Parkinson's Puts Unique Interracial Basketball Family in Transition

  CHICAGO, IL - 08/01/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

After nearly 20 years of bringing smiles to millions of people around the world, Harlem Ambassadors’ president Dale Moss needs to sell the comedy basketball show team he founded to find one more smile, his own.  Moss is a Parkinson’s Disease patient with the progressive neurological affliction that has symptoms including the loss of muscle tone in the face which results in an expressionless stare.  Speech can also be affected.

While it may not be reflected on face, Moss’ biggest invisible smile these days is the joy in seeing the blossoming of his grandson Ayo Dosumnu, a highly recruited, blue chip 6-3 junior PG at Chicago’s Morgan Park HS and Mac Irvin Fire AAU.  Ayo Dosunmu has received D1 offers from a dozen schools including Illinois and Northwestern. Ayo and his brother Yakub “Kube” Dosunmu started joining their grandfather on tour with Harlem Ambassadors from a young age. 

“My daughter was worried because they were young,” Moss recalled. “but we had some great adventures, even if people don’t often see a middle age White man and two energetic Black grade schoolers.”  As they got older, the brothers provided some defense in drills against the Ambassadors’ pros during mini-camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center.  More recently, Moss helped Yakub get the tryout that landed him at NAIA Ohio Christian University where he is beginning his college career this fall as a 5-11 PG.  Moss also makes certain that broadcasters and public address announcers correctly pronounce “Dosunmu” by passing out t-shirts imprinted with the phonetic spelling DOUGH-SUE-MOO. 

Parkinson’s symptoms clearly afflicted the world's most famous patient, Muhammad Ali.  While Ali was recognized as much for his facial and verbal antics as for his punches, the Greatest had been rendered stone-faced by the time of his appearance at the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

“I’ve always been one to laugh and enjoy seeing others smile,” observed Moss, a career sports marketing professional.  Adding that “it is one of the main reasons that we created the Harlem Ambassadors.”   The disorder has largely erased his ability to look happy.  While there is no cure for Parkinson’s, there is a surgical procedure that can improve the symptoms.

And showing Moss the way is another Parkinson’s patient, former NHL player, coach, and Nashville Predators broadcaster Brent Peterson.  Moss learned about surgery called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) from Peterson who allowed Fox 17 News in Nashville to video his surgery and aftercare.   DBS is a high tech procedure that essentially installs a pacemaker in the brain.   

There’s a point in the video where they turn on the electrodes and Peterson lights up with a huge smile where he previously had been expressionless. “When I saw that I knew DBS was right for me.  My neurologists at Northwestern Medical agree and then speaking directly with Brent was great confirmation.”  Here is link to the Fox 17 News story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPJIWzFCANs

Diagnosed for six years, Moss admits an increased progression of Parkinson’s symptoms surprised him.  “I thought that I had more time, but physically I can no longer lead the Harlem Ambassadors.  I’m proud of what we’ve built with this sports entertainment property, it has taken me all over the world, and there’s a great opportunity for someone to take this platform to the next level.” 

In 18 seasons led by career sports business professional Moss, the Harlem Ambassadors’ footprint includes over 3,000 shows in all 50 states, 23 countries, and at over 125 different U.S. military installations in all service branches. In partnership with community, youth, and social service agencies, the organization has raised millions of dollars while retaining an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Interested parties can view the sales listing for Harlem Ambassadors at http://www.bizbuysell.com/Business-Opportunity/Harlem-Ambassadors-Basketball-Show/1279683/ and qualified parties can receive a prospectus and financial statements.  More information is available from Dale Moss 224-880-5176 and harlemambassadors@comcast.net.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU-cEHI3ww4&feature=youtu.be