A main reason why prison sports are so invaluable is that some in prison find rehabilitation through sports. That’s what I saw in SQ Warriors shooting guard Reginald “Doc” Frazier, 33. I saw him develop into a more mature young man compared to when he first came to the prison almost five years ago.
Timothy Hicks: Young “Doc” it’s almost time for you to be paroling; right short-timer?
Reginald Frazier: Yeah man, I parole in a couple of months. July 5, to be exact. Right after the Fourth.
TH: That’s cool. Before you go, I wanted to highlight the progress I see you’ve made. You developed into a real mature young man since you arrived here at the Q.
RF: Ah wow, I’m shocked that anybody even noticed. I don’t think other teammates see it. Other guys may not agree.
TH: Well, I see it and I think you need credit for it. That’s what the sports programs are all about. To see you athletes improve your skills and yourselves. What is it that you think you learned most of all through the sports?
RF: I definitely learned more about myself as a person. I learned honesty, truth and how to put my words to action. But now, instead of letting my anger get the best of me and get me in trouble, I direct my anger when I’m mad or sad to the attention of the court. And that’s where I leave it all. I leave it all on the basketball court. It makes me forget whatever it was I was stressing about.
TH: Describe how you’ve changed through playing basketball.
RF: I’m the type of person who likes to dominate. I like to impose my will. So, instead of allowing myself dominate people in the wrong ways, I just impose my will when I’m on the court.
TH: Were you like that as a kid and when did you first play basketball?
RF: Yes, I was always the kid that had the high confidence. But, I didn’t know how to channel it then. I always loved the game though. I started playing in elementary. It’s a great stress reliever.
TH: I noticed that you don’t really argue on the court like you used to do. What happened for you to change?
RF: I’m more focused now. When I go to the court, I go there to leave all of my aggression there. Playing ball has helped me with my patience. Plus, when my head is not in the game, it contributes to my team losing, and I ain’t having that. I used to worry about what the sideline hecklers used to say, but now I learned to pay attention to what in front of me.
TH: Have you set any records?
RF: Yep, nobody broke my Intramural Basketball League most-points-scored in a single game record when I went for 50.
TH: That’s impressive. What do you plan to take with you from playing basketball once you parole?
RF: I’m going to take my patience with me. Once I parole I want to go play for the outside teams and come back in here with them when they come to play the teams.
