Suns gorilla visit a hit at Altadena

Cheers filled the room as the famous gorilla made his grand entrance.

The Phoenix Suns Gorilla and former Phoenix Suns center Tim Kempton made an appearance at Kyrene Altadeña Middle School Wednesday to inspire kids to read.

More than 120 sixth-graders watched and listened as Kempton read Sick but Slick as The Gorilla acted out every scene, from slipping on a pretend skateboard to slam-dunking a rubber chicken.

Schools in the Valley can request The Gorilla's attendance in order to enhance class curriculums. When it came time for sixth-grade teacher Kavita Bhuyan to teach her students how to write business letters, she decided to take a unique approach and have them write to the Phoenix Suns.

"I really wanted a sports star to come," Bhuyan said. "As a teacher, I can tell them all of the time how important education is, but when a sports star tells them it reinforces the fact that education is important to athletes as well."

The Gorilla ran around the room snapping pictures with students' cameras and giving out high fives and hugs after finishing his theatrical performance. Kempton played a trivia game for prizes. Several students went home with autographed basketballs and pictures.

"With our grade-school kids The Gorilla is more popular than our players," said Krystal Temple, Phoenix Suns public affairs liaison.

While all of the students seemed to be entertained, the presentation was especially exciting for young athletes and Suns fans in the crowd.

Eric Dimassa, 12, has been to more than 20 Suns games. Cole Tucker, 11, plays for the YMCA basketball team and has competed in two state championships.

"It was so cool that we got to meet a player," Tucker said. "It's great how they give back to the community and didn't just ignore us."

Wednesday was just one of 300 appearances The Gorilla does each year to encourage kids to read, stay in school and to not smoke.

"It's an opportunity to shed some positive light on the Suns and encourage education and health," Gorilla coordinator Scott Andrewson said. "Being an athletic gorilla, it's important to stay healthy."

The Gorilla jumped and high-fived his way out the back door and when the bell sounded it was time for Kempton to leave as well. Kids surrounded Kempton with anything they could find for him to autograph, including their shoes.

Andrea Bloom is interning this summer for the AFN. She is a senior at Arizona State University.