Page 6 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - April, 2019

6

YOUTH

The Fabulous
Harlem
Crowns
kicked off its
2019 tour at
the Chehalis
Reservation
where players
are perennial
favorites. In
between jokes
and awesome
basketball,
the team
delivered a
solid message
about walking
the right path.

BANTER, BRAVERY

Fabulous Harlem Crowns put on a super show

By Frazier Myer

Audience members were dazzled
by the Fabulous Harlem Crowns
during the team’s annual basketball
exhibition at the Chehalis Tribal
Community Center on Feb. 8.
The Crowns are a group of
basketball players from Oakland,
California. The team travels the
road with exceptional basketball
skills and ad-lib humor to entertain
crowds across the country. Every
year, they visit the Chehalis Tribe
and fill the gymnasium with
laughter and smiles.
The Chehalis Tribe played host
for the Crowns on the first stop of
the team’s 2019 tour. To keep up the
tradition, the tribal Youth Program
gave basketballs to all of the youth
in attendance and handed out raffle
prizes throughout the evening.
The Crowns played practical
jokes on the host team, the crowd
and of course the referee. However, a tool to stay away from dangers that Each individual is different and Each player encouraged
the team displayed that they were are prevalent in the communities has potential in many areas. There youth to find something
about much more during a message each of them grew up in. are various activities for youth to positive in their lives
delivered at half time. Players described how the sport participate in such as art, music, and work hard to
The mission of the Harlem of basketball, which started as a outdoor activities and much more. achieve success. After
Crowns’ tour is to encourage using recreational activity, turned into The Crowns also had a message the performance, they
basketball as an outlet to stay free a passion and created positive for adults. They spoke about how signed basketballs for
of drugs, alcohol and violence. pathways for each of them. They crucial it is for older generations children and posed for a
Team members took turns on the emphasized that basketball is what to have a positive influence and memorable group shot.
microphone during intermission helped guide them, but they told be role models for the youth.
and spoke about their backgrounds the youth that the passion doesn’t They reminded the audience that
growing up in Oakland. They have to be specifically basketball or children are always watching and
explained how basketball is used as even sports for that matter. learning from others’ behavior.