2/7/08
Harlem Ambassadors bring family fun, hoops flash to the gym at SBHS
By Eric Goold

JERRIOD GRIZZLEv/Manning Times

Harlem Ambassadors player/coach Lade Majic hugs BDP Falcons player Cliff Smith before he shoots free throws during their game Jan. 28. “If you miss this free throw, I’m really going to give you a wedgie,” joked Lade Majic. Smith made the shot.

The high-flying antics of the Harlem Ambassadors entertained a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Scott’s Branch High School gym last Monday night.

All the proceeds from the event benefited the Briggs-De Laine-Pearson Foundation, which sponsored the evening’s fun and brought the Ambassadors to Summerton.

The Ambassadors feature high-flying slam dunks, nifty ball handling skills and impressive passes similar to the Harlem Globetrotters. The Ambassadors also bring crowd members into the act, especially children, encouraging everybody to participate.

The primary mission of the Ambassadors, who have taken their act to 48 different states and 22 different countries, is to act as positive role models for children.

“The two things that are true with all the Ambassadors is we’re all drug free and we’re all college graduates,” said Lade Majic, the Ambassadors player/coach and spokesperson. “We’re living proof this if you do what you’re supposed to do, you can live your dreams.”

Besides Lade Majic, the Ambassadors sported a roster of Ron “Don’t Call Me Opie” Howard, Clint “CJ” Anderson, LeRon “Country” Bradley and Maurice Jones.

Referee Miles Jordan and their enthusiastic public address announcer Kel Kel completed the troupe of Ambassadors.

Pitted against the Ambassadors was a team of Summerton residents who comprised the Briggs-De Laine-Peason (BDP) Falcons.

Rounding out that squad were Bryan Stukes, Dwayne Fludd, Antonio Felder, Cliff Smith, Lucinda Stukes, Cortney Junious and Jason Lawson.

The Falcons were an accommodating and gracious bunch, considering that they put up with various antics throughout the game like heckling from Lade Majic, getting body slammed and constant game stoppages while Lade Majic worked the crowd.

But it was all in good fun for a good cause.

“It was a good time,” said Smith. “We just wanted to be a part of it and help the Foundation.”

About the Ambassadors, who beat the Falcons 64-23, Smith only said with a smile, “They were pretty good.”

All four quarters started the same way, with the Ambassadors winning the tip and quickly scoring with a reverse slam dunk from Howard or Anderson.

The Falcons had some players of their own as Stukes and Smith sank some shots, and Felder showed he could do some dunking, too, with his slam in the third quarter. But the fans were there to see the Ambassadors, who did not disappoint.

They sank long 3-pointers, worked pass plays off the backboard and threw home some thunderous dunks during the game.

During intermissions, they held musical chairs and basketball contests for the children.

There was plenty of fun to be had for all and the Ambassadors left a positive impression at Scott’s Branch.