The time was the early ‘70s when a barely-teenage version of myself used to sit in front of the television every Saturday afternoon and listen as Don Cornelius announced “Sooooooouuuul Train”.

I wanted to dance. I tried when no one was looking, but I was awful at it. My problem was not exactly a lack of soul, more like a lack of rhythm. Perhaps those are one and the same?

So, Thursday night while in attendance at the JDC All-Star basketball game with the Harlem Ambassadors, I could barely contain myself when they lineup formed for a Soul Train dance-off.

It was undoubtedly the oddest collection of local sports talent/dancers you would ever see, consisting of elected officials, business owners, teachers and preachers, but their very diversity made for a one-of-a-kind entertaining evening.

What made it even more hilarious was knowing that some of the All-Stars have not sweated that much since they last climbed a flight of stairs.

First up was the one and only Reverend Jessie Holloway. He did not want the attention and tried to get out of it, but Lade Majic would not let him go. Lucky for us all he gave in and took his tall self down the runway with a lot of soul…

Ike Haynes and Lance Garner were next. We were not laughing at you, Mr. Haynes, we were laughing with you, but a word of advice: don’t quit your day job.

Speaking of quitting a job, Stacy Clark should forget the insurance business and become a professional dancer. Talk about bustin’ a move. She brought the house down.

Don Cornelius would have been proud of our local movers and shakers.

A good time was had by all at the PHS gym and hopefully, this will not be the last we see of the JDC All-Stars. Don’t let those matching tee-shirts sit in a drawer. I say another game is called for.

By the way, who knew (besides Stephanie Dumas) that the Mayor had such pretty legs….