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By Scott Richey
Sports Editor

The Harlem Globetrotters almost played Tuesday night’s game without their team leader and “Clown Prince.”

“Showtime” Gaffney was mere feet from the edge of the court on his way out after he felt jilted during the pre-game introductions.
“I’ve been standing out here for 10 minutes, and you haven’t called my name,” Gaffney said. “I’m going to the hotel.”

What Gaffney didn’t realize was he was just the last player to be introduced.
Gaffney left the game for real at the end of the first half with an injury and missed the third quarter. But he made a return in the fashion of the New York Knicks’ Willis Reed during the 1970 NBA Finals, coming from the locker room to play through the pain to the lead the Globetrotters to a 69-66 win against the Washington Generals at Lantz Arena.

The Globetrotters’ win featured more behind-the-back passes and slam dunks than had been seen at Lantz Arena in a long time.

The first quarter got off to an auspicious start for the Globetrotters as their first basket was waved off.

“No basket!” yelled the referee.

“Why not,” Gaffney said, “The ball went through the hole.”

Except the referee never actually threw up the ball for the jump ball to officially start the game.
“Hi Rise” Brown, a Chicago native, provided the most high-flying action with dunk after dunk including a 360-degree, reverse jam to start the game for the Globetrotters.

But the game wasn’t all no-look passes and monster dunks for the Globetrotters. The Generals played Harlem close and only trailed by two at the end of the first quarter.

The Generals were also able to draw two fouls on Gaffney, something the Globetrotters’ “Clown Prince” could not fathom.

He threw a fan’s shoes on the court and almost threw the young boy himself before “Flight Time” Lang sprang to the boy’s rescue.

“They’ll do anything not to lose,” the Generals’ coach grumbled to his team.
Gaffney also had a hard time figuring out how many free throws were given for a foul. Despite a constant “two!” by the referee, Gaffney still had to ask the other referee and fans.

Gaffney’s troubles didn’t end with his confusion over free throws. He also forgot which basket the Globetrotters were shooting at.

“Our basket is down there,” “Sweet Pea” Shine pleaded to Gaffney as he missed shot after shot on the wrong hoop. Gaffney had just one answer: “But this one is much closer.”

The Generals held a four-point lead at halftime.

“They came out hitting shots very early,” “Lefty” Williams said somewhat surprised.
“Hopefully my coach will put me in. The game plan will be ‘Lefty’.”

Williams started the third quarter in place of Gaffney, but despite six, third-quarter points and several assists, the new showman on the court for the Globetrotters wasn’t able to cut into the Generals’ lead.

Washington went on a 6-2 run in the last two minutes of the third quarter to keep its lead at four points.

An eight-point run by the Globetrotters to start the fourth quarter gave Harlem a 65-61 lead.
The lead was enough to ensure the Globetrotters would not fall to their biggest rivals.