Helder Alveraaz, 42, is one of the better defenders in the intramural basketball league at San Quentin, is also proficient in other sports, as I found out in the following interview. I recently caught up with him while he was shaving on the 5th tier in West Block to do this interview.
AT: How is it playing sports here at The Q?
HA:It’s like NASCAR but on a motorcycle.
HA: I’m competitive. I like the game and I like the guys on the team.[Head coach] Lomack and I get along very well.
FB: Bo Jackson. TE: Kellen Winslow & Bennett. WR: JerryRice,JohnTaylor, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders. KR: Ickey Woods PR: Tyreek Hill. DT: Refrigerator Perry & Dana Stubbs
HA: I like it here because there are no racial boundaries. I can play ball. Time is hard enough, but not having racial politics is much easier.
AT: So, that means at Wasco Reception, they’re still pushing the ra cial divisions, even in sports.
HA: Yeah. AT: What sports do you play?
AT: What type of educational pursuits have you done while inside?
AT: What do you want the readers to know about you and your life experience?
HA: Basketball, Baseball, Softball and Tennis.
HA: I got my GED here at The Q. I’ve completed Vocational Maintenance,
HA: When I paroled the first time, I made a promise
AT: And on the streets?
HA: I race mountain bikes out there. I rode for Harley Davidson, and now I race for Indian Motorcycle. I have 17 National titles and two world championships in Flat Track.
now I’m in SAP (Substance Abuse Program).
HA: Are you really asking me that? That’s good…that’s good for real.
AT: Explain Flat Track Racing?
HA: It’s like NASCAR but on a motorcycle.
AT: What are the top speeds?
HA: 180 mph average.
AT: If members of our reading audience Google your name, will they find all this? You know that people in jail are always behaving as though they’re on ‘Fantasy Island,’ acting as if Mr. Rourke and Tattoo are introducing them as they make up all kinds of stuff that they did while on the streets.
HA: Yeah, they can look me up. (We’re both laughing at this.)
AT: If you had the chance to speak to your 12 year old self, what would you say in one sentence?
AT: How is it playing sports here at The Q?
HA:It’s like NASCAR but on a motorcycle.
HA: I’m competitive. I like the game and I like the guys on the team.[Head coach] Lomack and I get along very well.
FB: Bo Jackson. TE: Kel- len Winslow & Bennett. WR: JerryRice,JohnTaylor,Mi- chael Irvin and Deion Sanders. KR: Ickey Woods PR: Tyreek Hill. DT: Refrigerator Perry & Dana Stubbs
HA: I like it here because there are no racial boundaries. I can play ball. Time is hard enough, but not having racial politics is much easier.
AT: What are the top speeds?
AT: What’s your role on the team?
AT: So, that means at Wasco Reception,
HA: I’m signed up for many of them, but the waiting list long.
AT: What city do you hail from?
HA: Yeah. AT: What sports do you
AT: What type of educational pursuits have you done while inside?
AT: What do you want the readers to know about you and your life experience?
HA: I got my GED here at The Q. I’ve completed Vocational Maintenance, now I’m in SAP (Substance Abuse Program).
HA: Are you really asking me that? That’s good…that’s good for real.
AT: Explain Flat Track Racing?
AT: What’s it like play- ing on Canada Dry, one of the top teams in the intramural basketball league?
HA: I’m competitive. I like the game and I like the guysontheteam.[Head coach] Lomack and I get along very well.
FB: Bo Jackson. TE: Kel- len Winslow & Bennett. WR: JerryRice,JohnTaylor,Mi- chael Irvin and Deion Sanders. KR: Ickey Woods PR: Tyreek Hill. DT: Refrigerator Perry & Dana Stubbs
HA: I like it here because there are no ra- cial boundaries. I can play ball. Time is hard enough, but not having racial politics is much easier.
AT: What are the top speeds?
AT: What’s your role on the team?
AT: So, that means at Wasco Reception,
HA: I’m signed up for many of them, but the waiting list long.
AT: What city do you hail from?
AT: What type of educational pursuits have you done while inside?
AT: What do you want the readers to know about you and your life experience?
HA: When I paroled the first time, I made a promise
AT: And on the streets?
HA: 180 mph average.
AT: If members of our reading audience Google your name, will they find all this? You know that people in jail are always behaving as though they’re on ‘Fantasy Island,’ acting as if Mr. Rourke and Tattoo are introducing them as they make up all kinds of stuff that they did while on the streets.
HA: I play defense, hustle, and shoot open jumpers.
DE: Reggie White & Michael Strahan. MLB: Single- tary & Jack Ham. OLB: Lawrence Taylor & Julius Peppers. DB: Don Griffen & Lester Hayes. S: Ronnie Lott & Jeff Fuller.
AT: Do you participate in any self-help groups?
HA: I’m signed up for many of them, but the waiting list long.
AT: What city do you hail from?
HA: Yeah. AT: What sports do you
AT: What type of educational pursuits have you done while inside?
AT: What do you want the readers to know about you and your life experience?
HA: I play defense, hustle, and shoot open jumpers.
DE: Reggie White & Michael Strahan. MLB: Single- tary & Jack Ham. OLB: Lawrence Taylor & Julius Peppers. DB: Don Griffen & Lester Hayes. S: Ronnie Lott & Jeff Fuller.
AT: I really appreciate you doing this interview.
HA: Are you really asking me that? That’s good…that’s good for real.
AT: Explain Flat Track Racing?
AT: What’s it like play- ing on Canada Dry, one of the top teams in the intra- mural basketball league?
QB: Randall Cunningham & Michael Vick. RB: Barry Sanders; Roger Craig.
FB: Bo Jackson. TE: Kel- len Winslow & Bennett. WR: JerryRice,JohnTaylor,Mi- chael Irvin and Deion Sanders. KR: Ickey Woods PR: Tyreek Hill. DT: Refrigerator Perry & Dana Stubbs.
DE: Reggie White & Mi- chael Strahan. MLB: Single- tary & Jack Ham. OLB: Law- rence Taylor & Julius Peppers. DB: Don Griffen & Lester Hayes. S: Ronnie Lott & Jeff Fuller.
AT: What city do you hail from?
HA:SanJose,California.
AT: If you had the chance to speak to your 12 year old self, what would you say in one sentence?
HA: “Be patient.”
Photo by Eddie Herena they’re still pushing the ra-
HA: Yeah, they can look me up. (We’re both laughing at this.)
AT: If you had the chance to speak to your 12 year old self, what would you say in one sentence?
AT: How is it playing sports here at The Q?
HA:It’slikeNASCARbut on a motorcycle.
HA: I’m competitive. I like the game and I like the guysontheteam.[Head coach] Lomack and I get along very well.
FB: Bo Jackson. TE: Kel- len Winslow & Bennett. WR: JerryRice,JohnTaylor,Mi- chael Irvin and Deion Sanders. KR: Ickey Woods PR: Tyreek Hill. DT: Refrigerator Perry & Dana Stubbs
HA: I like it here because there are no ra- cial boundaries. I can play ball. Time is hard enough, but not having racial politics is much easier.
AT: What are the top speeds?
AT: What’s your role on the team?
AT: So, that means at Was- co Reception,
HA: I’m signed up for many of them, but the wait- ing list long.
AT: What city do you hail from?
HA: Yeah. AT: What sports do you
AT: What type of educa- tional pursuits have you done while inside?
AT: What do you want the readers to know about you and your life experience?
play?
HA: Basketball, Baseball,
HA: I got my GED here at The Q. I’ve completed Vocational Maintenance,
HA: When I paroled the first time, I made a promise
Softball and Tennis.
AT: And on the streets?
Let’s go!
HA: 180 mph average.
AT: If members of our reading audience Google your name, will they find all this? You know that people in jail are always behaving as though they’re on ‘Fan- tasy Island,’ acting as if Mr. Rourke and Tattoo are intro- ducing them as they make up allkindsofstuffthatthey did while on the streets.
HA: I play defense, hus- tle, and shoot open jump- ers.
DE: Reggie White & Mi- chael Strahan. MLB: Single- tary & Jack Ham. OLB: Law- rence Taylor & Julius Peppers. DB: Don Griffen & Lester Hayes. S: Ronnie Lott & Jeff Fuller.
AT: Do you participate in any self-help groups?
AT: I really appreciate you doing this interview.
HA: Let me say this: The Q isn’t the same like it was in the 80’s and 90’s. This is a viable community looking to rehabilitate and return to society. That’s why I play softball with the Hardtimers, because we’re playing people from the outside community and that keeps us connected to humanity. I actually needed this reminder of what I lost so I’ll appreciate my freedom even more when I’m back out in a few months.
