![]() Patrick Leong helps run the “Inside-Outside” program by coordinating those volunteer visiting players like Schneider to play doubles with inmates at San Quentin - California’s oldest correctional institution, and home of the state’s only gas chamber.Īn English professor at Diablo Valley College, Leong also plays. He has been in for 14 years and notes, “This tennis has been my new spark.” Kenny Rogers has found joy in trying something fresh as he serves his sentence. “When the bus came here and I saw the tennis court, I was like, ‘Ahhh,’” he recalled. Montana, who has been in San Quentin for 3 1/2 years and takes sociology and psychology classes, is so grateful to have the court. “It’s been very difficult with the pandemic. “I give these guys some tips to try to help them out,” said Montana, who stretches and does yoga on the court, too. He has spent countless hours with some of the inmates, guiding them in fundamentals while always sending newcomers to the hitting wall so they can develop some rhythm on their own. The 67-year-old former chiropractor is from the Bay Area and taught for 30 years. When he’s not playing baseball nearby, Kolby Southwood might join the tennis group and razz Matt “Doc” Montana by calling him “Grandpa” and slicing a short ball to make Montana run.Īn ex-tennis pro and key leader in the players’ improvement, Montana easily holds his own. That’s because they have their own tennis etiquette: Any close balls are typically called in to avoid confrontation. People love coming in and say it’s better coming in here because we don’t argue.” “It gives us a piece of community to get out of the mode of prison drudgery,” said Earl Wilson, San Quentin’s tennis team captain who has been incarcerated since 1985 - about 37 of his 60 years. They are thrilled to be outside again after almost constant lockdown for 2 1/2 years during the pandemic. ![]() The close-knit tennis crew gathers at every chance, many of them aiming to get out on the court every day, typically after their work shifts or college courses. I’m just grateful to be somewhere I can play.” “I just have a supreme love for it, I love it. “I would have kept playing but I got into legal trouble,” said Tennison, who also writes poetry and performs in prison Shakespearean plays. ![]() The 6-foot-3 lefty began playing tennis in high school at 16. Tennison - who notes “you’ll never believe my last name, I was meant to play”- cherishes the chance to be back on the court. He picked up tennis only last August and already is a highly skilled player. “Are you ready, Ten?” hollered inmate James Duff, beaming. A half-dozen regulars start playing at straight up 8 a.m. Others wait their turn for haircuts or to play checkers, dominoes and horseshoes.Ī single tennis court sits on one side of the grounds, its back fences so close to the lines that a well-placed lob will send someone crashing into the chain links with little chance at keeping a point alive. There are basketball and baseball games going simultaneously in the space some three football fields in size.Įvery corner is filled with activity and energy. Hundreds of inmates fill San Quentin’s sprawling exercise yard every Saturday morning to work out in all ways - walking lunges, chin-ups, pull-ups and pushups, jabs into a punching bag, abdominal moves, even bench-pressing picnic tables. “See, I knew you were taking it easy,” Tennison said emphatically.įor a few hours, these prisoners were just tennis players out for some competitive fun and a chance to forget their life behind bars for a little while - even with the cell blocks in view at every direction. Later, “Ten” beamed and clapped as the now-20-year-old Schneider showed everyone his strong game. “We couldn’t give him a hardcore one because he looks like such a nice kid.” “Twinkle for short,” Tennison said with a grin. “Twinkle Toes,” suggested another inmate named Kenny, who preferred not to give his last name out of respect for his victim’s family.Ī winner - Twinkle Toes immediately stuck. “Finesse,” offered 22-year-old Braydon Tennison.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |