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Watching the Super Bowl in San Quentin prison: 'It sort of hurts a little bit' Watching the Super Bowl in San Quentin prison: 'It sort of hurts a little bit'
(7 months later)
It’s moments before kick-off, and the television in the offices of the San Quentin News, the inmate-produced newspaper of California’s San Quentin state prison, is tuned to the Super Bowl. But few of the approximately 20 men gathered in the cramped office are paying attention.It’s moments before kick-off, and the television in the offices of the San Quentin News, the inmate-produced newspaper of California’s San Quentin state prison, is tuned to the Super Bowl. But few of the approximately 20 men gathered in the cramped office are paying attention.
They’re here for a college-level course on journalism, and not even the Super Bowl can distract them from the topic of the day: whether a journalist should allow the subject of a profile to read it before publication.They’re here for a college-level course on journalism, and not even the Super Bowl can distract them from the topic of the day: whether a journalist should allow the subject of a profile to read it before publication.
“El Chapo did it,” one of the inmate-students points out. Everyone laughs, and a heated discussion of Sean Penn’s journalistic ethics ensues.“El Chapo did it,” one of the inmate-students points out. Everyone laughs, and a heated discussion of Sean Penn’s journalistic ethics ensues.
Super Bowl Sunday in San Quentin is just like Super Bowl Sunday anywhere else: the day’s importance derives as much from the knowledge that it should be important as it does from the game itself. Some people watch the game, some people have money (or soup cans) riding on the outcome, and some people are just looking forward to the commercials, but everyone is talking about the fact that today is Super Bowl Sunday.Super Bowl Sunday in San Quentin is just like Super Bowl Sunday anywhere else: the day’s importance derives as much from the knowledge that it should be important as it does from the game itself. Some people watch the game, some people have money (or soup cans) riding on the outcome, and some people are just looking forward to the commercials, but everyone is talking about the fact that today is Super Bowl Sunday.
“The Super Bowl is bigger than New Year’s Eve in prison,” says Chung Kao, as he sits in front of a computer in the newspaper office. “Everybody gets into it.”“The Super Bowl is bigger than New Year’s Eve in prison,” says Chung Kao, as he sits in front of a computer in the newspaper office. “Everybody gets into it.”
Except Kao himself does not get into the Super Bowl. The 55-year-old native of Taiwan has been in prison on a life sentence since 1992 – he shot and killed a man he says he thought was attacking him.Except Kao himself does not get into the Super Bowl. The 55-year-old native of Taiwan has been in prison on a life sentence since 1992 – he shot and killed a man he says he thought was attacking him.
“I used to celebrate my birthday and Chinese New Year, but I don’t want to celebrate any more. I don’t think I deserve to be happy,” he says.“I used to celebrate my birthday and Chinese New Year, but I don’t want to celebrate any more. I don’t think I deserve to be happy,” he says.
Part of this is the pain and regret he feels for taking a life. Part of it he describes as cultural, the guilt he feels for disappointing his family. “I’m their shame,” he says.Part of this is the pain and regret he feels for taking a life. Part of it he describes as cultural, the guilt he feels for disappointing his family. “I’m their shame,” he says.
There are approximately 3,000 inmates at San Quentin, all male. California’s oldest prison, the cluster of buildings occupies a peninsula that juts into the northern part of the San Francisco Bay, about 20 miles north of the city. Though it’s perhaps best known for housing California’s only death row and execution chamber, most of the prison is “Level 2” security, meaning inmates are free to move throughout the facility during the day.There are approximately 3,000 inmates at San Quentin, all male. California’s oldest prison, the cluster of buildings occupies a peninsula that juts into the northern part of the San Francisco Bay, about 20 miles north of the city. Though it’s perhaps best known for housing California’s only death row and execution chamber, most of the prison is “Level 2” security, meaning inmates are free to move throughout the facility during the day.
‘The Super Bowl is just the biggest’‘The Super Bowl is just the biggest’
There are two types of housing for non-death-row inmates at San Quentin: cell blocks on top of the hill and dorms below. The dorms are largely inhabited by inmates with less than 10 years to go on their sentences. The cell blocks are full of lifers.There are two types of housing for non-death-row inmates at San Quentin: cell blocks on top of the hill and dorms below. The dorms are largely inhabited by inmates with less than 10 years to go on their sentences. The cell blocks are full of lifers.
As the first half of the game gets under way, the residents of North Block are all in their cells, startlingly small rooms with bunk beds, toilets, sinks, personal belongings, and two people shoehorned inside. Usually the block would be empty at this time of day, Juan Haines says, but everyone has returned to their cells to watch the game.As the first half of the game gets under way, the residents of North Block are all in their cells, startlingly small rooms with bunk beds, toilets, sinks, personal belongings, and two people shoehorned inside. Usually the block would be empty at this time of day, Juan Haines says, but everyone has returned to their cells to watch the game.
Haines spends much of his time down the hill at the San Quentin News office – he’s the managing editor – but today is an exception.Haines spends much of his time down the hill at the San Quentin News office – he’s the managing editor – but today is an exception.
“My Super Bowl day is usually in my cell. I cook with my cellie,” he says, referring to his cell-mate. “It’s like family time.”“My Super Bowl day is usually in my cell. I cook with my cellie,” he says, referring to his cell-mate. “It’s like family time.”
The Super Bowl spread is indeed impressive. Haines and his cell-mate have prepared rice with meat logs, oysters, clams, garlic, onions, peppers, Velveeta, and spices. They’re also dining on fried chicken and corn chips.The Super Bowl spread is indeed impressive. Haines and his cell-mate have prepared rice with meat logs, oysters, clams, garlic, onions, peppers, Velveeta, and spices. They’re also dining on fried chicken and corn chips.
“We have big events in prison,” Haines says, such as the Day of Peace, which commemorates a 2007 race riot every May, and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in July. “But the Super Bowl is just the biggest.”“We have big events in prison,” Haines says, such as the Day of Peace, which commemorates a 2007 race riot every May, and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in July. “But the Super Bowl is just the biggest.”
For some inmates, the Super Bowl is bittersweet. Charles David Henry is one of the men hanging out in the newspaper office to give the game his full attention. A lifelong Oakland Raiders fan, Henry has been in prison for 11 years on an attempted murder charge, though he says: “I didn’t do it.” He played football in college at California State University-Los Angeles – “I was quick and fast and loved to hit” – and used to drive up to Oakland from his home in LA in an RV to attend games.For some inmates, the Super Bowl is bittersweet. Charles David Henry is one of the men hanging out in the newspaper office to give the game his full attention. A lifelong Oakland Raiders fan, Henry has been in prison for 11 years on an attempted murder charge, though he says: “I didn’t do it.” He played football in college at California State University-Los Angeles – “I was quick and fast and loved to hit” – and used to drive up to Oakland from his home in LA in an RV to attend games.
“It sort of hurts a little bit,” he says. “You miss so many things that you take for granted on the streets. San Francisco is a rock’s throw from us, but we can’t participate.”“It sort of hurts a little bit,” he says. “You miss so many things that you take for granted on the streets. San Francisco is a rock’s throw from us, but we can’t participate.”
These days, he’s the newspaper’s “death row man”. Reporters from the San Quentin News are not allowed to interview death row inmates, but Henry uses the library to read up on their cases and file briefs if he thinks they are warranted. He takes inspiration from Al Davis, the former owner and general manager of the Raiders.These days, he’s the newspaper’s “death row man”. Reporters from the San Quentin News are not allowed to interview death row inmates, but Henry uses the library to read up on their cases and file briefs if he thinks they are warranted. He takes inspiration from Al Davis, the former owner and general manager of the Raiders.
“Al Davis is my guy,” he says, “He never took what the system gave him. He always challenged it.”“Al Davis is my guy,” he says, “He never took what the system gave him. He always challenged it.”
‘It’s nice to get lost in something’‘It’s nice to get lost in something’
There’s a more traditional feel to the Super Bowl festivities in H-Unit, the dormitory-style wards at the bottom of the hill. Here, many of the inmates are younger, and they measure their sentences in months, not years.There’s a more traditional feel to the Super Bowl festivities in H-Unit, the dormitory-style wards at the bottom of the hill. Here, many of the inmates are younger, and they measure their sentences in months, not years.
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In building five, about 100 men are housed in the bunk beds clustered at either end of the large, open room. In the middle of the room, a guard watches over several rows of wooden benches that face two televisions, and the open bathrooms behind them.In building five, about 100 men are housed in the bunk beds clustered at either end of the large, open room. In the middle of the room, a guard watches over several rows of wooden benches that face two televisions, and the open bathrooms behind them.
It’s just like watching a sporting event with any other crowd of men, only quieter. Inmates have to plug their own earphones into the benches to hear the sound. Men joke about the presence of reporters (“Damn, people love this prison. It’s a tourist attraction”), Chris Martin (“they got a daughter named Apple”), and the commercials.It’s just like watching a sporting event with any other crowd of men, only quieter. Inmates have to plug their own earphones into the benches to hear the sound. Men joke about the presence of reporters (“Damn, people love this prison. It’s a tourist attraction”), Chris Martin (“they got a daughter named Apple”), and the commercials.
The Doritos ad is a hit. Danyel McGee is mocked for singing along to Coldplay during the half-time show (“He likes Macklemore,” one inmate jokes. “I do like Macklemore,” McGee replies.) Another inmate takes his earphones off while Coldplay performs – “I’m not gonna lie, I’m not feeling this,” he says – but everyone sits up and pays attention when Beyoncé takes the stage.The Doritos ad is a hit. Danyel McGee is mocked for singing along to Coldplay during the half-time show (“He likes Macklemore,” one inmate jokes. “I do like Macklemore,” McGee replies.) Another inmate takes his earphones off while Coldplay performs – “I’m not gonna lie, I’m not feeling this,” he says – but everyone sits up and pays attention when Beyoncé takes the stage.
In the corner of the room, in the last row of bunk beds, Wayne, who asked not to be identified by his last name, is watching the game on his bed, alone. A cheery, middle-aged prisoner, he’s in prison for gross negligence vehicular manslaughter – killing someone while driving drunk.In the corner of the room, in the last row of bunk beds, Wayne, who asked not to be identified by his last name, is watching the game on his bed, alone. A cheery, middle-aged prisoner, he’s in prison for gross negligence vehicular manslaughter – killing someone while driving drunk.
“On the street, we always had a big party with friends for the Super Bowl,” he says. “It was almost like Thanksgiving.”“On the street, we always had a big party with friends for the Super Bowl,” he says. “It was almost like Thanksgiving.”
But he’s not in the mood to join the party in the middle of the room. “I enjoy being alone in prison. It’s nice to get lost in something,” he says.But he’s not in the mood to join the party in the middle of the room. “I enjoy being alone in prison. It’s nice to get lost in something,” he says.
But he likes the commercials, and he likes to watch the game.But he likes the commercials, and he likes to watch the game.
“When you’re in prison, time is measured differently. Every day is Groundhog Day,” he says. “So these games are more of a milestone. You notice a full moon. You notice a Super Bowl.”“When you’re in prison, time is measured differently. Every day is Groundhog Day,” he says. “So these games are more of a milestone. You notice a full moon. You notice a Super Bowl.”
Wayne lies back down on his bed and starts to put his earphones back in. “This is my fourth Super Bowl in prison.”Wayne lies back down on his bed and starts to put his earphones back in. “This is my fourth Super Bowl in prison.”