Tennis is a complex rehabilitative sport. You have to return the ball that is served. But, there are hundreds of ways to hit the ball, and there are a thousand places it could land. For an incarcerated father, it’s a metaphor for life. Paris Williams could only live the life he was dealt. As a Creole man and father of a bi-racial daughter, he dealt with racism from her family. As a CDCR prisoner sentenced to 75 years to life, he deals with years of anguish. Williams was struck out under California’s Three Strike Law for his third burglary … [Read more...] about Tennis helps SQ lifer cope with missing his daughter
Sports
Warriors nail season opener with defense, 60-59
The San Quentin Warriors won their season opener over the Green Team 60-59 with a clutch turnaround jumper in the face of a defender, a lot of help from their bench and closeout defense. “This game was all defense,” said Warrior Tevin “Cutty” Fournette, who made the game winning shot. “From the opening bell we focused on defense.” “if y’all think I did it…just give me a lawyer, dawg, ‘cause this is not what’s up.” Warren Demesme said during police questioning. The Louisiana Supreme Court held that this reference was too ambiguous to count … [Read more...] about Warriors nail season opener with defense, 60-59
Ultra runner see parallels between cancer and prison
Members of San Quentin’s 1000 Mile Club ran as many miles as they could in one hour in preparation for a marathon in November. As the usual cast of characters took first, second and third place, Coach Kevin Rumon shared his thoughts on how running helped him overcome throat cancer. “Although I wasn’t able to run during treatment and only a bit during recovery, running provided the greatest source of personal strength to gut out the cancer battle,” Rumon said. “My 100-mile races are a series of individual steps that I have no control over. If I … [Read more...] about Ultra runner see parallels between cancer and prison
San Quentin baseball as Elliot Smith retires
San Quentin opened its 2018 baseball season with both joy and sadness. San Quentin’s A’s defeated the visiting San Francisco Mission 11-8. But the retirement of long-time sponsor Elliot Smith was bittersweet for the free and incarcerated ballplayers. “Elliot carried this program for a long time,” said A’s sponsor, Steve Reichardt. “It’s tough seeing him walking off this field for the last time.” ICE reported “24,476 of the 185,507 inmates in the federal Bureau of Prisons system were not citizens…” THE NEW YORK TIMES Dec. 22, 2017 Smith, 75, … [Read more...] about San Quentin baseball as Elliot Smith retires
Hermanos Unidos wins, 8-0, over SQ soccer team
San Quentin’s B-Team opened its season with an 8-0 loss in a friendly match against U.C. Berkeley’s Hermanos Unidos (United Brothers). Both A and B teams — formally the OGs and Youngsters — have lost five consecutive matches dating back to last season. The match drew an audience of prisoners like Percy Paul, a new arrival at the institution. “Just watching these guys got me real excited,” said Paul. “I definitely want to get on the team,” he added. The new wave of prisoners may bring talent that San Quentin teams can use. Although B-Team … [Read more...] about Hermanos Unidos wins, 8-0, over SQ soccer team
Father and his sons minister through football
To the Jackson family, it’s about God, fatherhood and football. The three men will get in the mud – literally – to minister to San Quentin prisoners competing in flag football. For the past eight years, Andre, Antoine and their father, Pastor Wayne Jackson, have volunteered to come to the prison as a team called the “Chosen” to take on San Quentin’s flag football team, the All-Madden. The teams are evenly matched. “...although they have made a mistake in life, it doesn’t have to define their future” The Jackson men would stand on San … [Read more...] about Father and his sons minister through football
ROOTS Solidarity Run helps spirits of the community
While community volunteers ran in the Oakland Run Festival to raise money for an ethnic studies program at San Quentin State Prison, 33 incarcerated men ran in solidarity with them. The Asian Prisoner’s Support Community (APSC) ran to raise funds for the Restoring Our Original True Selves (ROOTS) program on March 24 and 25. “Our community and volunteers, in their free time, ran to raise money for us,” Kevin “K” Neang, the ROOTS incarcerated chairman, said. “Let us show solidarity and run with them.” The 33 incarcerated participants completed … [Read more...] about ROOTS Solidarity Run helps spirits of the community
The passion of running stretches beyond the prison walls
From the yard inside San Quentin State Prison, Chris Schuhmacher used to look up over the walls at Mt. Tam, thinking one day I’m going to get there. Now on parole, he’s arrived and he continues using the two things that got him through his bid—running and computer coding. “Chris exemplifies the spirit, drive and determination of someone who wants to succeed and set an example for others,” Beverly Parenti, co-founder of the Code.7370 coding program at San Quentin, said. Schuhmacher works as a software engineer for Fandom, a company that … [Read more...] about The passion of running stretches beyond the prison walls
Tennis season at San Quentin
Mill Valley and Lagunites Tennis Club came into SQ opening day San Quentin Tennis team’s opening day matches were a mixture of wins and losses with visiting community participants. Members of the Mill Valley Tennis Club and Lagunitas Tennis Club came into San Quentin for opening day festivities. In preparation for the opening day, the San Quentin tennis court was scrubbed and a new net installed. Tennis sponsor Sharon Schyler with guest Chris Morgan played against Inside Tennis Team members Paul Alleyne and Earl Williams. The guests won … [Read more...] about Tennis season at San Quentin
Tamalpais Runners Club help runners in six-mile race
During a six-mile race, the sun beamed down through the clear blue sky onto the San Quentin yard, making the runners thankful to have new caps donated by the Tamalpais Runners Club. “It was a rough day but I did better than I thought I would do” “I think the hat is responsible for giving me my personal best time today,” said John Levin, a member of San Quentin’s 1000 Mile running club. “I think it has aerodynamic properties.” He finished the six miles in 44:18, more than two minutes faster than his prior best time of 46:35. The gray caps … [Read more...] about Tamalpais Runners Club help runners in six-mile race