Ambassadors Mix Positive Messages With High-Flying Hoops Skills

AVON PARK - Lade Majic's message was a simple one, but it was the way she and the rest of her Harlem Ambassadors delivered that message that made Tuesday's event at Panther Gymnasium memorable.

"Drug free, college degree," Majic chanted to the 1,000-plus in attendance. "Every one of the members of this team stays off drugs and has a college degree. Do what's right first and then athletics will follow."

Before delivering that message to the packed house, Majic and the rest of her squad of "show-ballers" put on a basketball clinic complete with fancy passes, unbelievable dribbling and enough high aerial dunks to satisfy any hoops fan.

Adults and kids alike got a kick out of the Ambassador's antics and Majic is a natural-born showman, but the message is the most important part of the evening.

"I love reaching out to kids," Majic said. "It's good to show them that they can still be cool and not be doing drugs or in a gang.

"We're models that play roles out on that court. We're not role models. We just try to put out a positive message and if we can change a life, then it's all worth it."

The Ambassadors put on demonstrations at some local schools, including Avon Park Middle School, earlier in the day. Majic smiled when she saw that many of the kids from the middle school were in attendance.
"It means we got our message across," said the "Queen of Show Ball."

The game had a bit of everything, with different lineups for the home team playing in each of the four quarters, while the Ambassadors did what they do best - show off.

"It was a great time out there," said Andy Bonjokian, Avon Park's new head football coach. "The kids really enjoyed it, and it was awesome to just be out there playing against those guys.

"Although I realized that I've got to be in much better shape come football season."

The Highlands Hoopers were no slouches in the match, which featured some lively competition. Several of the Hoopers drained some outside shots, including a pair by Lake Placid boys head basketball coach Levi Williams, which brought cheers from the crowd.

Sebring's Whitney Lee had the unenviable task of guard Majic during the second quarter, but found herself enticed by the experience.

"[Majic] is real good," Lee said. "I think maybe next year, I'll have to work on my half-court shot or we'll have to do some more fancy passing like they did out there. It was all fun."

The half-court shot by Majic came oh-so-close to going in after a pair of attempts, but the Queen was not to be outdone as she showed off her range on several occasions and threaded the needle on countless no-look passes to her teammates for dunks.

"I just love to play the game of basketball," Majic said. "Basketball was always my saving grace growing up and it paid for my education.

"If you had asked me if I was going to make a living from basketball back when I was younger, I would have said you were crazy. But here I am."

After the game, the Ambassadors signed autographs and posed for pictures, not leaving until the last kid was sent away with a smile.

The funds raised from the event will benefit the Avon Park Noon Rotary Club, which sponsors numerous projects within the community, including the Salvation Army, the Avon Park High School Choral Group and ARC to name a few.

"We're ecstatic over how well this event turned out," said Avon Park Noon Rotary Club president Alice Oldham. "It was so nice to see the kids from the schools coming out to enjoy the festivities. Each kid got the message but also ate up the entertainment.

"It was so much better than we hoped."
When asked if this would mean a return visit from the Ambassadors in the future, Oldham smiled.

"I have to take it back to the club," Oldham said. "But I'm happy with the results and I wouldn't mind seeing them come back."