HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015282.jpg
1.34 MB
Extraction Summary
3
People
1
Organizations
3
Locations
1
Events
1
Relationships
3
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Article excerpt / report page
File Size:
1.34 MB
Summary
This document appears to be an excerpt from a larger text titled 'Trashing the Right to Read.' It details a correspondence between death row inmate Kenneth Foster and author Dave Zirin following the revocation of Foster's death sentence in August 2007. The text focuses on Foster's analysis of sports as a survival mechanism in prison and Zirin's emotional response to Foster's letter. While part of a House Oversight production (indicated by the Bates stamp), this specific page does not mention Jeffrey Epstein.
People (3)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Foster | Prisoner/Author of letter |
Death row inmate whose sentence was revoked in August 2007; wrote to Dave Zirin about sports in prison.
|
| Dave Zirin | Author |
Author of 'Welcome to the Terrordome' and 'What's My Name, Fool?'; received letter from Foster.
|
| Foster's Daughter | Family member |
Mentioned as 11-year-old daughter Foster would never touch.
|
Organizations (1)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| House Oversight Committee |
Implied by the Bates stamp 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015282' at the bottom of the page.
|
Timeline (1 events)
Locations (3)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Where Kenneth Foster was held.
|
|
|
Used metaphorically by Zirin to contrast with death row.
|
|
|
General location discussed regarding the role of sports.
|
Relationships (1)
Foster wrote a letter to Zirin after reading his book; Zirin sent a follow-up book.
Key Quotes (3)
"Facing execution, the only thing that I began to get obsessive about was how to get heard and be free, and as the saying goes, you can’ t serve two gods."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015282.jpg
Quote #1
"Sports becomes a way of life in prison, because it becomes a way of survival."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015282.jpg
Quote #2
"It didn’ t matter if he was on death row or Park Avenue, I felt smarter having read his words."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015282.jpg
Quote #3
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (1,416 characters)
Trashing the Right to Read
Before Kenneth Foster’ s death sentence was revoked at the last
minute in August 2007, he had read a book, Welcome to the Terrordome,
and he wrote a letter to the author, Dave Zirin:
minute in August 2007, he had read a book, Welcome to the Terrordome,
and he wrote a letter to the author, Dave Zirin:
I have never had the opportunity to view sports in this way. And as I went
through these revelations I began to have epiphanies about the way sports
have a similar existence in prison. The similarities shook me. Facing
execution, the only thing that I began to get obsessive about was how to
get heard and be free, and as the saying goes, you can’ t serve two gods.
through these revelations I began to have epiphanies about the way sports
have a similar existence in prison. The similarities shook me. Facing
execution, the only thing that I began to get obsessive about was how to
get heard and be free, and as the saying goes, you can’ t serve two gods.
Sports, as you know, becomes a way of life. You monitor it, you almost
come to breathe it. Sports becomes a way of life in prison, because it
becomes a way of survival. For men that don’ t have family or friends to
help them financially, it becomes a way to occupy your time. That’ s
another sad story in itself, but it’ s the root to many men’ s obsession
with sports.
come to breathe it. Sports becomes a way of life in prison, because it
becomes a way of survival. For men that don’ t have family or friends to
help them financially, it becomes a way to occupy your time. That’ s
another sad story in itself, but it’ s the root to many men’ s obsession
with sports.
Zirin writes, “It didn’ t matter if he was on death row or Park
Avenue, I felt smarter having read his words. But even more satisfying was
the thought that thinking about sports took his mind--for a moment--
away from his imminent death, the 11-year-old daughter he will never
touch, and the words he will never write. I thought sending him my first
book, What’ s My Name, Fool?: Sports and Resistance in the U.S., would
be a good follow-up.”
Avenue, I felt smarter having read his words. But even more satisfying was
the thought that thinking about sports took his mind--for a moment--
away from his imminent death, the 11-year-old daughter he will never
touch, and the words he will never write. I thought sending him my first
book, What’ s My Name, Fool?: Sports and Resistance in the U.S., would
be a good follow-up.”
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015282
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