Daze Streetball

There was a basketball game Monday evening, but there were no losers. There was a memorial honoring a fallen friend, but there were few tears. Instead, a packed gymnasium at Weston Elementary School welcomed staff, students and friends for a basketball game to benefit the John Klang Memorial.

The competition was stiff as the Daze Streetball Crew out of Madison provided an entertaining evening.

"This is for a great cause, a way to give back to the community," Daze member Troy Dean said. "From everything we've heard and seen, Mr. Klang was a kind and giving man."

The Daze crew came to Weston during the day to provide demonstrations for the community, highlighting some of the moves that the team uses on the court. Dean, also known as "Myth" on the court, and Jesse Muench, known as "Snake," provided the highlight-reel moves for the fans. Daze draws from a national group of talent such as Jake "Hollywood" McDonald, who flew in from Albuquerque, N.M. to play in the game.

"I think everyone who was at the demonstration is here tonight," team member J-Roc commented. "It's great to see it."

Using a mixture of music and emcee Spencer Dean's colorful play-by-play, the Daze took on a group of faculty, staff, students and others from the Weston area. But at the end of the night the score didn't matter, the cause did.

In November Troy Dean contacted Weston principal Melissa Nigh, asking what the group could do to help after hearing about the tragic events of Sept. 29, 2006, the day John Klang was fatally shot by a 15-year-old student.

"We wanted to do something. I know when I was in school, I was really close to my principal," Troy Dean said. "When I heard about the event, I tried to put myself in the kids' shoes."

After months of trading phone calls and e-mails, bouncing ideas off of each other about what special event could come to Weston the basketball game was decided on.

"I was surprised when I first heard from them," Nigh said. "I just want to say a huge thank you to (the Daze), they have just been great."

During the evening bricks and tiles were on sale in the lobby area. These will be placed along the walkway to the memorial column.

Fans in attendance got their money's worth and participated in giveaways, on-court antics and a special halftime show performed by a local group of cheerleaders.

As time was running out on the court, Troy Dean gave the fans one last reason to stand and cheer, as he pulled off his jersey to proudly display the blue super hero styled shirt underneath that has become the rally call of Weston Schools, "John Klang is my superhero."

After the game the court became a crowded mass of people. Daze members passed out shirts, signed autographs and shared many hugs.

"It just brings tears to my eyes — seeing all of these people and everything," Nigh said. "The community support, and the surrounding communities, they've been wonderful supporting this great cause."

As a result of the evening, $2,804 was raised to help fund the John Klang Memorial. Added in to that is $3,000 for benches that were also sold.

Nigh says the memorial committee has reached its goal of $7,000 for the memorial, which tentatively looks like it will be located near the entrance of the elementary school.

By Ben Bromley / News Republic

Awesome feats and abject humiliation will be the order of the day March 28 when the Daze Streetball basketball team challenges the Baraboo Community All-Stars at Jack Young Middle School.

The Madison-based Streetball crew will use fancy moves to preserve its undefeated record against a team of local teachers, firefighters and businesspeople. These volunteers are risking being dribbled around, dunked on and generally embarrassed in public to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Baraboo/Sauk County. Who wouldn't plunk down a couple bucks to see their teacher get schooled? "You can't put a price tag on that sort of thing," organizer John Gunnell said with a laugh. "I'm just hoping that we get a big turnout."

Daze Streetball employs an entertaining style of play reminiscent of the Harlem Globetrotters and the And1 exhibition players. Guys nicknamed Hollywood and Konfusion use slick ball-handling techniques and rim-rattling slam dunks to dazzle crowds, team owner and player Troy "Myth" Dean said. One player can dribble three balls at once, and Dean himself performs a trick in which he maintains his balance while standing on a ball. The team's always-changing roster includes former Wisconsin Badgers and Dean's 12-year-old son. "They like the flashy passes, the moves they've never seen before," Dean said. "We'll bring a good show out there."

Dean contacted the Boys & Girls Club about setting up a fund-raising exhibition game after learning of the club's financial woes. The team often schedules games to raise money for good causes or build community spirit. "I took it upon myself to reach out and turn a bad situation into a good one," Dean said. "We like to do stuff to benefit people who are less fortunate."

Gunnell anticipates an entertaining game. He saw Daze Streetball play at Weston after a school shooting devastated the community. "The crowd would get really excited when they made their monster dunks," Gunnell said. "It provides family entertainment at a reasonable cost."

Gunnell is working to add local business figures to a roster of "all stars" that will include Boys & Girls Club staffers. "It'll be like you're the Washington Generals against the Harlem Globetrotters — we're not expected to win," said Gunnell, a former girls basketball coach. "I think it'll be a lot of fun."

The game will cap a full day of activities. Daze Streetball players will tour Baraboo elementaries in the morning before presenting an afternoon demonstration at the middle school. An after-school dance will raise money for middle school athletics.

While wowing kids with their moves, Dean and his teammates also will slam home the message that young people should identify goals and work hard to achieve them. "They're very positive, very upbeat," Gunnell said.

Dean said Daze Streetball players will sign autographs and pose for pictures. They also tell young players not to copy their showtime moves when playing for their school teams. "We're actually all pretty decent basketball players," Dean said. "We make sure the kids know, before you learn any of these tricks, you have to learn your fundamentals."

If you go

* What: Daze Streetball Crew versus Baraboo Community All-Stars basketball game

* When: 7 p.m. Friday, March 28

* Where: Jack Young Middle School

* Cost: $3 for adults, $2 for students

* Contact: Call (608) 355-CLUB