The SQ Warriors won their final game of the year against Prison Sports Ministry’s Green Team.
The season’s end turned into a day of tributes to PSM’s contributions as social reform leaders who helped change the SQ Basketball organization into a national leader in the world of rehabilitative achievements.
Don Smith, founder of Prison Sports Ministries, attended the finale and reminisced about his decision to focus on PSM after his first visit to SQ in 1996.
“Thank you for loving my son,” said the mother of one of the formerly incarcerated residents told Smith.
Smith was attending an event after his first visit to the prison when the mother of a formerly incarcerated player approached him.
Smith apologized for his emotional outburst while sharing his story about the resident’s mother — as if any apology was necessary.
“The raw emotions displayed drove home how important relationships are that take place at SQ sporting events,” said basketball fan and resident John Krueger.
Bryce Warwick, PSM’s Executive Director, has been with the company for six years stated, “We always talk about what a special place San Quentin is. A lot of places don’t have what San Quentin has, so it’s magical that this place exists,” said Warwick.
Callie Hooper’s husband, Will plays for PSM, and she shared the spiritual aspect of PSM’s relationship with the SQ Warriors.“Seeing God’s hand within redemptive work was an encouragement to me and my faith,” exclaimed Hooper.
Don Smith said interactions with residents during pre-game invocation, half-time prayers, and post-game fellowships are invaluable.
SQ Warriors Navion “Smoove’ Sparks and Donnell “Sonic” Pimpton showed the team’s appreciation.
“Times with PSM are my visits,” said Sparks. “PSM opens the door for normalcy in prison and allows us to feel human and more than just a number because what they represent.”
“They take time away from their families to be with us and none of us take that for granted,” said Pimpton.
PSM sponsors year-end sports award banquets and special gatherings include the formerly incarcerated and their families.
In fact, SQ Basketball sponsors a program called 94 feet and Beyond will be hosting a joint luncheon with PSM, which will headline hall-of-fame basketball player Bobby Jones.
The celebration gave way to the season finale. In the game, the SQ Warriors generated a fast start that proved to be too much for PSM’s Green Team. The SQ Warriors prevailed 94-81.
Keyshawn “Steez” Strickland led the Warriors with thirty-six points while Ted led the Green Team with thirty-eight.
Pimpton and Sparks said PSM is not just about basketball — it’s about family. Because of the ministries longterm generosity all players and alumni feel they owe a large part of their rehabilitation to all the volunteers and strive ‘to be better and do better’ for the ministry as well as themselves.
