A record-breaking athlete credits the San Quentin SQUIRES program for helping him turn his life around. Today he is a successful football player for Laney Junior College in Oakland.
“I believe the most life-gaining experience that I’ve had was when we took a trip inside San Quentin Prison,” said Tiapepe Vitale, a strong safety for Laney. “I learned the only person that can control your actions is you, nobody else.”
Vitale first came into San Quentin at 14 as a guest of SQUIRES. The program features inmates, some convicted of murder, and some hosting troubled youth. The youngsters see what prison life is really like.
The mentors warn them what could happen if they don’t stay on the right path. They do so by telling their stories and giving the youngsters a tour. The teens are shown prison conditions uncut: actual cells, the showers, the yard and the dining room.
“It really impacted me to see those cells and hear men yelling. I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a cell like that,” said Vitale.
He applied what he learned and channeled his actions into football. “Playing football is how I express myself,” said Vitale. He expressed himself very well his senior year. He ended it breaking De La Salle High School’s rushing record with 2,100 yards to go along with 33 touchdowns, according to a Dec. 27, 2012 story by the Bay Area News Group. On top of all his accomplishments, Vitale maintained a 3.4 grade point average.
His team, the Spartans, won the 2012 California Interscholastic Federation Open Division state title under coach Bob Ladouceur. Ladouceur has won 399 games in 34 seasons, including five unbeaten and five championships.
His first San Quentin experience was difficult. He feared the bad things he heard about San Quentin. He also expected the “get in your face” attitude from the mentors, but became settled after hearing the men’s stories. He wasn’t able to open up, but the mentors eased his way.
Four years later he had became someone kids look up to and came back to San Quentin to inspire others. He told the other youth, “Don’t be afraid to open up.”
On his return trip, he was able “to appreciate the mentors and understand the commitment they expressed to us in the SQUIRES program…I like the way men talked about forgiving ourselves and about a chance to change.”
He recommends his 15-year-old brother, Tofiga, come to the SQUIRES program.
“We can never blame others for actions we do, and as people, we learn to understand that we have the responsibility of controlling our own actions and creating a positive outcome in every situation that we face,” Vitale said during a speech during a Terrance Kelly Youth Foundation dinner.
“He is a humble kid,” said SQUIRES sponsor Ernest Pullman. “He didn’t even know he made the newspapers,” Pullman added. Vitale gets most of his news off Youtube, Pullman also said.
Vitale found his way to the SQUIRES through the Kelly Foundation’s EAGLE program, which helps troubled kids. Known as the TKYF, Landrin Kelly, the father of Terrance, founded it, says Pullman.
Terrance Kelly was another De La Salle football standout running back who was murdered. He did everything right and was killed for nothing the day before he was set to start at the University of Oregon, said Pullman.
Landrin became Vitale’s role model after hearing him speak at schools.
Vitale said he chose to attend Laney because he wanted to stay close to home to be near family. His dream is to play for the 49ers. In the meantime, he would like to see more programs in the community because many kids don’t have support from their parents.
Archives for September 2013
New Activity Group ‘H.E.R.O.E.S.’ Focuses on Role-Playing
Do you remember those guys from high school who used to play “Dungeons & Dragons” for hours and hours on end? Well, they grew up. You can see them everyday on television in “The Big Bang Theory,” or… you can watch them on the yard and in the housing units here at San Quentin. They are called “H.E.R.O.E.S.”
“We don’t want guys in this group that can’t follow rules”
Heroes Enabled through Role-playing & Organized Enrichment of Society. Yes, the Gamers are here at San Quentin and they take their role-playing seriously. Their group motto is an easy and inspiring statement:
“Leaving behind life as society’s villains, we endeavor to play the role of heroes and learn to employ the heroic ideal for the benefit of our communities.”
The Gamers reflect the broad spectrum of San Quentin’s population and indeed, the American ideal – which is full integration. There are no barriers such as, “race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, or sexual orientation….” Any inmate who is a part of the general population at San Quentin can apply for membership into H.E.R.O.E.S.
Dungeon Master Christopher Bell said, “Not all of our members have English as their first language, so we have interpreters to help with the guys that speak Spanish, Cambodian, Vietnamese and one guy that speaks Arabic but his English needs a lot of work. We found one of the Muslims who speak Arabic – he learned while he’s been incarcerated – and he translates for that guy and tells us the things that our member wants to clarify.”
The Gamers get together as often as they can and usually spend several days a week “role-playing.” Their mission: Chris Christensen explained it thusly, “Having gained insight, we as prisoners realize we can never undo the harm we’ve caused others in our own society. Nevertheless, we the members of San Quentin HEROES feel that through role-playing we can turn otherwise idle time into opportunities to change our mindsets and grow as mature, law abiding citizens.”
The group’s rules state that members must maintain a reputation of integrity. Members also must commit to the group’s scheduled activities and have a release date of more than 90 days.
Game aids for the group include cubed dice that are, pyramidal, rhomboid and polyhedral shaped, with some die 20-sided. These aren’t the type of dice used for gambling. Each die has a specific use, based on the characters and the realm created for the game. The uses range from combat levels to skill checks, to knowledge skills, diplomacy and perception. There also are miniature figurines, game templates, miniature expansion packs, membership and campaign cards; H.E.R.O.E.S. hats, pins and shirts. According to their by-laws, only the active members can, wear or possess these RPGA (Role-Playing Gamers Association), DCI (parent company of RPGA) and H.E.R.O.E.S game aids.
Violating H.E.R.O.E.S. by-laws or getting disciplinary write-ups can get a group member suspended or even terminated.
“We don’t want guys in this group that can’t follow rules,” said group Scribe George Coles-El. “Everybody has to follow the rules, and that includes men who are moving forward to change their mind state to one that will enhance and be a benefit to our communities while in here and upon release. You can’t be a benefit to society if you can’t follow rules, it’s just that simple.”
Games include Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeons & Dragons Campaign, D&D: Living Grey Hawk, Star Wars LIVING FORCE, Call of Cthulhu, Eborron, and Rifts.
Characters vary from game to game, and are as exotic as the games themselves. It’s almost like watching a “Lord of The Rings” movie played out right on the yard. The have Rangers, Rogues, Paladins, Wizards… Hobbits, Elves, etc.
One staff member working inside West Block is very enthusiastic about the Gamers and has offered to be their sponsor. “I think it’s great. These guys have found a way to work on themselves while being incarcerated,” he said. “They’re doing something that’s actually therapeutic for them and they aren’t the ones that are causing problems in the housing units nor on the yard. Excellent examples on how to program.”
Not everyone is happy about this group being at San Quentin. During weekly meetings in the gym, they sometimes can get complaints about how many desks are being used by the Gamers. However, in fairness, because of the size of their group, the 4-seat table simply couldn’t accommodate them. On average, there are 8 to 12 players per session.
At least one staff member has referred to them as “Worshippers of Satan” and has vowed to get them banished from San Quentin. In response, the group’s Scribe M. Coles-El stated “That’s a prime example of why there is a separation of Church and State in the United States.
To all these avid Gamers, I can only say “Peace… and may The Force be with you, always.”
More information about RPGA can be found by writing to the following: Wizards of the Coast, Inc. P.O. Box 707 Rento, WA 98057-0707.
City of Davis Offers Neighborhood Court Based on Restorative Justice
The City of Davis has begun offering court hearings that offer faster resolutions to minor offenses than traditional criminal proceedings. The hearings, called Neighborhood Courts, are based on the concept of Restorative Justice.
The outcomes of Neighborhood Courts are more satisfactory to all involved, according to a report by the Friends Committee on Legislation of California.
The Restorative Justice concept gives victims a role in criminal proceedings. The goal is to allow the victim to express how the offense has been damaging, gives an offender the chance to understand the damage done, and allows the community to have a stake in deciding how to repair the damage. The result comes closer to repairing the harm instead of the traditional focus on punishing offenders for wrongdoing, according to proponents of the concept.
“Instead of being upset and angry, offenders are accepting responsibility – owning up to what they did, and walking out of the process with an opportunity to make it right,” according to Lisa Rea, founder of Restorative Justice International. “It’s much more meaningful for everyone!”
Neighborhood Courts offer a way for offenders to repair any harm without being criminally charged, thus avoiding a record.
Although state legislation authorized Neighborhood Courts in 1992, it was almost 20 years before San Francisco established the first such court in 2012. The results of the Neighborhood Court are more satisfying for both victims and offenders, according to George Gascon, District Attorney for San Francisco. The City of Davis established the state’s second Neighborhood Court last February.
When a Davis police officer arrests someone or issues a citation for qualifying offenses, the offender receives a “yellow ticket.” The ticket offers the offender an opportunity to accept responsibility for the offense. For those willing, he or she can accept responsibility, go through the Neighborhood Court, meet with a panel of members of the community, and reach a resolution to make amends or “restore” the victim.
The entire process is designed to be completed in a matter of weeks, rather than months or years.
Professionals and Guest Lend S.Q. Tennis Players a Hand
Professional and highly ranked guest tennis players are helping San Quentin inmates improve their game.
“The guys really are getting better. It’s a unique experience and I love to play here, even though it’s only for an hour or two,” said Evan Cox, who played four years of college varsity and studied with pros.
The latest stats show a marked improvement. In the past, the guests usually won, but now inside pairs such as N. Young and Nyugen, and Paul Oliver and Paul Alleyne, have been winning. In fact, on July 20, San Quentin inmates won all the matches.
The visitors have included Olympic Gold Medalists Bryan Brothers, people from Stanford, the University of California at Berkley, Michigan State, University of San Francisco and St. Mary’s.
There was also Brad Gilbert, Past Cash, plus the likes of Jennifer Mills, Evan Cox and his son, Ryan, Ted Saltviet, David Neagle, Yvonne Madden plus many others who enter the prison on Saturday morning to play the inmates in tennis.
Evan Cox said he has wanted to see the inside of San Quentin since hearing about it from an oil crew co-worker called “Dutch,” who did time in the Q back in the 1970s. He said he likes seeing how inmates are “dedicated to getting better, and the healthy attitude we can all learn from.”
Yvonne Madden decided to play at San Quentin because she heard “from Harbor Point members it was a good experience” and she has “enjoyed everyone I met.”
Visiting netters were invited by staffer-coach Don Denivi. Inmate team captain Ronnie Mohamed said the prisoners come up with a name for the team: Inside Tennis Team.
The visitors have taught the prisoners “to be patient, have courtesy and respect for all people and to reestablish communication and social skills with people so that we can groom ourselves back into society upon our release,” said Mohamed.
Results as reported by ITT Commissioner Jason Taylor: N. Young and Nyugen lost 4-0 to Ryan and Evan Cox, who also beat Slaughter & Barrows 3-4 and Young & Nyugen again 4-1 on June 29.
Tim Thompson and Oliver beat Mills and Chris Morgan 4-3.
Chris Schuhmacher and Calix lost to Mills and Morgan, 4-0 on June 29.
Oliver and Alleyne lost 3-4 to Evan Cox and Saltviet; Young and Orlando Harris lost 2-4 to Eddie and Steve; Young and Nyugen beat Eddie and Steve 4-3; and Calix and Barrow beat Eddie & Steve 4-2 on July 13.
ITT players went undefeated against the guests on July 20 as follows:
Oliver and Alleyne beat Neagle and Tom 7-5; Young and Nyugen beat Mills and Saltviet 4-0; Thompson and Barrow beat Madden and Neagle 4-1; Calix and Taylor beat Saltviet & Tom 4-0.
–Aaron “Imam Harun” Taylor contributed to this story
A Walk Off Homerun Gives Giants Victory Over the A’s, 12-11
A walk off home-run by catcher Danny Schrader lifted the San Quentin Giants to a 12-11 victory over the San Quentin A’s in eight innings of baseball.
The score was tied up at the bottom of the last inning. When asked what the Giants were going to do to take the lead back, Coach Elliot Smith replied, “The first guy at bat is going to lead off with a homerun.” That’s exactly what Schrader did.
“I feel good about my performance, but it was a team win. Teams always win games,” said Schrader.
The game ended with only eight innings due to a deal to release the field to soccer players at 1 p.m. When the soccer teams arrived, the bottom of the eight had just began. The deal was extended to allow the players to finish the inning.
Early on, the Giants played from behind. The A’s led 4-2 at the top of the fifth. The Giants took the lead with a three-run homer by Schrader.
The Giants rallied again to increase their lead in the sixth inning. With two outs, Michael Tyler singled, followed by a Mark Jordan double that brought in one run, leaving the score at 7-4. Schrader had a base hit that advanced Jordan’s pitch runner to third. Christhoper Smith reached first on a Cleo Cloman error that also brought in a run, leaving the score 8-4. Ellis’ deep hit threaten to be a home run, but was caught by A’s center-fielder Otter Townes, ending the inning.
“Baseball, it’s up and down,” said A’s player Anthony Denard.
The A’s switched pitcher John Appley for Kelam to no avail. In the seven inning, the A’s got two runs, while the Giants got three more, leaving the score 11-6 Giants.
Down five at the top of the eighth, the A’s rallied back with a lead off base hit by center fielder Bilal Coleman and a double by Kelam, leaving runners on second and third. Then “Red,” who arrived late, came up to bat for the first time and hit a double with two RBIs.
“Just came off a visit for my anniversary. My wife, Mrs. Casey, got me hyped up,” Red said, explaining his success at the plate.
Next up was Cloman, who hit another double that brought in two runs, leaving the score 11-10, Giants.
The Giants switched out pitcher Jeff Dumont for Mario Ellis to finish the inning. Ellis didn’t give up any other runs, however, Cloman stole third and then stole home on an overthrow, tying the game 11-11. The inning ended with a pop-up out by Paul Alleyne, a base hit by Royce Rose and the striking out of Ruben Harper.
Then came Schrader with the walk-off game winning homer.
Discipline Taught Through The Game of Horseshoes
Horseshoe tossing will never rival basketball or football for the most popular sport at San Quentin Prison. However, for Isiah “Zeke” Daniels, the sport that most people consider just a hobby taught him discipline and brought him into a brotherhood of fellow aficionados.
Tournaments are held periodically, involving about a dozen competitors.
Pitching horseshoes is a game of hand and eye coordination. It requires muscle memory for a horseshoe player because it involves using various gripping techniques to make the tossed horseshoe turn in specific ways in an attempt to encircle a stake in the ground around 45 feet away.
The difference between pitching and throwing horseshoes is “throwing horseshoes is for the inexperienced, and pitching them is for the experienced people,” Daniels explained. “Each time you pin it, it is three points and called a ringer. A double ringer is a “six-pack.”
He proudly added, “In a series of regular games, I’ve pitched 12 six-packs, during the evening yard, and that is about an hour and 30 minutes. That is a six-pack nearly every other pitch, averaging a ringer percentage of 80 to 85 percent.”
Growing up in West Virginia, Daniels learned how to control his pitching arm.
“I was 14 years old when I started pitching washers into a hole,” Daniels said.
Daniels continued to develop his horseshoe pitching skills after moving to Nebraska in 1985.
“There were horseshoe circuits I participated in as a contestant,” he said. “Some of those guys seemed to never miss. They were professionals, in my book.”
Daniels described these tournaments as good experiences to connect socially with people.
“In horseshoe circuits, the majority of the contestants were black, white and Indian. It was an array of cultures in acceptance of each other,” he said. “The horseshoe pitchers were good old boys. They only cared about your game, and not your race.”
Daniels is convinced that his job traits as a certified drug and alcohol counselor are the same traits he uses when pitching horseshoes – patience, discipline, tolerance and dealing with all cultures.
S.Q. Warriors Rumble Past Christian Ministries by 30
The San Quentin Warriors whipped the outside Christian Ministries team by 30 points with great energy and focus on defense 112-82.
“My team played with energy from the start of the game, got boards and loose balls,” stated Warriors coach D. Wright. “Our focus on defense caused a gang of turnovers,” added Warriors player A. McIntosh.
The passion exhibited may have been due to the return of Ministries player Tyson, who dropped about 40 on the Warriors last season. “They got amped up cause Tyson was here and we didn’t match their energy,” said Ministries player Ben Ilegbodu, whose 32 points and 12 rebounds weren’t nearly enough.
The Warriors defense matched up guard Alias Jones against Tyson L. Jones ended up with seven rebounds, three steals, one block and five points. Meanwhile, Tyson scored 13, but, despite great speed and his ability to get to the rack, missed many lay-ups and ended up making only five out of 17 shots.
Tyson says he was off because he “hadn’t played in a year.” “In shape and ready to go, Tyson drops 40,” added teammate Ilegbodu.
The win improves the Warriors record to three wins and six loses against the Bill Epling’s Christian Ministries team. “They ain’t coming in here and winning no more my told players me,” Warriors coach Wright said.
‘My team played with energy
from the start of the game’
Leading Warriors scorer Michael Franklin stated, “this is the best team in 10 years and we ain’t playing at out top performance yet. Wait till we gel,” after a previous win in July, where he scored 35.
Perhaps they’ve gelled now. In this August 3 game, the Warriors had 15 assist and several players scored in the double digits. Franklin scored 37 points with 18 boards, McIntosh: 22 and 14, Anthony Ammons: 14 and 14, Reese Hanks: 13 and 10, Jah Strokes and MD Vines added 10 points apiece.
The game didn’t start so good. Warriors player Marcus Cosby was having heart problems towards the end of the first quarter and “man down” had to be called. By the time medical arrived, he was feeling better, but was taken for a check up anyway. As he left, Coach Wright stated, “you won’t play again for the Warriors without a doctor’s note.” The quarter ended with Christian Ministries up, 19-16.
Then the Warriors turned it up, led by Franklin. Ministries defensive plan became stopped Franklin. “Let’s get on 17 (Franklin). Shut him down,” Ministries player Ivy exclaimed. Ilegbodu volunteered to take on that duty, but to no avail.
The second quarter ended 53-39 Warriors.
“We have to pick up our offense and defense, they’re possessed right now. Hopefully we’ll get Ben hot and make a few threes,” stated Ministries coach Epling during the half time break.
Franklin slammed dunk in the third, making the score 70-48 Warriors. The Ministries team never got closer than 14 from that point on. The Warriors kept playing with energy and closed the game out.
Outside Softball Team Diego Boys Defeat San Quentin’s Hardtimers
The San Quentin Hardtimers softball team put up a fight in its 25-19 loss to the outside Diego Boys team.
“We tried,” said Hardtimers outside Coach Rich.
It was a good try against the skilled group. “We enjoy playing against the S.Q. Hardtimers. They play as good as the players we play against on the street. We are part of an upper D-league team,” commented Diego Boys’ Coach Phil Martino.
The Diego Boys jumped out to a five-point lead in the first two innings, but the Hardtimers responded. Ronald Dalton Martin hit a lead off homer in the first inning and by the top of the third, the score was six to five.
After a home run by the Diego Boys’ Captain, the score was tied, six to six. Diego Boys threatened more runs, with a base hit by right fielder B. Rice and a line drive towards third by Squires, but Hardtimer third basemen Mark Jordan launched a double play, ending the inning.
The Hardtimers took the lead in the bottom of the third with a series of almost back-to-back base hits by Martin, Sandy “Rasheed” Lockheart, Otter Blake, Tim Fielder, Malcolm and Michael “Hawkeye” Flemming, leaving the score nine-six.
The Hardtimers posted great defense in the Aug. 2 game, thanks to players such as Mark Jordan, who triggered three double plays and threw out several batters. The team boosted its runs to 12, while holding the Diego Boys to one additional homerun by Schwedy.
In inning six, the Diego Boys rallied with 13 runs on errors, several base hits, a three-run homer by Diego Boy Bee and a grand slam by Demar, plus another home run hit by Schwedy, leaving the score 20-12, Deigo Boys.
The Hardtimers had almost no response, while the Diego Boys racked up five more runs to the Hardtimers one.
However, even with the score 25-13, the Hardtimers didn’t give up. Shon “Jahid” Ruffin led off the ninth inning with a base hit. John Windham followed up with another. Centerfielder Kelam got on base on an error, which brought home Ruffin’s pitch runner. Mario Ellis hit a double so deep it was almost a home run, which brought in Windham, although Kelam got thrown out at third, leaving the score 25-15 with one out and one man on base.
Then Jordan came up to bat. The normally great hitter was 0-4 at that point, but hit a double, bringing in Ellis. Martin followed with a double that brought in Jordan, leaving the score 25-17 with only one out.
Lockhart got a base hit on an error, bringing in Martin and leaving the score 25-18. Then Otter Blake hits a pop-up that was caught, making it two outs on the Hardtimers final chances at bat. Tim got a base hit, which brought in Lockhart, leaving the score 25-19. The amazing rally was stopped six points short on a shallow hit by Malcolm that got Blake thrown out at second.
–Ruben Harper contributed to this story