Unity and sportsmanship are key to athletes coming to San Quentin to compete with prisoners, said Ted Saltveit, head coach of The Bittermen basketball team.
Regarding racial harmony, Saltveit noted The Bittermen are white and Asian men, while the San Quentin Kings are mostly black with one Hispanic.
The Kings defeated the visitors 67-62, but there was obvious good feelings all around.
“We were nervous when we first came in to the prison to play,” said Saltveit about his team’s inaugural basketball experience March 9 against the Kings.
“The outside inner league basketball minority teams in the Oakland area had a good sports program, and the S.Q. Kings remind us of that same fun,” said Saltveit.
“The San Kings give us a good challenge after all, it comes down to being just a game of basketball,” said Saltveit.
“We were nervous when we first came in to the prison to play”
Saltveit described the interwoven sociality of his team’s Camaraderie with the Kings as a revolving circle of familiar racial basketball interaction. He said his teammate’s participation with the Kings is reminiscent of their basketball plays in the inner cities of Northern California.
The Bittermen point guard Sungbae expressed appreciation for the opportunity to compete with the Kings.
“We are a group of guys from various connections across Northern California,” said Sungbae. He also emphasized that “the majority of our team went to college together, and we are a prison- only team.”
Kings Head Coach Orlando “Duck” Harris said he expects his players to present themselves in a positive manner.
“Mymind set is: The Kings’ policy is to just play basketball and let me worry about any calls as a head coach,” said Harris.
“Most of the (drafted) players on the Kings are student athletes, and they attend college programs here in San Quentin,” said Harris. He also mentioned that, “Not only are they expected to set (good) examples for the younger men, but they are to do so for the general population too.”
