Harlem Ambassadors play basketball with a purpose in Glen Ellyn

In the middle of a basketball game Monday night, a football game broke out literally.

With high-flying slam dunks, planned comedy skits, basketball tricks and a message everyone could get behind, the Harlem Ambassadors beat a team composed of Glen Ellyn officials and residents 81-69 in a friendly game of basketball.

Midway through the third quarter, Ambassadors guard Julia Hargrove said she was tired of basketball. So she took out a Nerf football and ran a couple of plays.

Michael Santana, 12, was at the game to celebrate his birthday and that the football game was his favorite part.

"I liked how they wrestled around, too," he said. "And I liked the beginning where they said which college degrees they got."

That message was important for the players to get across to the audience. As part of all of their performances, they stress staying in school and staying away from drugs. In fact, Ambassadors' player Lade Majic Prophete told the crowd after the game that those were the two requirements for being on the team.

During pregame introductions, the public address announcer lists each player's alma mater and what degrees they've earned.

"It's amazing," Hadley Junior High School sixth grade math teacher and softball coach Matt McDonald said. "As a coach and teacher, it's the exact same thing I am telling them all the time. School, character and then your sports. To have amazing athletes telling them the same thing, it's really great. We are helping push the kids and encouraging them."

The game was interrupted throughout by dancing and comedy interludes.

During one such interlude, a dance line brought out all the Chamber Challengers, a team put together by the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, and put them in a disco dance line. As the crowd encouraged them, the officials put on their dancing shoes.

The whole night, in the words of nine-year-old Erik Berlin, was "awesome" and "really funny."

"It's wonderful for kids, they have really enjoyed it," said Warrenville resident Frank Nagel, who attended with his son-in-law, four grandchildren and their friend Erik, all from Oswego. "I think for them to bring people out to see some basketball, the message gets through."