By Rahsaan Thomas
Weather reports threatened rain, and the Golden State Warriors were tied 1-1 in the Western Conference; yet, their Assistant General Manager, Kirk Lacob, visited San Quentin to play basketball against the San Quentin Warriors anyway.
Lacob came in with the Christian Sports Ministry’s Green Team and sponsor Bill Epling.
Epling knew it might rain but took the chance to come because of how much both the inside and outside teams look forward to meeting up every other Saturday.
This made the second year in a row that Lacob came into San Quentin while his Golden State team was in the midst of the NBA playoffs. Last year Golden State won the championship.
“I think it might be (good luck); it worked last year,” Lacob said.
The May 21 game got off to agreat start for Christian Sports Ministries even without their leading scoring center/forward Chris Blees or Pat Lacey. In their place, Kyle Fowlers, who used to play for Wake Forest, and Antoine Maddox, a former Washington General, stepped up. Fowlers had 15 in the first half, with highlights including a reverse layup and a layup that resembled a dunk. Maddox followed up with another 15 points, while the S.Q. Warriors’ 0-3 season start struggles looked to continue.
After the second quarter both teams, refs and coaches crowded around half-court circle. There Robert Butler spoke about paroled men who had run into problems and about helping each other succeed on the outside, like Danny Cox, who he said works for Tesla.
Epling spoke about how God used a prostitute to save people.
“If God can use Rahab (a heroic prostitute in the Old Testament) He can use you,” Epling said.
Lacob talked about a selfless man whostarted with Golden State 24 years ago as a ball boy and was rewarded for his hard work and loyalty with a championship ring and Steph Curry mentioning his name during an MVP acceptance speech.
“I strive to be like him,” saidLacob.
Rain ended the game just as the third quarter started with Christian Sports Ministries up, 37-33, and one clear winner– everyone involved.
