(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Basketball fans in Muscat were treated to a breathtaking display of skills by two stars of the famous Harlem Globetrotters outfit, who wrapped up their one-day trip to the country on Tuesday with a message for schoolchildren.Bucket Blakes and Hi-Lite were here to promote the Globetrotters' upcoming show at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on October 28. The three-hour show will begin at 6.40pm.The show will include a host of activities that will engage the fans in addition to an action-packed game demonstrating ball-handling wizardry and basketball artistry.Having visited three schools - ABA, TAISM and British School Muscat - within a few hours, the duo entertained and interacted with fans at the Mazda showroom and later at Pizza Hut before flying out.Speaking to Muscat Daily during the visit, Blakes said, It is not just about being a good athlete. What is more important is a good character and that is what we tell the schoolchildren.Blakes, who has a record of sinking two underhanded half-court shots in a minute, said, What matters is how good a person you are, because you can be the best athlete in the world but not have a good attitude, or a positive outlook on life. If you are a great athlete with a great character, you succeed anyway.The duo hoped their Muscat visit will leave a positive influence on the schoolkids. Blakes said, We had a good interaction and showed them tricks they have never seen before. I am sure it will inspire the kids to play basketball or participate in other sports.Hi-Lite said, I am impressed with the country, I got to know a bit about Oman. I am looking forward to play on October 28.Hi-Lite, who was drafted by Chicago Bulls in 1994, doesn't regret his NBA career being cut short by injuries. With Harem Globetrotters, I get a chance to go around the world. I like to travel and enjoy going to new places.We [Harlem Globetrotters] are family-oriented. At our games, you can see a parent with the grandparents and grandchildren enjoying together. This is why we are different from a professional sports team. We go to schools and visit different communities. It is just about fun, not only being a basketball player. It is about becoming the best person you can possibly be each and every day.The six-foot-seven 41 year old said fans will enjoy Harlem Globetrotters' 2012 World Tour as they will get a chance to set their own rules by getting to vote online before the game. They can ask us to play with two basketballs at once, make four points shot and show other tricks, he said.On their NBA favourites, Hi-Lite said he was a fan of Miami Heat's LeBron James, a three-time MVP while Blakes picked two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash of Lakers, who also had a long stint with Phoenix Suns.But my all-time favourite in Michael Jordan, said Blakes.The team for the upcoming show will comprise 25 players, including three women.The 2012 edition is the World Tour's 86th consecutive season. In the Middle East, Harlem Globetrotters will play five games over three days in the UAE from October 25-27 with three games scheduled in Dubai and two in Abu Dhabi before they arrive in Muscat.
