For recent arrivals, especially those without TVs to watch (West Block), there are a few specialty evening programs on the radio you may find worth a visit over the weekends.
Starting on Friday from 10 p.m. to midnight on FM 94.1, KPFA, is The History Of Funk, with Ricky Vincent. Ricky studied music history at UC Berkeley in 1987 and found a gaping hole called Funk. His professor, Roy Thomas, encouraged his research, which led to a campus radio program, and then into KPFA for the last 10 years. Recent guests have been Larry Graham, bassist for Sly and the Family Stone.
George Clinton of Parliament took an evening to play various versions by other artists of one of his biggest hits, Atomic Dog. Clinton’s book, “Funk,” is in the San Quentin library with photos and history of the groups that made it happen. The locator number is 781.64 VIN.
Saturday at midnight on the strong AM 910 station are two-hour original episodes of The Twilight Zone, dramatized for radio broadcast where you just close your eyes and see it all unfold.
For those who enjoy 60 Minutes, the audio version is aired Sundays at 7 p.m. on FM106.9 CBS Radio.
If there are other specialty shows that stand out, please write up a short story and bring it to the S.Q. Journalism Guild meeting at 9 A.M. in the red roofed building behind Education. No ducat is required.
Anticipating the Coming 2012 San Quentin Baseball Season
The San Quentin baseball teams are working toward an exciting opening day of baseball.
As the 2012 San Quentin baseball season quickly approaches, the excitement begins to build on the lower yard.
With the recent increase of men in the general population, there is a lot of new talent to scout. Some of the veterans and new arrivals took advantage of the good weather and began conditioning and running drills.
Baseball tryouts are scheduled to begin the second week of May, according to inmate coach, J. Parratt
This coveted program allows men to build pro-social skills and rebuild values that exist in human beings, which of course goes along with the fun of the game. This great program attracts local young and seasoned talent from surrounding colleges along with recreational baseball teams.
San Quentin Pirates The Forgotten
Everyone has heard of the San Quentin Giants, well, almost.
One team that is not illuminated is the San Quentin Pirates
softball team.
Quiet as it’s kept, a lot of fans and prisoners come out regularly on Sunday afternoon to umpire, cheer, and sometimes express the intention of playing.
The San Quentin Pirates played hardball in 2006 and 2007, coached by Kent Philpot. Stan-the-Man is the trusty bench coach, and two men in blue, Frankie Smith, and Will Packer, assisted in the management. Briefly, in 2007, they had a fast pitch league. So behind the scenes there are some very talented players having fun making great plays and hitting their fair share of home runs (the pinnacle of the game). Mr. Rich and Bob Mayer, the San Quentin Pirates sponsors and coaches from the free world, obtained the helm of the team in 2006, and make it possible for the men to play in a league all of their own. These sponsors take time out of their busy lives, and for this we thank them deeply.
Big Dan, prisoner/assistant coach, protects the dish at home; Big Ron Dalton” is anchored to 1st, and has a snow shovel for a scoop. Anyone on the yard who follows sports has witnessed the notorious long ball hitting Southpaw in action Ke Lam, (a.k.a. “Mighty Mouse”) exhibits inhumanly long ball power to both sides of the diamond. “Lam patrols centerfield with excellent speed and an accurate arm – his territory is known as the “Noflyzone.”
John Harper, our sure-fielding 3rd baseman secures the hot corner. Kevin Carr patrols left field with a strong arm and swings hard at the plate. Big Shawn, who just joined, plays right-center, and can place the ball with authority anywhere. Little Laos patrols a dangerous right field, with mixed terrain, and sprays the ball all over.
Paul Jordan plays the hot spot at short, and leads the team in averages with his phenomenal bat. Fernando Lemus is our utility player covering 3rd, 1st, and pitching; he is an asset to the team. Thacker, Davis, and retired Giants player Dave Marshall play 2nd and share time. Marshall is a crafty player who swings left-handed at the plate.
Not to be counted out, Tony, our newest addition, switches off at the mound with Junkyard who has patiently waited on the side until his debut. They both sport a decent bat, and, finally, Big Mario, who was injured and is still on the D.L. has a huge bat with enough pop to all fields, and can play any position. The Pirate Players thank the Athletic Department at SQ.
San Quentin Warriors
The San Quentin Warriors basketball team has a very colorful history. I’ve been here for eight years, played for the first four, and was sidelined by injuries in the middle of the fifth. After being out for two seasons, and in the middle of my comeback, I was recruited by the team to assume the role of “Head coach.” With only 7 wins and 11 losses, we were in trouble, and in danger of having our first losing season only to finish 18 and 14.
This year began with a real training camp, which included a rigorous strength and conditioning focus; we also had actual tryouts. However, we’ve evolved as a program and are much more oriented spiritually that in time past; I couldn’t cut people. Instead, it an attempt to honor our program as a “Sports Ministry,” we decided to establish a practice squad. We want men! It’s obvious that we all need growth and development, therefore giving up on people is not an option. It does hurt when I see men who could be great give up on themselves!
Players come and go over the course of the season, which began May 29th, 2008. We are presently 10 and 5, with 18 games left on our schedule. We have had only one cancellation due to the Hitland Yard Ministry (which we fully supported). Our coaching staff includes me (George Lamb), and there are a number of men who are on the inside in addition to a few folks from the outside who support our program; to them all we say is: “Thanks!” They will receive mention by name over the course of the season, as these “Warrior Reports” continue. On behalf of the San Quentin
Warriors, my name is Shuan Payton, and I joined the team in 2007. In the beginning it was just about basketball for me, but I came to realize that it wasn’t only about playing ball, but it was also about communication, discipline, respect and trust. But most of all, it was about “God.” All of these things mean a lot to me. I’ve never been on a team that prayed before the game and shared testimonies and had devotionals at halftime.
Since I’ve been on the team, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and wrong decisions that could have been prevented. Those mistakes and poor decisions have taken me to the “hole” a couple of times, but, when I returned, I was still a part of the team. I’ve had time to reflect while on the side lines observing what I was missing as I served my suspensions. Men in prison go through things, but having teammates who will make the journey with you and sometimes carry you through to the other side, makes victory on all levels of life sweeter!
It’s a new season, and our team is younger and more talented than we were last year. We’re capable of winning every game. Our losses have been very close, and always a result of having key players missing; not excuses, just facts. We’ve lost a few players to parole and are expecting to lose a few more before the end of the season. So, eyes are always open for new talent. We have a core group who are expected to remain through the end of the season; we’re good and our goal is still the same…WIN!
All of the teams we play are from the outside. College teams, men’s leagues, and church league teams; so interacting with them is great – they show us love, respect and a considerable amount of support (including donation of equipment!). They grow and are blessed as we grow and are blessed. Thanks to my teammates, and our coaching staff, as well as all those in support; especially to our officials; especially “Huggie,” and to the administration for allowing the program to realize the successes we all enjoy. To the fans who love us, “Good-looking,” and to those who don’t, “Stop-hating!” Just kidding – pray for us!