Jack ‘Big Body Benz’ Benford has been a sports staple at The Q since his arrival from CTF-Soledad in November 2011.
He began his sports career at The Q with the All- Madden team. “All Madden Flag Football was kind of soft here,” Benford stated. “They played a more technical style due to them playing teams from outside. However, at Soledad, we played hard hitting flag football. Football, even with flags, still has the hitting element, and All Madden wasn’t really ready for what was coming from other institutions.”
Benford first played Center for the West Block Warlocks, the first team formed to play against SQ All Mad- den within the prison. The Warlocks won both games.
Benford played football off and on over the next 8 years, but also took time to keep statistics for the various basketball leagues here at The Q: Kings, Warriors, Intramural and the CBL.
“Well, there was a need to have accurate stats being kept for the games, and basketball – like most sports – is about keeping numbers, and what a players tendencies are based on the numbers. Just like in fantasy football, numbers are important,” Benford stated during the interview.
Also in basketball, Benford has played in the “Meat & Potatoes Basketball Game,” an annual event for guys at The Q that must meet a minimum of 225lbs.
“I love the ‘Meat & Potatoes’ game. Some of us have gotten bigger over the years, but we’re still athletes. We’ve gotten older, but can still move; the Big Man game is perfect for us because we still love the game,
just a little harder to run after these younger athletes,” Benford said with a smile. “And? I still love my Meat & Potatoes too.”
Benford is close to earning his Associate Arts degree through Prison University Project, as well taking part in Self Help groups such as CGA (Criminals and Gangsters Anonymous), NVC (Non Violent Communication), Kit CAT, and others.
