Wishing Star fundraiser promises slams and smiles

SANDPOINT — Dazzling ball handling tricks, high-flying slam dunks, hilarious comedy and fun for the whole family — how can you go wrong?

The Sandpoint chapter of Wishing Star is bringing the Harlem Ambassadors to town for a fundraiser basketball show, the proceeds of which will go towards helping Sandpoint seven year-old Decker Weil get his wish to go crab fishing on the Oregon Coast. The game tips off at 6 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 1 at Sandpoint High School.

The Harlem Ambassadors professional show basketball game is a fresh, family-friendly community fundraiser perfect for the tough economic times. Since 1998, the team has partnered with hundreds of non-profit organizations in 49 states and 19 countries. The first-ever Harlem Ambassadors game was played in Mountain Home, Idaho on October 10, 1998. Performers are selected not only for their basketball skills, but also for their positive lifestyles and ability to truly be “Ambassadors” both on and off the court.

The team of former college and pro players will face the Hometown Heroes, a team of local players cobbled together by Sandpoint Park and Rec’s Jason Wiley and SHS girls basketball coach Lance Bruce.

So far, the Heroes have commitments from Clark Fork’s Bob Hays and Melvin Speelmon, and Sandpoint’s Chris Chatburn, Dick Cvitanich, Eric Plummer and Jake Plummer, and Wiley is still awaiting word from a host of other community members.

The aforementioned locals will go about playing the part of the Washington Generals, the team that always found a way to lose to the Harlem Globetrotters, who share no affiliation with the Harlem Ambassadors. While the locals figure to be on the short end of both the scoreboard and any on-court pranks, it’s all in fun and for a good cause.

The undisputed Queen of Show Basketball, Ladé Majic, directs the Harlem Ambassadors as lead show player, head coach and Vice President of Basketball Operations. This future Hall-of-Famer, who played in college at the University of Missouri, has played more show basketball games than any woman in history. She is returning to the court for the 2009-10 season after being sidelined for most of the previous campaign with a torn Achilles tendon injury.

Verna Lutes has been busy doing much of the legwork to bring the fundraiser to Sandpoint, and calls the event unique and the first of its kind for Wishing Star, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

“It’s something different. It’s family oriented, for kids, and we’re hoping we’ll see some of our former wish kids,” said Lutes. “We hope to make a little money so we can grant a few wishes.”

To help offset the cost of the show, Wishing Star is hoping some local businesses can help with sponsorship. So far Lakeview Funeral Home, Cliff Irish Trucking, Northern Lights, Sandpoint Property Management, Safeway and LaQuinta have pledged sponsorship, and Lutes is hoping a few businesses will sponsor a player for $250.

Wishing Star will accept any and all donations or sponsorships of any size. For more information, contact Verna Lutes at 263-7638, or Sandi Hoge at 255-5347, or via e-mail at “haroldlutes@aol.com.”

Tickets to the game are available at the Daily Bee, Sandpoint Sports in Ponderay, and the Meriwether Inn in Clark Fork. Cost is just $5 for seniors and students, and $7 for adults. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $10.