CAN COURT QUEEN DEFEAT A PRINCE? "Show Basketball Showdown" Seeks to Answer Question

On the chess board, the Queen is superior to every other piece. In Great Britain, the Queen still rules over her subjects including heirs to the throne Prince Charles and Prince William. But can a woman "Queen" reign over a male "Prince" on the basketball court? The answer to that question awaits acceptance of a "Show Basketball Showdown" being set forth by the Harlem Ambassadors Show Basketball Team.

"On September 20, 2003, we issued a challenge to the president of that other Harlem team, calling for a one-on-one contest," said Ambassadors owner Dale Moss. The contest would match Ambassadors show player Ladè Majic, billed as the "Queen of Show Basketball" and the other Harlem team's show player Paul "Showtime" Gaffney, who has been billed as the "Clown Prince of Basketball". Ladè Majic is the only woman leading a team of men professionals. The 5 foot 7 inch Majic will be giving away nearly a foot in height to Gaffney, listed at 6 foot 6 inches.
The Challenge is made in spirit of one of the best traditions of African-American entertainment, the "Cutting Contest." Whether the art form has been blues, jazz, tap dance, rapping, comedy or basketball, black performers have always sought to prove themselves before peers in a public one-on-one challenge. Says writer Nelson George, author of Elevating the Game: Black Men and Basketball, "It's an elemental part of African-American culture in R&B music and sports, very strong in one-upmanship and showmanship. It's 'Can you top this?'"
In making the Challenge on behalf of Ladè Majic, Moss observed that "she's a world-class basketball player and a world-class comedienne," He added that "since Majic battles on the court against men opponents on a nightly basis, we think it would be great to see her in a competition against a man who has her same unique role of show player." In the world of Show Basketball, the show player role is the performer that initiates comedy routines with the referee, fans, and opposing team players.

Women basketball players have long earned their stripes competing against men. On the playgrounds, women players have to prove themselves to get selected in pickup games. Top NCAA women's programs have men practice squads who help keep the women sharp. As Kansas State assistant coach Sue Serafini observed, "They (men practice players) truly do make us better. There's no question that they have speed, athleticism, and heart that they bring to the floor. They're very competitive." Ladè Majic is the only woman in basketball to perform professionally against men on a nightly basis, nearly 200 games a year. "Competing against guys definitely keeps me on my toes, because they always play their hardest to try and avoid being embarrassed by a woman," observed Ladè Majic.    

Moss said that the September 20th date of issuing the "Show Basketball Showdown" Challenge is meant to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the historic Billie Jean King versus Bobby Riggs tennis match. "That match changed so many perceptions and expectations about what women can achieve both in and out of sports," he said. He further added that "although the contest was serious, people tend to forget that the King-Riggs match was a tremendous sports entertainment spectacle presented in the spirit of fun for the viewers and the participants. Now we are talking about matching two professional basketball players who earn their living putting on a show. We think such a match-up would be very entertaining."

The Harlem Ambassadors are proposing that each team designate a charity and that all revenue generated from the Showdown match-up be directed to the winning performer's charity. Winner take all. The Ambassadors propose to direct proceeds to five different area Girl Scouts Councils that the team has previously worked with as part of the Scout's GirlSports initiative that encourages athletic participation.

The Harlem Ambassadors touring show basketball team has performed in 47 states and 18 foreign countries. The team is the number one provider of entertainment services to the United States military having performed at over 110 different bases worldwide. Now in their sixth season of operation, the team differs from any other show basketball operation because the Ambassadors show features a woman comedy performer. "In nearly every television situation comedy, movie, or even commercials, a smart, clever woman gets the last word in on the guys," Moss explained. "Our show has that same comedic dynamic."

As for the when and where of the actual contest, Ladè Majic gave a succinct answer. "Anytime, any place," was her response.





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