It's 1958 at Harlem Globetrotters Headquarters in Chicago.

Abe Saperstein leans back in his armchair, smoking a cigar, doing his best to appear calm

and collected for his visitor, but his heart thumps a mile a minute.

From the opposite side of his desk sits the number one college all-star in America.

The crafty owner is desperate to sign him.

Abe knows big games require big players who make big storylines, and he needs a big story

right now.

He's just booked the Globetrotters' most audacious global event to date, nine games at the

Lennon Sports Palace in the Soviet Union.

The seven-foot-one human oak tree on the other side of the desk is the perfect leading man

for Abe's brand of publicity.

This enormous kid fits into every narrative Abe is spinning.

Democracy versus communism.

Americans versus Russians.

Conflict.

Our Trivils.

Two superpowers budding heads on the court.

It's all a part of Abe's book of old tricks for marketing a big game.

The 1950s have been a non-stop highlight reel for the Trotters.

World tours hobnobbing with kings, celebrities, even the Pope.

But there were plenty of lowlights as well.

Abe's Globetrotters lost some of their biggest stars, most notably Marcus Haines and Gustatem.

...