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October 16, 2008 4:15:36 PM CDT

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Jim Jones' Grandson is Basketball Star

Posted Oct 5, 07 7:34 PM CDT in US,  Sports 

(Newser) – 29 years ago, traveling to an away basketball game as part of the Jonestown team spared Jim Jones Jr. from his adopted father's mass suicide ritual. Now his son Rob is using the sport to turn the family name around, as a star forward for SF's Riordan High, who ESPN calls "the best high school basketball player in the Bay Area."

Basketball was a release and a kind of defiance against the cult leader in stifling Jonestown, but survivor guilt at being absent for the massacre following Rep. Leo Ryans disastrous visit led to Jim Jr. putting the sport on the shelf--until his son showed an interest. Through coaching Rob, Jim's love returned, and now basketball is helping the Jones family  again.

Source ESPN

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