By Sue Moore
The Harlem Wizards are coming to Schoolcraft High School, Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. The Wizards’ brand of “Trick Hoops and Alley Oops” entertainment basketball has been packing gyms across the globe for over 50 years and Schoolcraft’s gym should be no exception.
The Wizards will put on a show with their world-class tricks, precision teamwork and hilarious comedy while facing off with the Rim Reapers, a team of Schoolcraft teachers and administrators. It will be two hours of family time where parents, grandparents, and kids can all laugh together. “When you’re in the stands, you’re more than a spectator; you’re part of the show with loads of audience participation. The evening promises to put a smile on your face and raise some dollars for the Schoolcraft PTO,” said Katie Redmond, PTO president.
This community event is hosted by the PTO; all funds raised will benefit projects that support the Schoolcraft Community Schools, according to Redmond.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $30 to upgrade to Court Side Plus, which includes courtside seating, a pre-game meet and greet, free team photo, and a discount on a team jersey. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.Harlemwizards.com or by contacting pto@schoolcraftcs.org. Tickets will also be available at the door for $12. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Wizards found Howie Davis had a passion for the merger of sports and entertainment. He audaciously believed he could create a basketball show better than the famed Harlem Globetrotters, according to the Wizards’ web site. The seeds of rivalry were sown in 1943, when Howie, director of recreation at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, was asked to replace the 8th team in the World Championship of Basketball in Chicago. His Dayton Dive Bombers had one of the greatest sports upsets ever, defeating the mighty Globetrotters.
Fast forward to 1959: Goose Tatum, the Globetrotters’ original showman and world-renowned for his comic ability, formed his own team, the New York Stars and asked Howie to book a series of games in New York City. Those successful events led to Howie starting the Harlem Wizards in 1962.
The Wizards’ primary focus is fundraising events for non-profits and school organizations.