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August 20, 2004/Elul 3 5764, Vol. 56, No.48
B-ball buddies
JENNIFER GOLDBERG
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 Harlem Globetrotter Eugene Edgerson spent a week with children from the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, teaching basketball and life skills. Pictured, from left, are Trevor Horta, Edgerson, Steven Keller and Ryan Green. Photo by Jennifer Goldberg |
More than 200 boys and girls ages 6-16 participated in the camp, which was held in morning and afternoon sessions during the week. Each camper received a T-shirt, a camp picture, a miniature Globetrotters basketball and a photo of the Globetrotters.
Eugene Edgerson, who has been with the Globetrotters for about a year, says that during the summer the team travels around the country and puts on a camp every week.
In addition to playing games and practicing basketball skills with the campers, the Globetrotters present their C.H.E.E.R. for Character program on life-skills education developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education. C.H.E.E.R. stands for Cooperation, Honesty, Effort, Enthusiasm and Respect, and the program helps campers understand how they can incorporate these principles into their lives.
Edgerson says, "I like teaching the fundamentals, not only of basketball, but of life. It's not about basketball skills, it's about life skills."
Camper Trevor Horta, age 6, was excited to meet the Globetrotters team members. "They taught me that if somebody respects you, respect them back," he says, adding that his favorite part of the camp was playing knockout - a basketball game - with the Globetrotters.
The Globetrotters have done camps this summer at several other JCCs around the country, including facilities in Providence, R.I.; Houston; Albany, N.Y.; and Pittsburgh.