DAVIS Cup is as tense and exciting as tennis gets and feelings run high, on and off court.

The players seem the most composed people around, most of them struggling to maintain tunnel vision on playing the game while shutting out the hullaballoo bubbling courtside.

American Zone Group Three might not have drawn the fans in their tens of thousands, but there was no lacking in the passion of those rooting for their teams in the intimate surroundings of Havana's Complejo Deportivo.

And if there was a trophy for supporters' enthusiasm, Bermuda would bring home the silverware.

The loudest voice in the stands when Bermuda played was generally that of BLTA president David Lambert, whose preferred battle cry of "Vamos Bermudas'' draws from the local lingo.

BLTA treasurer Sarah Cook ("Come on James/Donald/Ricky/Jenson!'') was close behind in the decibel stakes, while Julie Lunn ("Let's go Bermuda!'') also made herself heard.

BLTA honorary life vice-president Alan Simmons ("I'm sorry, I've got to applaud that, it was a good shot!'') gave credit to the opposition when credit was due.

But Southampton Princess tennis pro Earl Leader ("Nice Papa, I like that!'') won the prize for the most creative support. The well known percussionist banged out a mean rhythm on the cool box to match anything the Bolivians could produce on their bongos.

Even this reporter ("Dig in, you can do it!'') must confess his professional impartiality fell victim to the excitement of it all on occasion.

*** WE'VE all seen Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter try the party trick desperation shot, chasing a ball to the back of the court and playing it between the legs.

The odd time it keeps the ball in play, but how often have you seen it actually win the point? Bermuda's James Collieson achieved just that in his five-set epic against Peter Gordon, when his back-flick from a yard behind the baseline dipped over the net and surprised the Jamaican so much he could only net his volley.

Asked about it afterwards, Collieson quipped, "Yes, I try it quite often -- it's a high percentage shot for me,'' before he burst out laughing.

*** ALL of the seven umpires at the tournament were supplied, unusually, by the host nation.

Nothing wrong with that -- unless you happen to be playing against Cuba, of course.

Concerns grew among the Bermuda contingent when James Collieson suffered a number of dreadful calls to his disadvantage when he played the opening singles rubber against the hosts.

But the problem reached a farcical level in the doubles after Jenson Bascome had hit a service winner on a game point and the umpire called "Game Bermuda.'' That was not good enough for the Cuban captain, who felt the serve had been out, and he remonstrated with the Cuban umpire for several minutes until he persuaded him to play a let for no good reason.

After the long delay, Murphy's Law applied and the frustrated Bascome served a double fault.

So who is running the show when Cuba play, the umpire or the Cuban captain? *** READERS may wonder why they have not seen the comments of Donald Evans published during the past week.

It's not that we were ignoring him, it's just that he does not speak to the press.

That's his policy, he told me, when I requested an interview. And of course, it's his right.

I wasn't going to argue with him. Apart from anything else, he's big -- very big.

However, his silence is a shame. He's a deeply intelligent man with interesting things to say and it's sad that the people of Bermuda were not able to read about his thoughts on a tournament in which he was representing them.

Donald Evans: Refuses to speak to the press.