By Larry White As 30 Black men gathered at half-court on March 25, the noise level in the San Quentin Prison gym dropped. Dwight Kennedy discussed the rules for the basketball game about to begin, including: the first team to score 11 points wins. Then the men crowded around, placed their hands on the shoulder […]
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By Timothy Young In a San Quentin basketball tournament where the youth were team captains, Team Charlie beat Team Wilson, 30-23. Young men in the Youth Offender Program go to lower-security prisons to serve their time under the mentorship of older men who are group facilitators and leaders. The Asian and Islander YOP Championship Basketball […]
Read MoreBy Rahsaan Thomas If you saw a man shooting free throws differently than everybody else — like by holding the ball below his waist, crouching down slightly and launching it underhanded or shooting the ball one-handed—you might think they looked weird. However, being weirdly different is how one of the best NBA shooters of all […]
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By Marcus Henderson In the season opener, the San Quentin Kings senior basketball team mounted a spectacular comeback to defeat the visiting Bitterman in overtime, 76-73. The Kings overcame a 16-point deficit with the solid play of Kings’ new recruits Damon Cooke, center, and Julio Saca, guard. Cooke hit clutch free-throws in the final minutes […]
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By Rahsaan Thomas More than two dozen members of San Quentin’s running club ran 24 laps around the prison yard in a six-mile race, while a 72-year-old runner showed how coming in last could feel like coming in first. Steve Wilson, 72, was the last runner on the track. As he ran the final mile […]
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By Rahsaan Thomas Staff Writer On an chilly overcast day, 33 men tried out for the San Quentin Warriors, and none of them were cut from the team. “I love that a lot of people come to try out,” veteran Warrior Montrell “Mad Defense” Vines said. “I ain’t seen this in three years.” Head Coach […]
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By Marcus Henderson At least 40 men showed up for the San Quentin baseball spring training tryouts. The veteran players were in rare form, demonstrating their batting and fielding skills. They showed the newcomers the proper baseball mechanics while the outside volunteers and coaches scouted the talent for the 17-man roster. “We’re looking to improve […]
Read MorePaul Oliver grew up with dreams of playing in the NBA. When his father, a full-bird colonel, sent him to West Point Military Academy, he ran off. “I didn’t want to go to West Point because I wanted to be in the NBA,” Oliver said. “I had a scholarship to the University of Washington. I […]
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Skull’s first place was short lived; Taylor gains top spot on second day By Rahsaan Thomas With West Block locked down, this year’s 1000 Mile Club three-mile race happened on two different days. Chris Skull took first place in the initial three-mile race with a time of 19:04. However, Markelle Taylor and Eddie Herena reclaimed […]
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‘I regret letting a lot of people down who counted on me. Now I’m clean’ Last year’s San Quentin Intramural Basketball League ended in controversy after the commissioner missed several games due to disciplinary issues tied to drug addiction. Commissioner Ishmael Freelon promises the 2017 season, which starts April 23, will be much better. “I […]
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