In 1984, Skipper left Germany and moved to Fort Carson, Colorado, to complete his duty. Two years later he was honorably discharged from the Army and came to Denver.
Two months after he arrived, he smoked crack for the first time.
"It was something I never felt in my life."
It was also something that would eventually determine his life.
In 1987, Skipper tried selling $20 worth of rock to an undercover officer and earned four years' probation. In 1988, he and a friend were arrested outside a Denny's in Aurora when his buddy attempted a holdup in the middle of the afternoon. After being discharged from a half-way house in February 1993, Skipper moved into an apartment in Capitol Hill where hitting the pipe--and chasing the dragon--became an around-the-clock habit. After another possession charge and another stint at the DCJ, he was released on a Friday afternoon in April 1995. By 4 p.m. that same day, he was at the intersection of Smith Road and Peoria Street, scoring crack.
In 1996 he was busted again for possession. He was paroled in March 1998 and arrested again in January this year.
During these twelve years of benders and groveling, Skipper says he kept up his game skills by playing at Del Mar Park, Rude Gym and the Sports Center Gym behind the Target shopping center on Colorado Boulevard.
It was also during this time that Skipper ignored his faith.
"A lot of people say you go to jail and you find God, and that's true," Skipper says. "But let me tell you, it's not where a person finds God or when. It's that they find him."
While he was at the DJC this year, Skipper heard through an inmate that Burris was a good Christian.
Skipper sent Burris "kites," or letters, asking him to arrange meetings with a drug-abuse counselor. "And he did," Skipper says. "Right away. Every time I go into his office, he gives me some literature, some Christian literature, of course, or some other thing that just helps you get by."
When he is released, which could come as early as July, Skipper says the only one who will be at the gate to pick him up is God. From there, he says, he'll try to live and work in a transition house for former prisoners. He figures he's spent a solid seven years of his life behind bars. Whenever he does get out, he will also look for a court and a basketball, and a team to lead.
On June 7, the tournament Final Four becomes two.
Before 22C's game starts, Slim runs lay-up drills and says to his teammates, "We gonna make history today. 22C gonna go to the finals."
22C is playing against a team of overachieving misdemeanors from 11B. Instead of wearing the traditional misdemeanor blue, the 11B squad wears white jumpsuits, indicating that they work in the kitchen.
For this game, Slim sets up a variation of Skippers's Diamond One defense, the "two up, two down," which puts two men in the corners and two men at the top of the key. Slim says that since Skipper left, his new players aren't schooled enough to run the Diamond One. And 22C's offensive strategy still relies on outside shooting.
But the strategy falls apart when their guards miss the first three shots and 11B takes an early 12-4 lead.
At halftime, down 30-23, Slim pulls the team into a tight huddle at the sideline.
"You gotta hustle like a motherfucking bandit," he tells one of his point guards. "You gotta turn it up."
He picks on another, telling him, "When I get a chance, get me the ball. Let's work it."
Their silent response frustrates Slim. "You all ready to go home? Let's go home right now, then. The first [half] was a freebie. Let's tighten it up."
But it's Slim who is getting worked on the inside. 11B's center is 250 pounds, six-foot-six, and played nine seasons in the NFL.
Slim scores three points in the game. 22C loses 61-47.
There will be no steaks, no Blackjack pizza or fried chicken or ribs for 22C. "It was about braggin' rights," Slim says afterward, as he changes back into his green jumpsuit. "[The meal] didn't matter to me. I just wanted to talk trash."
Exhausted, the felons from 22C stand in a dejected line against the wall of the gym, waiting for a guard to open the door so they can return to the Pink Palace.
"It was fun while it lasted," Slim says. "Now we go home."
On June 14, 8ABC will play 11B in the championship game.
From his jail cell, where Skipper now wears a hunter-orange jumpsuit, he sends Burris a kite.
Dear Mr. Burris, May this letter find you in the best of health. I know there can't be too many games left and my team is in position for the big dinner. You might want to start checking rosters out, because you know as well as I know, they are all out to get us (smile). Oh, I meant to ask you; Do you think it might be possible to get a plaque for 22C? Think about it (smile). Well Mr. Burris, I see the Board in July 1999. I just put it in the Lord's hands. If it's His will, then I will get out. The Lord has blessed me with a job here at DRDC. I am trying to stay here and do my time. Please fill me in on the outcome of the season.
God Bless, Mark Skipper.
Visit www.westword.com to read related Westword stories.
