A view of tennis inside San Quentin was documented by Vice Media, featuring prisoners and outside tennis specialists.
The stated purpose was to learn about the socialization of sports.
“What makes an individual pick a certain sport?” asked Dan Bradley, head producer of Vice Sports.
“Why play tennis? What is it that is special for them?” Vice host Kaj Larsen asked the players in San Quentin. “Most never played growing up.”
Vice found the Inside Tennis Team enthusiastically playing against 6.0-4.5 ranked guests Matthew Berry, Charlie Cutler, Kent and Patti Anderson, Alex Rosinski and Leslie Lava.
“I’m trying to teach (Mark) Jordan the kick serve. He picked up the concept fast,” said Berry, a 6.0-ranked pro who now teaches tennis. Berry used to play for the University of San Francisco and on the Men’s Open circuit.
“It means the world that these pros come in here. It’s such a blessing because all you do is learn,” said Jordan. “A kick serve is when you serve with a bounce, high and away from you.”
“It has a lot of spin. It’s like the curve ball of tennis,” added Berry.
Cutler helped Paul Alleyne with his serve and on backhand grips.
“Paul is pretty clean,” said Cutler. “It seems like he’s worked hard at it.”
Here are answers to questions posed by Vice:
“After eight years in prison, I picked up the racket. I started playing because I was tired of guys arguing all the time on the basketball courts,” said Orlando Harris, head coach of the S.Q. Kings basketball team.
“I started in the Army Officers Club to meet a girl,” said Paul Oliver. “It’s relaxing. It takes away a lot of stress. A little green ball acts like a heavy bag.”
Before tennis, Alleyne played racket and volleyball.
“Fellow prisoner Bernard Wright took me under his wing and taught me,” said Alleyne. “I got hooked. It’s a very nuanced sport; I like the challenge of learning all the different strokes.”
Guest Berry learned how to play using the tennis courts of Pollsmoor prison in South Africa, when the inmates weren’t present. They were the closest tennis courts to his home.
“Never played with them — just used their courts,” said Berry, who said he enjoys coming into the Q. to play with inmates.
“I coach for a living and can see you guys really love the game. Kids be like, ‘Oh, I’m tired, coach.’ It’s nice to see the appreciation,” said Berry.
“My dad played, so I grew up on the court,” said Cutler. “As soon as I could walk, I was hitting balloons.”
“My sport was golf, then I met Kent in college and took lessons from him,” said Patti Anderson. She traded dinner for the lessons. He expected roast beef and mashed potatoes, and got yogurt and tuna fish, but stayed for dinner anyway. Now they are married.
“I believe in the tennis program and enjoy interaction with the guys,” Lava said.
“Overall, athlete programs with community volunteers is a good thing,” added Patti Anderson. “Tennis teaches respect, communication and acceptance.”
“You are all human beings. It’s nice to get a chance to get to know you guys and be a help,” added her husband. “It’s giving back to the San Quentin community.”
The day ended with inmate Rafael Calix speaking to the volunteers with the S.Q. team circled around.
“We want to thank you for coming in and giving us an opportunity to (feel like we’re on) parole in the middle of San Quentin,” said Calix. “Everyone say ‘tennis’ on three. One, two, three … TENNIS!”
