The Harlem Rockets visited T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School.
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

DIXFIELD – Harlem came to Dixfield Wednesday as did the entire student population of Peru School – all 184 of them.

The K-8 students and teachers sat in gym bleachers at T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School, while two members of the Harlem Rockets comedy basketball team delivered an educational message and performed skits.

Without realizing he was about to become part of a basketball-handling skit, fourth-grader Robert Worthley’s eyes opened wide when the Rockets’ 6-foot, 6-inch tall Donnie “Razzmatazz” Seale picked him out of the sea of laughing children.

Rockets teammate Johnny “Magic” Dadzie said Worthley had “bragged” about how much of a better hoopster he was than Dadzie.

Much to the amusement of students and teachers, Worthley played along with the ruse, mimicking Dadzie’s ball-handling action.

More skits and laughter followed before Dadzie taught the youths about the importance of staying in school, dangers of drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, respect and building self esteem.

“The greatest part of being a Harlem Rocket is coming into schools like this and leaving a positive message to help you guys out for the rest of your life,” Dadzie said.

The Rockets were to perform from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain Valley High School, taking on a team comprised of area police, fire and emergency medical technicians, a team of teachers, a coaches team, and the Mountain Valley Varsity basketball team.

“I’m impressed with their message,” said Tammi Lyons, treasurer of the Mountain Valley Athletic Boosters, which brought the Rockets to town as a fund-raiser.

Lyons said she was also impressed with the hoops troupe’s plan to make themselves available for photographs and autographs to everyone after the event.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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