KOCHI: It was sheer fun all the way. And a great evening too as the Harlem Globetrotters wove a web around those gathered at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday with an exhibition that was laced with superb athleticism and supreme ball control.

"It is not what we earn which is important. To all of us, what is really important is whether we can make others smile and share a wonderful time when we go about playing, " Michael James Julien had said to the waiting media soon after the team's arrival here this morning. I am keeping the word said the veteran player who has been with the Trotters through the last 11 years and his teammates produced a truly memorable show that was simply outstanding.

The tone for the show was set by the team mascot Globie who with his antics had the crowd in splits, producing several simple tricks involving a few spectators. But once the Trotters took over, the entire affair was to transcend into a higher-level of playing that made it possible for the crowd to realise how best the game could be played.

The New York Nationals was expectedly reduced to second fiddle as the Globetrotters uncorked a fast-paced game blending many entertaining movements. Like when the team anchor Kevin Daley pulled a fast one or two on the referee Parry Kent and then charged into the crowd and sat on the lap of a lady spectator. In between the Globetrotters did not forget to exhibit their fine skills in such a flamboyant way that the crowd sat totally mesmerised as they went about exchanging passes in such brilliant fashion, dribbling past their rivals and then scoring from almost every angle.

But what gave the crowd its money's worth was the manner in which they chose to finish their scoring act, dunking at almost every given opportunity.

The Globetrotters will provide another exhibition of their supreme skills once again here on Wednesday, before moving over to Puttaparthi and then to Bangalore.

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