FULLERTON : Clipper Offers Game Plan for Winning at Life

Succeeding in life is all about having pride in yourself.

That was the lesson Harold Ellis taught a group of about 70 youths Tuesday at the local Boys and Girls Club on Commonwealth Avenue. The 6-foot-5 Los Angeles Clipper forward and guard spent the afternoon delivering a message about self-esteem and positive thinking.

“Listen to your parents, your coaches and anybody who wants to tell you something to help you, and respect them, but most importantly, respect yourself,” Ellis told the group before giving them a few tips on how to guard opponents on the basketball court and then conducting a basic layup line.

Ellis told the youths to value education because it helps people achieve their dreams and goals.

Ellis’ visit was arranged by Los Angeles-based Neighborhood PRIDE, which is sponsored by the Clippers and Arco Product Co.

PRIDE is an acronym for “positive mental attitude, respect, intelligent choices, dreaming dreams and effort in education.” Ellis’ appearance marked PRIDE’s first visit to Orange County.

The program, created in 1992 after the Los Angeles riots, aims to provide positive role models for youths and uses basketball to promote its message, said Matt Spence, a Clippers community relations spokesman.

Team members have conducted more than 50 basketball clinics for more than 25,000 children and teen-agers.

Brandon Williams, 12, said he enjoyed the visit.

“I think it was very encouraging,” he said. “He’s a very good role model for kids because he said kids should stay off the streets, off drugs and in school. I think that’s basically the key to success.”

Freddy Gutierrez, 10, was awed by Ellis, who told him to shoot the ball off the backboard.

“He’s a great teacher,” Freddy said, “I shot it to the board and it made it.”

The youths were given T-shirts, caps and bags filled with basketball cards, a water bottle and a magazine on basketball.

“This really means a lot to these kids,” said John Petrie, the Boys and Girls Club athletic director.