Harlem Ambassadors dazzle at Canyon Crest
Before a sellout, standing-room-only crowd, the Harlem Ambassadors brought their basketball game and show to San Diego on May 5 in an event sponsored by the Del Mar-Solana Beach Sunrise Rotary Club.
The charity event was staged at Canyon Crest Academy to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito and the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation.
They played the Rotary Ravens, an enthusiastic team assembled from this area to offer some competition to the visitors. The final score? The Harlem Ambassadors put more balls through the hoop than the locals, and also won over the crowd. They performed their usual slam-dunks, ball-handling tricks and comedy routines, plus interacting with the crowd, especially the kids, to leave a long-lasting impression on the attendees.
The Rotary Ravens, male and female team, also impressed the audience with their skills, considering the team only met for the first time prior to the game. In addition to San Diego City Council member Sherri Lightner’s “cameo” appearance and Solana Beach Mayor Joe Kellejian, the team included members from the Adult League at the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito, teacher/coaches from Canyon Crest Academy, plus a San Diego County Sheriff’s captain, a San Diego City police officer, a San Diego City firefighter, two CHP members, two Marines and a sailor from MCAS Miramar.
The event was made possible by generous support from the following: Kilroy Realty Corp, (San Diego), Lifetime Financial Advisers, Inc. (Encinitas), Tri-iso, Inc. (Cardiff), Hotel Indigo (Del Mar), Clone Duplicating Center (Del Mar), Jerome’s Furniture (San Diego), Smart Self Storage (Solana Beach), Jersey Mike’s Subs (Solana Beach), Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, DoubleTree By Hilton (Del Mar), Sherman Promotions (San Diego) and Lou Oberman (San Diego). Photos: Rob McKenzie
Rotarian game organizer Lou Oberman said, “This was a total community event supported financially by local sponsors, in a local venue, with local players, played before a local audience, to benefit two worthy local organizations serving local youth.”