Baronestic
“I go hard as hell,” says Larry “Lam” Jackson. The little dude who’s built like an NFL running back at 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds isn’t playing. The 34-year-old from Gary, Indiana is like a package of dynamite. His game is explosive and on the court he does whatever it takes to win despite any obstacles put in his way.
“I don’t do too much talking cause niggas be literally wanting to fight me. Nigga stay in their feelings and the crowd don’t make it any better. When I’m in kill mode, you’re dead,” Lam says.
And from what he’s been doing at FCI Loretto – killing the competition – the kid is not faking. He talks the talk and walks the walk, backing up all his words on the court.
Going to the rack, busting treys, posting up… Lam scores at will and reminds people of a similar bulldog-type point guard in the league who roughs it off on the regular.
“My game is more like Baron Davis. Can get it anywhere on the floor I want. My range is unlimited. What makes my game special is my will to win. I got that nobody can stop me attitude,” Lam says.
He proved it last Winter League (2007) taking the A-league title single handedly by dropping dazzling moves, forays into the paint and 30-point games in leading his team to the title.
“Ever since I’ve been down, I’ve played like that,” Lam says. “I’ve had so many moments like 41, 18 and 11 in a game, scoring 49 on the outside team. But the most recent championship was one of my best moments. Our whole starting frontline fouled out and we were left with only 4 players on the floor. We went into double overtime and I caught fire and we pulled the game off. The C/O told me that he been down 22 years and that’s the greatest performance he’s ever seen. I almost agree.”
Lam has been in the system a minute busting ass and taking names on the court.
“Been down nine years for conspiracy to deliver crack cocaine. I got 27 years,” Lam says. “I’ve been in FCI Greenville in Illinois and here at FCI Loretto in Pennsylvania.”
He has been doing his thing in the feds, shining on the court and on the pound.
“I’ve been on every varsity team that’s been assembled. Only lost two games in eight years against outside teams at FCI Greenville.”
Lam was like that on the street too.
“Played high school ball in Hammond, Indiana at Gauit High. I played one year at South Suburban Community College and two years at University of Dubuque in Iowa. I was all everything in college. I just got caught up in this dope game.”
He had dreams of the league too.
“Yeah, I wanted to play professional ball but size did play a factor. If not that, I was that nigga. My favorite player is Kobe Bryant. So you know I roll with the Lakers. I wish I could say I play like him but I’m more like Baron Davis.”
A miniature version of him at least. With the same bulldog mentality. And Lam knows in prison if it ain’t rough it ain’t right, so with his game he fits right in with all the roughnecks.
“Dudes take it to the next level in here,” He says. “Most fights start over basketball and the TVs. For real, when dudes get in they feelings it actually excites me so I go at them harder and whatever happens after that happens. Hopefully, niggas can just keep it on the court. If you will, I will. I respect everybody, except rats.”
That’s how it goes in the pen.
Lam remembers back to his first time balling in prison.
“My first experience was the same that it’s been on the street. I’m trying to show niggas that they ain’t got a chance in hell guarding me,” he says. “I ain’t gonna front. When I first went to FCI Greenville, them niggas had straight game.”
Because in prison that’s all dudes do. Play ball. Lam knows, he’s done it but he’s slowing down a little.
“I don’t rec as much as I used to because my hand was broken and it’s still healing but I still do the damn thing on game day. Since I’ve been down, I done seen some helluva players. Niggas go hard in the joint. Straight game.”
And Lam doesn’t get down with all the streetball antics.
“I’m from Indiana man and we don’t really get down with all that And1 stuff. All we know how to do is get buckets in bunches. I mean And1 is cool for the fans but what’s more embarrassing than having your opponent keep grabbing the ball out the net after you just killed him?”
You know when it’s crunch time Lam is gonna demand the ball.
“I have to have the ball when the game is on the line,” he says. “It’s not that I’m selfish but I truly believe I’m gonna do something positive with the rock. If we lose I’ll take the blame every time.”
Lam doesn’t do much losing, though. He is arguably the best player on the pound here at FCI Loretto. And he’s got the chip so dudes will have to see him. All challenges go through Lam.
The dude lives and breathes basketball. He’s the type of dude that stays down in the gym all day. Bullshitting with dudes, shooting, playing, watching.
“I’m an easygoing-type dude,” he says. “If I can’t get along with you, then something’s wrong. I watch some form of b-ball everyday. I don’t care if it’s the worst players in the world, I’m watching. I just love the art of the game.”
And here at FCI Loretto other prisoners love watching Lam’s art because for real, the kid is like that and the court is his canvass.
royal Said,
September 24, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
larry jackson, it would have been nice to see you out for a 2nd try
seth this is a nice article
i bet he can play for real, and i think they should have a televisioned
jail league basketball team across the usa, it requires disipline, team work, and unity, and gives them a 2nd life, and who knows maybe the champs could get a lessier sentence or sumthin
DJ quest Said,
September 24, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Not sure what to make of this. I guess it’s cool that cats play ball in prison, but in the end that’s all they got. When they get out they don’t have any skills of note to be productive in society so they end up back in jail. I wish cats had that “no one can stop me attitude” about education or paying child support or getting to work on time. Instead we glorify cats who can jump real high and sell cocaine.
On some levels this whole thing is just plain sad and a waste…
Allan Dawgs Said,
September 24, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Very real Seth. I’d love, if it’s possible, to sometimes ask these guys how they feel about what they’ve done, or what they feel about their future. Not sure if that works in that culture, but as a writer you might be able to dig a little deeper and take your writing to a new place. As it stands now you got this prison ball thing down pat, let’s see if you can go a little farther with it. - Allan
royal Said,
September 24, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
dj quest ur wack, even if they learn whatever in prison, there is a thing called background checks, that make it hard to get a job, so yea they may end up back in jail, because of the system, or stupidity, but i believe, some
inmates, seriously made one mistake, that they cannnot take back, yea no one can stop me in education would be nice, motivation i like that, but everyone doesnt have the support to go to school, and yea if u are blessed to be able to afford to go to college, or scholarship,make something of it, and if u have problems in family or no way to support yourself or problems, u may drift away, because it takes 4 years to finish, and no one can stop me paying child support, thats overrated, who feels like a king because they have to pay child support, we need better fathers in america, and real relationships, not dead beat dads, or lazy money hungry mothers
Josh W Said,
September 24, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
So yeah. Guys in prison playing basketball…that’s all there is to do, besides lift weights, attempt to escape, and make shanks out of toothbrushes. None of these guys have a chance in the NBA since they couldn’t control themselves in the real world, so now they’re in jail. What NBA franchise would waste money on paying someone to play ball who has a criminal record and character like that. It is cool that these guys can play, and prison ball TV would just be stupid. So. Forget these articals and let someone else blog for hoops hype, like an active nba allstar. Prison ball is useless information, and most of the Seth articals sound like a confused 12 year old wishing to be ghetto wrote them. Come on Hoops Hype. We need a Gilbert BLog. CYA
royal Said,
September 25, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
josh is a bandwagonner, yea whatever eddie johnson says rules, let seth be creative and touch notes that should be heard. what do u what the blog to be about, what tv show was greg oden watching when his clumpsy ass got hurt on the couch? or u want an article about how foreign players arent getting contracts in the nba so they may play in other countries,
i would like to know why everyone hates EARL? EARL BOYKINS,
SETH KEEP KEEPING IT GANGSTA, BUT NOT TOO MUCH
SETH HAS A HOOD SIDE AND NOT AFRAID TO SHOW IT, LOL
ID LIKE TO SEE LARRY JACKSON VS NASH, COULD NASH GUARD HIM, WITH HIS POUNDING ELBOWS, AND CROSSOVERS, AND BODY STRENGTH BUILT FROM PRISON?
AND YEA THEY SHOULD HAVE A PRISON LEAGUE, TELEVISED, AND THE MONEY GOES TO THEIR FAMILIES, THEY CANT SUPPORT, OR TO UNDERPAID TEACHERS, OR TO GIVE COPS, LOW CALORIE DONUTS OR SOMETHING
royal Said,
September 25, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
JOSH, IF THE NBA WAS BASED ON CLEAN BACKGROUNDS AND CHARACTER, WERE WOULD THE DRAMA,FIGHTS AND CONTRAVERSY COME FROM?
NBA IS ABOUT TALENT AND ENTERTAINMENT,
CRACK SELLING, IS A WAY TO MAKE MONEY, WHAT IF THEY COULDNT GET A JOB AND RESORTED TO THAT FOR THEIR FAMILY,
NOT FOR DRUG SELLING, BUT ITS NOT RAPING, KILLING, STEALING, OR HURTIN ANYONE BUT THE PERSON USING IT,
WHICH ONE DO U CONDOWN, SELLING DRUGS, TO MAKE MONEY?
OR KILLING ANIMALS TO MAKE MONEY? OR OUT OF CRUELITY,
KILLING ANIMALS IS MEAN, SELLING DRUGS IS NICE, SUPPLY AND DEMAND LOL
Shaun Norden Said,
November 29, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Apolgies in advance for sounding negative but these articles glorify convicted criminals. I know it’s basketball at the end of the day but my sister was robbed at gunpoint and have never recovered from that. It ruined her self confidence and effectively taken away her life. You writting about how good these guys (basketball wise)are just pisses me off. No offence to your personally but I think your efforts could be better spent on victims of crime. Also some of these comments aobve are completely misinformed and a real embarrased to whoever wrote them.