Basketball buffs of all ages from kids to the senior citizens and of numerous walks of life came to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, Izod Center in New Jersey and Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale for a total of five games in four days/evenings to catch the round ball sport of a different kind — where individual scoring does not really count. The final score is what counts to go down in their record.
Opening night drew maybe some 10,000 fans who watched the Globetrotters in action at the Garden. In addition to the actual games there were pre- and during-game entertainment, including music. For all those attractions, of four quarters each, the Washington Generals furnished the opposition.
Dunks, flashy plays both on offense and defense, behind the back passing, hanging on to the rim, using the weave, funny plays and the use of a penalty box similar to a hockey one were among the phases of the festivities.
This year marked the 85th such year of the Harlem Globetrotters, founded back in 1926.
“Our 85th season promises to be a landmark year with never-before-seen-innovations in the game,” said Michael Kenney, Globetrotters’ senior vice president of live event marketing.
During their worldwide tour, the Globetrotters started a new play; the use of the four-point shot, which excited
