The San Quentin Warriors won again! For the second straight year, the prison’s premiere basketball team beat the Golden State Warriors squad of staffers 93-85 in a community atmosphere that featured NBA-playoff intensity. The victory had particular significance for San Quentin power forward Harry “ATL” Smith, who paroled a few days after the game. “All praise is due to God,” Smith said. “It’s bigger than basketball. This program has really been my family. When I get out, I plan to continue repping the Warriors and Jesus Christ.” The annual … [Read more...] about S.Q. Warriors take trophy back
Golden State Warriors
SQ Warriors lose a squeaker to ex-pros, 70-66
The San Quentin Warriors hung with a Green Team stacked with former pro basketball players but their valiant effort fell short in the final minute of a 70-66 loss. “They’re good,” Evan Fjeld, who played for the NBA D-League and led the Green Team with 16 points, said. “They’ve gotten better since last year—more patient and more organized. We are lucky to get out of here with the win.” "SNY [Sensitive Needs Yard] ...comprises roughly half the California prison system," according to Lody Lewn in the Prison University Project Spring 2018 … [Read more...] about SQ Warriors lose a squeaker to ex-pros, 70-66
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
New volunteers to referee games but still face the same complaints
A new cast volunteered to take on one of the toughest jobs at San Quentin—refereeing basketball games. “It’s challenging,” Antonio Manning, new ref and former SQ King, said about refereeing. “You have to deal with different attitudes and personalities.” “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 as a request for counsel. REASON Magazine, January 2018 Veteran ref Robert … [Read more...] about New volunteers to referee games but still face the same complaints
Good luck follows SQ visit
Visiting San Quentin State Prison may be good luck for a professional sports team that wants to win a championship. The San Francisco Deltas soccer team became the third sports organization to experience the magic. On Oct. 24, SF Delta team members mingled with the prison population of San Quentin right on the brink of their playoffs. Among the visiting Deltas was Devon Sandoval who, on Sept. 20, scored two goals in 10 minutes to bring the Deltas back against the New York Cosmos for a tie, according to a San Francisco Gate article. … [Read more...] about Good luck follows SQ visit
Addressing social justice inequalities
A roundtable centering on social justice inequalities in America took place Dec. 12 between two unlikely groups at the most unlikely place. Earl Smith, San Francisco 49ers pastor, led a team of Bay Area sports personalities into San Quentin State Prison for a discussion with an audience of about 100 people, including inmates, community volunteers and prison staffers. A major topic — the challenges athletes face when speaking publicly about mass incarceration and racism. To protest the treatment of Blacks in America, 49er safety Eric Reid … [Read more...] about Addressing social justice inequalities
San Quentin Warriors victory over Golden State
The Golden State (GS) Warriors are national champions, but after their sixth annual road game behind the walls of San Quentin State Prison. They lost 103-102 despite Bob Myers’ 32 points and 31 rebounds performance. The “home team” celebrated the victory by poses with the 2017 NBA Championship trophy. “They earned the win; they out-played us,” said Myers, the NBA Executive of the Year, for the second time. “It was very fun … Everyone was great except the dude who guarded me today.” Even before the arrival of the GS team, 31-year-old Cornell … [Read more...] about San Quentin Warriors victory over Golden State