B-ballers,
Welcome to the maiden post for the Ball-Til-We-Fall blog. The purpose of this blog is to expose the masses to the revolutionary play of death row basketball. The title of this season is “Bringing the Heat,” but before the season begins, I want to bring you up to speed on how this all began.
North Carolina’s Death Row Basketball was the brainchild of my man, and fellow point guard, Earl J. Richmond (DOE 5/6/2005). Through my travels in life, I’ve learned that basketball is universal. Death row was no different.
I came to death row in July of 1997. By the summer of 2000, our annual b-ball tournament was born. No other death row in the country was doing this, and, to my knowledge, we’re still the only death row ballin’ on this level.
I believe the D.O.C. approved our annual b-ball tournament for various reasons. One of the more notable reasons would be that we’re the only death row in the country that travels to and from the chow hall in mass units. And, I’m sure we’re one of the few death rows that aren’t locked down 23 hours a day. With all of this movement, what’s the big deal about letting us ball under the whistle?
But, over the last decade, death row b-ball has become a very big deal. The success of our league has opened the door for a six week janitorial class for death row prisoners, sponsored by Wake Tech. I know, it’s only a janitorial class. No big deal, right? Well, I don’t know of any other death row in this country allowing 15 death row prisoners to sit in a classroom together to be taught by non-D.O.C staff.
Our inaugural season was brief. It consisted of four teams with ten players from each block. Each team played two games. The two teams with the best records played for the championship. The name of my team was “Mobb Deep.” We went 0 – 2, but the opportunity to break some ankles and shoot the lights out under the whistle, was rewarding within itself. Ya heard?
Beginning in 2006, we evolved to a 12-game regular season and a double elimination tournament to follow. 2006 was my last year as a player. I was the starting point guard for the legendary “Team Dynasty.” At 37 years of age, I averaged 17pts a game on a team where most of my teammates were ten years, or more, younger than me.
We went 14-0 that year and set a prison record for most points scored in a game (96pts. In 36 minutes). Real talk.
Our starting five was Lil’ Magic (whom you will soon get to know), J-Rock, Heart-N-Soul, E-Boogie(RIP), and myself. The highlight of that season was when I picked the pocket of an opponent, and took it the length of the court, only to throw it of the back board for a trailing E-Boogie. His game was similar to a young Latrell Sprewell. His calves were like springs.
In perfect rhythm, he caught my assist off the backboard, cocking the ball behind his head with two hands. The sound of his hands meeting the rim, combined with the swish of the ball going through the net sent the rec yard spectators into an uproar. “Team Dynasty” most definitely set a high standard for anyone that picked up a basketball on the row. That’s what’s up!
Last season, more than 50 people signed up to play. We had to add a 5th team to accommodate so many ballers. I expect a healthy turnout this year as well. I hope you enjoy this b-ball journey through the halls of North Carolina’s Death Row.
Our reality is simple. We’re bonded by sentences of death, but basketball is our constant of positivity and, on the row we literally, Ball-Til-We-Fall. Na mean? So, join me here each week, same time, same place, to witness the raw unadulterated play of Death Row B-ball.
Be Easy,
Mannofstat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Mann
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