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So, there's this guy, right? Calls himself “”Gee Money,”” and he's pretty much the big man when it comes to running our fantasy football league here in the clink. The setup's straightforward: each squad gets to pick 10 players, and we've got 6 teams battling it out. And get this, lineups have to be locked in by Wednesday, 8 p.m. sharp—no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
“”Honor among thieves”” isn't just a saying—it's our code https://smartphonegambler.com/. Gee Money's like, “”You gotta be straight-up to play.”” He's all about keeping it fun and keeping respect on the table.
Now, “”Gee Money”” ain't his real tag—that's Gerald Drummond. The dude's doing time for murder, parked in SCI Retreat, this old loony bin that got flipped into a state pen out in Nowheresville, PA. He's been playing fantasy football since he shook off solitary a few years back. Doesn't exactly keep him on the straight and narrow, but it's something, you know?
There's this piece USA Today did, talking about how fantasy football's not just a thing on the outside—it's big time for us too. But man, you wouldn't believe the hoops we gotta jump through. No internet to chase down the latest plays, everything's gotta be tallied by hand, and you better believe debts can get you into hot water real fast.
USA Today's got the scoop straight from the horse's mouth—current and ex-cons, and even some officials. Most places, like the Feds and a bunch of state joints, they clam up when you mention fantasy sports 'cause of the whole gambling angle. They pretend like it's not even a thing. But it is.
Some of the guys, even big names like Michael Vick, say fantasy football's huge inside. It's like a lifeline, gives you something to look forward to when everything else is four walls and bars. It's therapy, man. Stops you from losing it when you're staring down a long stretch.
Lloyd Askins, who's also in for life, says fantasy sports are a taste of freedom. It's like a little slice of the life we left behind.
A Blast from the Past: Fantasy Football's Pen-Paper Era
It was boiling outside, but David White II was freezing his butt off in this tiny interview room. After 10 years in the slammer for some heavy stuff, he'd hit his parole month. He's got this to say: “”Fantasy football is a ticket out of hell for a bit.””
Then there's James Kumm, another lifer. He's all about God and fantasy football. Tossing around picks like Le'Veon Bell and Todd Gurley in his head, right next to Bible verses. For him, it's a big deal cbc.
These guys are holed up in George Beto Unit, Texas, with just two TVs to go around and no net. It's like going back in time, man—back when fantasy football just started, way back in '62.
Fantasy leagues in the can are old-school as it gets—everything on paper. They even count on stuff like Sports Weekly to get their stats fix. Losing box scores in that mag was like someone cutting off your lifeline. But hey, they brought 'em back, so crisis averted for the 2018 season.
Getting your hands on those mags or printouts from a pal on the outside can make or break your game. Former inmate Manuel Flores said his bro would send him updates to get an edge.
Vick, during his time for the dog fighting mess, turned into the go-to guy for fantasy advice in Leavenworth. Says he wasn't always spot-on, but he had a good run.
And you'd be surprised at the variety of leagues in the joint—snake drafts, auction drafts, all sorts of point systems. Drummond, who's been around the block in eight different prisons, says it's all about trust.
He's the commish of his league, keeps everything in check, watches the rosters like a hawk. Got to make sure everything's safe from accidents, like spills and whatnot.
But strip away the tech, and it's the same game. Trash-talking, Sunday gatherings with a feast, and some team names that'll make you laugh till it hurts. Fantasy football crosses all lines behind bars—doesn't matter who you are or where you come from.
Even for old-timers like Terry Williams, sports was the thing that brought everyone together. Even if all you had was a pack of cookies on the line, it was about the game.
“”It's bigger than the beefs and the turf wars,”” Williams said. It's about the love of the game, plain and simple.
The High Stakes of Fantasy Leagues Behind Bars
Man, you wouldn't believe the buzz fantasy sports caused in the slammer back in the day. I remember chatting with Edward Vazquez, the guy who handled the press for the Indiana pen, and he was straight up with us when we got into talking about whether fantasy leagues should be a thing in the joint.
“”Nah, man,”” he said, shaking his head, “”that's a recipe for disaster.”” He'd seen a lot go down at the Westville facility in Indiana, and he knew the score.
“”You get these guys, right? They get way too hooked on these games, start throwing down bets, and before gamblinginsider you know it, things get real nasty,”” he explained. Vazquez saw nearly thirty years of what could go wrong. “”We're not just talking about bruised egos; we're talking about putting our crew in harm's way. It's straight-up dangerous.””
And he wasn't kidding. The words chilled the room: “”Fantasy sports could literally get someone killed in here.””
Even though fantasy sports ain't always about the dough or the bling, let's be real, it usually is. And it's turned into this colossal industry. I saw stats once, from the Fantasy Sports Trade Association in 2017, that said we're looking at a $7.22 billion game in the U.S. and Canada, with a hefty chunk – like $3.27 billion – coming from just the regular leagues.
Most of the guys I knew inside, they'd play it cool and deny any betting on fantasy leagues. But Vick, this dude I met, he spilled the beans. “”Oh yeah,”” he said with a knowing look, “”it went down in here. And not just chump change, we're talking serious cash.””
Like Drummond said, “”Guys in here would bet on anything, even snails racing, if it meant they could make some coin.””
Then there's Patrick Johnson, this professor at SUNY Fredonia. Dude used to run the show at Chautauqua County Jail in New York, and he laid it out for us: Gambling is a major headache for the staff. One bad bet can lead to an all-out brawl, and that's a nightmare because it means shuffling a whole bunch of inmates around to keep the peace.
Even though you're not supposed to have cash in prison, inmates find a way. They've got accounts, right, filled up with money from prison jobs or from their families. So they've got this cash to spend at the commissary, and suddenly stuff like mackerel cans, stamps, hell, even Ramen noodles, become like gold. It's prison currency, baby, and it's how they place their bets.
But according to Askins, it's not even about the money when it comes to fantasy leagues. It's about the bragging rights. The guy would zip down to someone else's cell just to gloat when he scored a win. “”Nothing like a good ol' verbal beatdown to make your day,”” he'd say.
“”But here's the thing,”” Askins warned, “”these dudes can be super touchy when they lose bbc, especially if they owe you. Mix that with some harsh words, and the next thing you know, fists are flying.””
