them into better neighbors , isn ’ t that good for everybody ?’”
After a successful meeting in March 2023 , BelAir and Ostroff got right to work . “ Roger was booked to teach at four prisons in the San Francisco Bay Area , two of which are among the most famous prisons in the world , Folsom and San Quentin ,” Ostroff says . “ I just made a quick calculation . They ’ re all within driving distance of San Francisco . I will get a crew and go with Roger to those four prisons to film .”
He tapped Oscar-nominated cinematographer Vicente Franco , Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Kim Komenich and sound man Ray Day .
The visit to San Quentin was especially intense . Located in Marin County , north across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco , it opened in 1854 and is the oldest prison in California . “ Until recently , San Quentin had more people on death row than any place in the western hemisphere ,” BelAir says . “ It ’ s a tough place .”
The San Quentin warden asked BelAir to do a video call .
“ I started by saying , ‘ Let me tell you about some of the benefits of pickleball ,’” BelAir remembers .
“ The warden replied , ‘ Roger , I ’ ve done my homework . When can you be here ?’”
As part of his pickleball lesson , BelAir explains to the inmates “ the kitchen ” and walks them through the scoring . And then he tells them his favorite part of the game — the group hug , where players tap their paddles after a match . “ I think it ’ s really simple ,” BelAir says . “ The world would be a better place if we had more group hugs and less violence .”
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Roger BelAir explaining the history of pickleball to incarcerated individuals at San Quentin State Prison .
From left to right : Coach Langston , Folsom State Prison ’ s recreation coordinator , filmmaker Daniel Ostroff , Roger BelAir , and the prison ’ s public information officer , Chad Deal .
JULY / AUGUST 2024 | MAGAZINE 31