NBA moms stage Hawai'i benefit

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	Halftime Hula Hoopla 6 to 9 tonight Hawai'i Convention Center's Kalakaua Ballroom $10 595-8400

"I wanted to get together to form a support group," said the mother of Terrell Brandon, who's with the Atlanta Hawks.

So in 1996, Charlotte Brandon founded Mothers of Professional Basketball Players, a support system for the players and their families that is also active in raising money for charities. Tonight the women will present Halftime Hula Hoopla at the Hawai'i Convention Center, a public benefit for the Girl Scout Council of Hawaii.

"When they came to talk to us about it, we were thrilled," said Gail Mukaihata Hannemann, CEO of the council. "We share the same mission about strengthening and helping families."

The fund-raiser will include a fashion show featuring the moms modeling autographed basketball jerseys signed by their famous sons and daughters.

"Those (jerseys) will be given away and they're quite expensive giveaways because each jersey is a little under $200," said group member Janet Hill, whose son is Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic.

In addition to the 20 jerseys, 20 autographed regulation NBA and WNBA basketballs will be given away. There will also be local entertainment.

The event will be moderated by Robin Roberts of ABC's "Good Morning America" and ESPN. Many of the mothers will be accompanied by their children, including Terrell Brandon, Tracy Murray of the Los Angeles Lakers and Bruce Bowen of the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

Mothers of Professional Basketball Players has nearly 90 members and is open to mothers of players in the NBA, WNBA, NBDL, Harlem Globetrotters and international leagues.

Charlotte Brandon, president of the organization, added that while she is proud of her son, young children should not look at professional athletes as role models.

"I just believe that we as parents ought to carry ourselves in a way where our children have the respect that they're supposed to have for us, and we should be their models," she said.

"... We shouldn't tell them to look toward Terrell Brandon or to Corey Maggette or to Michael Jordan or to any of these name brands. First and foremost, it should start with their own parents."