MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- In the tradition of showmanship made famous by Meadowlark Lemon and the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, the Harlem Ambassadors matched gags with sheer hoop talent, defeating the Iwakuni All-Stars 87-42 in an exhibition basketball game at the Main Gym Sunday.
Though the match against the All-Stars, made up of service members from around the Station, may have been the highlight of their trip to Iwakuni, there was much more to the Ambassadors visit to the Station than just a game.
"It wasn't about winning and losing, because it was all about fun and relaxation," said Col. Dave Darrah, Station commanding officer. "It was also a chance for us to get a little taste of America, share some camaraderie, and show the Iwakuni spirit to folks from the States."
While in Iwakuni, the Ambassadors also put on a youth basketball camp.
"We had youth's from 5 to 15 years old," said Ladé Majic Prophéte, Harlem Ambassadors player-coach. "They were pretty fast, with a whole lot of energy, and they came close to wearing us out."
Playing against the Ambassadors also provided a new opportunity for the All-Stars to practice their skills.
"The highlight of the game was the stiff competition and enthusiasm of the crowd," said Will Owens, Iwakuni All-Stars guard. "I liked the way they performed for the fans."
During the course of the game, sportsmanship was mixed with showmanship as the Ambassadors made jokes, danced, and pulled stunts on the All-Stars players.
"Some of the things caught us off-guard," said Owens. "We knew about some antics, but a lot of things were a shock to us."
Members of the audience seemed entertained by the team's performance.
"It was a blast watching them play, doing their gags, and having fun," said Nick Waverek, 13. "I didn't think the Iwakuni team would do very well, but they ended up scoring a lot. It was a great game."
The Ambassadors visited the Station as part of their Pacific Rim 9/11 Dedication Tour, according to Jackie Oliver, tour director. The tour took the team away from their usual goal of educating youth about the dangers of drug abuse.
"We're a drug-free organization," said Oliver. "We travel around the world stressing the importance of staying in school and remaining drug free."
But the Ambassadors came to Iwakuni for a different reason.
"We started in Washington, and traveled almost 20 hours to get here," said Prophéte. "We're very happy to come to Japan, and we wanted to let the people here know that they aren't forgotten back in the States."
These efforts to reach out to the Station community help improve the quality of life for those in Iwakuni, noted Darrah.
"It's great that we have these kind of opportunities," Darrah said. "I hope that the community will continue to come out and support events like this, because people are taking their time to come and entertain us. The Harlem Ambassadors are truly a great blend of athletic talent and showmanship."