dunks it."

Moss' grandmother -- Carolyn Ashford, of Crown Point -- was part of the standing-room-only crowd of more than 3,000 who watched the Globetrotters on their 84th consecutive season of touring the world.

"I've seen them on TV, and I watched them in person about 20 years ago," Ashford said. "I wanted to bring the kids for an enjoyable night."

The comedy and ballhandling antics highlighted the evening.

"The show we had tonight is the same one we had at Madison Square Garden or the Staples Center," Globetrotters coach Clyde Sinclair said. "When we see people's eyes light up, we know we had another entertaining night."

Sinclair said the team practices for 1 1/2 to two hours prior to the game to keep polished. A full season for a Globetrotter involves being on the road for six to eight months out of the year. The rigors of the road, however, all are worth it for the job.

"We always have great energy from the fans and that's traveling to over 120 countries," said Daley, 33, who emceed as a player. "The day the fans stop laughing is the day that I'm not going to enjoy it anymore.

"I've been here for six years, and I haven't lost yet. And I don't expect us losing anytime soon even though the Generals try to pull out the stops."

Published in the Northwest Indiana Times on Jan. 20, 2009.