The White Shadow (1980)
A white former NBA professional retires from the pro game and gets a job as a basketball coach in a predominantly black inner-city high school.
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Episode 1 - Pilot
Release Date: 27 Nov. 1978Chicago Bulls forward Ken Reeve injures his knee, bringing an abrupt halt to his time as a player. His college friend is principal of Carver High School in Southern LA. Principal Jim Willis hires Reeve to teach and coach Basketball.
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Episode 2 - Here's Mud in Your Eye
Release Date: 4 Dec. 1978Curtis Jackson, has an alcohol problem. Coach Reeves, hires a psychiatrist, to help Jackson put the bottle down, for good.
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Episode 3 - The Offer
Release Date: 11 Dec. 1978The players are warming up to the new coach. He is earning their respect by proving his sincerity. But a major sports network offers him an announcing job and that threatens to destroy the bond that has begun with Reeves and the players.
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Episode 4 - Bonus Baby
Release Date: 25 Dec. 1978A hustling agent from a low level professional basketball league attempts to sigh Coolidge. He uses fast easy money to mesmerize him knowing he comes from poverty. Reeves makes him took hard before being penny wise and pound foolish.
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Episode 5 - Pregnant Pause
Release Date: 1 Jan. 1979Reese's girlfriend claims to be pregnant. If that's the case they must make plans for their future that depend on scholarships, employment and marriage. That's a heavy load for high school students, are they old enough to manage?
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Episode 6 - Wanna Bet?
Release Date: 8 Jan. 1979Coach Reeves sees a kid hustling basketball in a playground. Reeves him in a bets a one on one where if Reeves wins this kid comes to Carver to play basketball and finish his schooling. Coach soon learns not everyone can be helped.
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Episode 7 - That Old Gang of Mine
Release Date: 15 Jan. 1979Basketball player, Ricky Gomez was cut from the team due to, poor grades on his academics, and he joins a gang that he once, belonged to.
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Episode 8 - One of the Boys
Release Date: 27 Jan. 1979A new transfer student joins the team but when rumors start surfacing that the kid is homosexual, the coach and the team don't know how to deal with it.
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Episode 9 - Airball
Release Date: 3 Feb. 1979Reeve sees Bobby Magnum hustling in a playground and that is his living. Coach has his own bet. If Reeve wins, Magnum will come to Carver and finish high school. He can not only play basketball but finish high school. But its not that easy.
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Episode 10 - We're in the Money
Release Date: 10 Feb. 1979Coach Reeves takes the team to a tournament in Las Vegas and the players, instead of resting for the games, decide to take money borrowed from schoolmates and hit the casinos.
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Episode 11 - Spare the Rod
Release Date: 17 Feb. 1979Reeves is teaching gym. A kid refuses to conform and hits him. Coach returns a punch but feels being an adult he is more responsible. As the story unfolds Reeves is hit with the fact that not all kids can he helped.
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Episode 12 - The Great White Dope
Release Date: 24 Feb. 1979Salami is the high school tough guy who gets the idea of club fighting for extra money. Street fighting doesn't translate to boxing as well as Salami thinks he's not exactly the next Rocky Balboa.
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Episode 13 - Mainstream
Release Date: 5 Mar. 1979The school system attempts to interlink kids with disabilities into the mainstream. An attempt is made to place an autistic boy on the team. Tom doesn't dominate, but the players show a nice side despite their tough veneer.
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Episode 14 - Little Orphan Abner
Release Date: 26 Mar. 1979Goldstein's shyness makes him the forgotten man on the team. When his grandfather takes ill, the players show him partial compassion. But only til his grandfather comes home. Goldstein must grow out of his shell and command respect.
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Episode 15 - LeGrande Finale
Release Date: 9 Apr. 1979The basketball seasons ends with some promise of am improved team next year. The players had gotten in the habit of singing together as a pastime. The music teacher helps them start an a Capella band for the school dance.