04x17 - Hi Mom

[bunniefuu]

[ball bouncing]

I'm going notch the gala
lottery, man, I'm telling you.

Yeah, yeah, and
play for the Clippers?

Throw them one back.

Kelly.

DRUG DEALER: Hey, come on,
man, don't bogard that thing.

Ah, that's it.

It's history now.

You can put this in
the record books.

Come on, man, make a call.

I think I've got enough cash.

I got bucks.

How much you got, Choo Choo?

Oh no, man.

I paid last time.

Talk to Jackson.

He got money.

Coach is always landing
bread, don't he?

I got bucks, that's it.

You put it up,
I'll make the run.

[car engine starts]

[tires squealing]

[crashing]

[dramatic music]

That's Jackson Byner, man.

No way.

I'm telling you,
that's the guy.

This is Byner's room?

All right, you two
stay right here.

Great, huh?

[theme music]

SONG LYRICS: We
never thought we'd

find a place where we belong.

Don't have to stand alone,
we'll never let you fall.

Don't need permission to
decide what you believe.

Oh!

I said jump, down
on Jump Street.

I said jump, down
on Jump Street.

Your friends will be there
when your back is to the wall.

You'll find you'll
need us 'cause

there's no one else to call.

When it was hopeless, a
decision is what you need.

You better be ready
to, be ready to jump--

Jump Street.

Jackson Byner, born
March , , in Hun--

Hun--

Huntsville, man.

Huntsville, Alabama.

The star-- the start--

The starting point guard.

Was--

Give me that, man.

Jackson Byner, born March ,
in Huntsville, Alabama.

Byner, the starting point
guard for the State University

basketball team, was found dead
yesterday evening on Chelsea

Drive after his car
swerved out of control

and slammed into a utility pole.

Byner was a consensus
All-American who led the State

University Wildcats
to the final four

last season before they were
eliminated by Georgetown.

He is survived by a mother,
a sister, and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held
at the Chapel of the Bells

in Huntsville.

SCOTT MORRIS: Can I have
your attention, please?

We'd like to begin.

Is this on?

Um, can I have your
attention, please?

We'd like to begin.

I'm Scott Morris,
sports information

director for the State
University athletic department.

At this time, I'd
like to introduce

our athletic director,
Mr. Wesley Williams.

First I would like to
extend my condolences

to the family of Jackson Byner.

Our heartfelt sympathies go
out to them back in Huntsville.

As you all know, I've been
here less than a month,

and there's nothing in my
experience either on the court

or off it that can prepare
you for a tragedy like this,

except to say that
these young men--

these warriors--
are indeed mortal.

REPORTER: Mr. Williams--

REPORTER: Mr. Williams--

REPORTER: Mr. Williams--

Coach McKay will answer
any other questions

that you might have.

Coach McKay?

I, too, would like to
extend my condolences.

Jackson Byner was not only an
outstanding basketball player,

he was also a model
student athlete.

He was a kind, loving
individual, popular team

member.

I know that I speak
for the entire coaching

staff and the team
when I tell you

that he will be truly missed
both on and off the court.

Coach McKay, Coach
McKay, were there dr*gs

involved in Byner's death?

We're still waiting
for the coroner's report.

However, there was
a random drug test

administered days
ago in accordance

with conference regulations.

No one tested
positive for dr*gs.

In addition, the
athletic department

will be more than happy
to release the results

of those tests to the press.

But we are
hearing rumors there

were dr*gs involved in the
athletic dorm the night

Byner d*ed.

We're launching a
full-scale investigation.

Preliminary information leads
us to believe that Jackson Byner

was alone in his room studying
before he got into his car

at about o'clock the
night of the accident.

But he was doing over
when he crashed.

I'm getting a little
tired of every problem

in sports being tagged
as drug related.

This team is -and-
so far for this season.

We went to the final four
last year with virtually

the same players.

That hardly seems like a team
with a drug problem to me.

I want to thank
you all for coming.

[chatter]

Ladies and gentlemen,
that's all we have today.

Thank you.

Ah, Mr. Williams, I'd like
you to meet our new appointee

to the athletic council.

Adam Fisher.

I teach African-American
history.

- Nice to have you aboard.
- Well, thank you, sir.

I hope I can be of some help
to the athletic department

by serving on the council.

We can use all
the help we can get.

Will you excuse me?

[knocking]

[laughs]

Going for that
lived-in look, huh?

Go away.

Ah, can't, it's my job.

What are you, like, the
hall monitor or something?

You're, uh, Doug
Peters, right?

Yeah, man, what's it to ya?

What are you, a
football player?

[scoffs]

Greco Roman.

Wrestling-- I'm a wrestler.

That explains it.

They give you a
scholarship for that, huh?

They give a scholarship
to the baton twirler.

The food any good in this place?

It's not bad.

I'm Sean Livingston.

I'm one of the tutors.

Tutor?

If there's anything you
need, anything, give me a call.

I'm sure I'll be
doing a lot of studying.

[knocking]

Yes!

Kip!

[laughing]

Oh, man.

Geez, it's great to see you.
- You look great

You look great yourself.

Boy, hey, you two
days early, man.

- I can leave and come back.
- Yeah, just try it.

Get on in here, son.

Hey, let me look at you.

Oh, man, man, man.
Great to see you.

You, too.

Hey, no more roster, huh?

Oh, come on, that
was two years ago.

[laughs]
Hey, no more beard, what?

Yeah, tell me about it.

I can't say I've missed
them dreadlocks, though.

Hey, let me grab your bags.

Oh, yeah, sit down, son.

Make yourself at home.

Wow.

So, um, did you get
all that paperwork

I sent back to Philadelphia?

Yeah, the transfer's all done,
except for the financial aid.

I mean, they said
that I could start

classes right after
finals at the beginning

of winter quarter.

Hey, that's great.

Great.

You know I'm teaching there now.

Criminal justice?

No, no, no.

African-American history.

What?

Now, well, it's only
for a couple of weeks.

I'm on a case.

Somebody stealing erasers?

Yeah, something like that.

Hey, maybe I'll sign up for
your class and get an easy A.

Ah, you wish.

Hey, how's your mother, man?

Oh, she's fine.
She sends her best.

Sends her best.

What's the catch?

I'm not in it, man.

Hey, come on,
you got to see what

I did to the basement, son.

You're going to love this.

You got your own separate
entrance and everything.

Hey, Dad, I was
kind of looking

forward to living at the dorm.

Oh.

I-- I, um, thought you might
want to, you know, live--

My friend from high school
asked me to room with him.

His roommate dropped out.

It was a perfect opportunity.

You sure you want a roommate?

What I mean is roommates
always want to party.

You know, if they
get lucky, they'll

lock you out of the room.

You'll never get
a chance to study.

Now tell me the bad part?

Look, Dad, I'm going to study.

I always have.

It's just that I've lived
my whole life at home.

It's OK.

Anything you want, son.

Great.

Come on, let's go
rearrange the refrigerator.

Let's go, let's go.

Come on, get busy, people.

[cheering]

Choo Choo!

That means you.

Come on, man, we've got a
lot of work to do here today.

Come on, man.

Regular stuff.

All right, all right.

Come on let's
gather them up, coach.

[whistle]

OK let's gather up, people.

Guys, the most important
thing for us as a team

is going to be to try to put
Jackson Binder behind us.

Now I know that's not going to
be easy, but if we can move on.

If we can come
together as a team,

then it's going to
make each and every one

of you a better player, and a
better human being, I promise.

Now, we've got a new series of
plays we want to learn today.

We're going to try them
out against Texas Western.

Hey, look.

These guys are going
to be gunning for you.

Upsetting us and make
their whole season.

You better be up.

They're going to run you
up and down the court.

Coach Holloway.

All right.

Let me have the first
team on the floor.

I want red vets on D, and I want
to see some hustle out there.

Move it.
- All right.

Ray.

Ray, you got Binder's spot.

All right.

All right.

Do me proud.

- All right.
- All right.

Now come on, people.

Let's get busy.

[clapping]

Yeah, boy.

About time.

The university received
$ , for reaching

the final four last season.

Between gate receipts
and television revenues,

we grossed--

$ . million.

Exactly.

The basketball team basically
supports all other sports.

What about the football team?

They made Fiestabowl,
didn't they?

We have players in
football scholarships.

Basketball team grossed
five times as much,

and we only support players.

What about the
television deals?

games on ESPN,
on the local station,

and a minimum of three
nationally televised games

on NBC.

There'll be more if we
reach the tournament.

Tell me about Coach McKay.

Coach McKay has a state
approved salary of $ , .

He also has a cable television
show, radio talk show,

speaking engagements.

Low interest loan on
his house, and a car

provided by the
Wildcat Alumni Club.

He does commercials
for a bank, Barrington

Motors, and a restaurant.

He has a basketball
camp and an endorsement

contract from an
athletic shoe company

that pays $ , a year.

We're talking about a million
dollars a year, aren't we?

Yes sir.

You've told me
about his income.

Tell me about the man.

He's the most successful
coach in college basketball.

[whistle]

You the tutor?

Yes.

Where are your books?

That's funny.

I like you.

Where's my books.

Where's Sean?

I don't know.

I'm covering you tonight.

That's cool.

So how much of
the stuff you got?

How much do you want?

A couple grams.

I'm out right now.

Wait a minute.

I thought you said you
were covering for Sean.

I am.

Good.

Then when you go get
the stuff, I want you

to give him a message for me.

You do that?

OK.

You tell Sean that I'm
interested in the same deal

Jackson got.

Jackson Binder?

Yeah.

The same deal.

Yeah, you tell
him I'm interested

in the exact same thing.

OK, I'll tell him.

Do you want to go through
the history assignment?

Are you crazy, man?

I gotta get my sleep.

You going to take
that final for me?

Is that what you want?

Do you want me to take the test?

Yeah, man.

Get with the program.

Go talk to coach Holloway.

I got this whole
thing figured out.

Already?

I was looking forward to
doing a little wrestling.

It's the tutors.

Tutors?

They also deal.

Did you run into
a guy named Sean--

Livingston?
Yeah, yeah.

I met him yesterday.

Well, I just met with
you Choo Choo Lavell.

He wants two grams
of coke, and somebody

to take a test for him.

Well you'd better study,
we don't want him to fail.

He also said he wants the
same deal that Binder got.

OK, OK, that makes sense,
because this Sean fellow,

right, he says to me, there's
anything you need, just ask.

Right?

Like anything, like
quote, unquote.

He's probably
talking quantity.

So why did you hit this
guy Sean up for a buy,

we tie him to Jackson Binder.

[raspberry]

You know, something bothers
me about all this stuff.

It's so out in the
open, you know?

Everybody's so casual about it.

This whole athletic
program is out in the open.

Let's just wrap this
up and get out of here.

All right.

Place looks nice.

I like what you've done with it.

I wanted to talk to
you about something.

Something I heard
about in the halls.

What's that?

Well, when we were talking
before you said, you know,

if I ever needed anything.

Did you mean like--

like anything?

I meant anything.

What did you have in mind?

The Binder deal.

The Binder deal?

What are you talking about.

Well, you know.

I've been talking
to Choo Choo Lavell.

And?

And, he was talking
to a friend of

mine, and he said, you
know, that you were

the guy to talk to
if, you know, if I

wanted to get the Binder deal.

You want to fix Greco
Roman wrestling, huh?

Oh wait, I'll call Vegas.

And I'll see what kind of
a line they're putting out.

No, no.

What I'm talking about,
like, next time you

do the basketball thing, I
think I could be a big help.

I don't know you, pal.

And who said there's
going to be a next time?

Now, now, wait a minute.

I'm Doug Peters.

I'm a real bad boy
from my old school.

Go ahead and check it out.

They threw me out for dealing.

So?

So, so I got a lot of money.

And access to a whole lot more.

So.

You know there's not
a whole lot of future

in Greco Roman wrestling.

You think you could get
your hands on $ , ?

More.

Maybe we can talk.

That was the district
attorney's office.

They suggested we
continue on the drug case,

and pursue point shaving
at the same time.

They think they may be related.

You mean, point
shaving for cocaine?

Yeah, well it happened a
couple of years ago down south.

Players get into a
gap for coke money,

wound up fixing the game.

It's possible one may
have led to the other.

Toxicological report.

That shows that
cocaine was found

probably in cr*ck form in the
bloodstream of the decedent.

A lot of cocaine.

Yeah, this Sean Livingston
character mentioned

anything about dealing?

Well, to tell you the
truth, Captain, I really

didn't get a chance to ask.

I was so stunned
after he told me

about fixing games with Binder.

Yeah, well.

We're going to have to find
evidence of an actual fix.

All we've got now is hearsay.

Listen, see if you can find
out what game they're talking

about, how much
money is involved,

and try to find out who this
guy is laying its bets off with.

OK.

Sounds good.

CAPTAIN FULLER: So, what
do you want to be, son?

Dad, I'm only a freshman.

It is never too soon to
start thinking about it major.

Actually, I was kind
of thinking pre law.

Oh, cut my heart out.

Couldn't you be something
more respectable?

You know like a doctor, a
businessman, a politician.

Just kidding.

Yeah?

Adam Fisher?

Yeah.

I'm Larry McKay.

Yeah, I know who you are.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Thank you.

Could we have a moment, son?

Oh, sure thing.

I'll see you later
professor Fisher.

And thanks for your help.

Anytime, young man.

Please, have a seat.

Thank you.

I want to talk to you
about Charles Lavell.

Ah, Choo Choo.

Yeah, Choo Choo.

Choo Choo is running the
risk of becoming ineligible.

The boy studies hard, it's just
academics earn his long suit.

Well, what can I do to help?

I just wanted to
ask that you give

him every consideration
when it comes

to his grade for the term.

It is important to me
that our players graduate.

It is very important to me that
they get the best education

while they're here at State.

It's just that during
the basketball season,

what with the travel,
the practices, the games,

it becomes particularly
difficult for them to study.

It is quite a load
for a young man.

I understand
you've been appointed

to the athletic council,
so I assume that you're

sympathetic to our problems.

Well, I'll do what I can.

That's all I ask.

Thank you.

[music playing]

[thoom]

[door opening]

You've got a big
decision to make, Rickie.

You had a sensational
high school career,

and you know we want you to
come play for the Wildcats

next year.

I want you to take
a look around, son.

It's McElroy arena.

conference championships,
NCAA tournament appearances,

a national championship.

It's a lot of history
in this building, son.

A lot of tradition.

, seats.

, loyal wildcat fans
looking at you, Ricky Thompson

the freshman from Moultrie.

I want you to picture
yourself playing

in the game that will decide
the conference championship.

[snap]

DREAM ANNOUNCER:
What a ballgame.

, , the Wildcats trailing.

We're in the final
seconds, ladies and gentlemen,

and the brilliant freshman
Ricky Thompson has the ball.

He's dribbling across
the second line.

He makes a good bounce
pass it on to the sideline

to Don Casey.

Casey might bring it right back.

No, he takes the
ball into Lavell.

And Lavell is closely guarded
down there by Don Higgins.

And finally now as the
clock at seconds

left in the ballgame, the
ball is brought back out

in front to Ricky Thompson.

He looks up at the clock.

He's got about
seconds left to play,

and he knows what to do with it.

He knows he's got
to take the sh*t.

He goes dribble.

He rises, he fires, it'll
[inaudible] the state

championship on the line.

It's good!

The Wildcats win it,
and the [inaudible]..

As the new kingpin at State.

You can do it, son.

I know you could.

[music playing]

Say hello to Ted Farrington.

Ted is the president
of the Wildcat Club,

and he is one of our
programs biggest supporters.

How are you?

Ms Thompson, it's a
pleasure to meet you, ma'am.

Say this is quite a fine
young man you've got.

Thank you.

We're very proud.

Well, ma'am, you ought to be.

Say, I wonder if you
folks would let me drive

you all back to the hotel?

In the limo, Mr. Bennington?

Why sure.

Listen, please call me Ted.

I mean everybody
just calls me Ted.

Come on, let's go.

COACH HOLLOWAY:
Everybody, listen up.

Mandatory drug tests, and
nobody leaves the locker

room before being tested.

Charles.

Coach wants to see
you right away.

You got my word on it.

I'm not going to recruit
another man for his position

until his junior year, and
I you to tell him that.

All right.

Yeah.

Listen, I'll talk
to you tomorrow, OK?

Good.

Bye.

You wanted to see me, coach?

Close the door.

What did I do?

Oh, you tell me?

I ain't done nothing, I swear.

COACH MCKAY: Good.

Keep it that way.

I want you to know
we're counting

on you now that Jackson's gone.

Yeah, I know.

You going to
pass your classes?

Yeah, sure.

I gotta guy.

I'm going to take
the final tomorrow.

Good.

Got something here for
you I want you to have.

Have fun.

Hit the books.

What did the man want?

Gave me $ , man.

Set it'd be my new weekly.

He's giving you
Jackson's bread, man.

Yeah, I know.

Hey, man I'm thinking
about doing a Jackson did.

Hey, I need the money.

My mother's out of work.
$ a week don't mean squat.

It ain't like Texas
Western's going to b*at us.

All you gotta do is just
hold down the score.

You want in?

I got to show my wares, man.

Yeah, well, you
better show them

quick, because you
ain't going to get

a chance to play next year.

What are you talking about?

He's recruiting Ricky
Thompson, man, from Moultrie.

He was here visiting today.

He had him at center court
with the lights out, man.

Winning a conference
championship?

Just like you wanted when you
was a senior in high school.

You sure you don't want in?

Thanks.

See you later.

Want to grab a beer?

You know, man, I've
been thinking it over.

I'll do it, but
not for the coke.

No?

No, see, Binder did
it for the dr*gs, man.

He's dead.

See I got a new
philosophy on life.

dr*gs are bad, money is good.

Just say no, huh?

That's right.

Now I'll do it for $ , .

That's kind of steep.

Hey, I got to send some
money home, you know?

Hey look, everybody is
making money on basketball

around here but me.

You guys have that
kind of bread?

Yes, we do.

Good.
Then I'll take a beer.

But it isn't
amateur athletics.

I mean there's nothing
amateur about it.

These kids, they
generate millions

of dollars for the school.

It's a business.

But they're supposed
to be students.

Only in like the Ivy League.

So what are you saying?

That these guys shouldn't
have to go to class?

Well they don't anyway.

Why doesn't the university
just admit them as athletes,

pay them off, and
end in the hypocrisy

of calling them students.

How many of these guys would
you say make it to the pros?

What am I, like
the show Answer Man.

I don't know, I'm
just thinking aloud.

I'm just saying
like, one out of .

- OK, one out .
- Shut up.

When one out of ,
strong school like this.

What happens to
the rest of them?

I don't know.

The meeting will
now come to order.

First I would like to welcome
to the athletic council

Dr. Adam Fisher of the
history department.

[applause]

The first order of
business is to announce

that Ricky Thompson has
signed a letter of intent

to come to State next year.

[applause]

I can see you're all familiar
with his fine high school

career at Moultrie.

What are his SAT scores?

He had a .

Math or verbal?

Combined.

Dr. Sullivan, don't you
get points combined

for just signing your name?

Yes, Mr. Burnett.

And what was Ricky
Thompson's grade

point average in high school?

He had a . .

A . , and a combined SAT.

I guess the teachers at
Moultrie really dig basketball.

Well, let's get down to
the business, shall we?

Dr. Fisher?

Yes.

I understand you have
Charles Lavell in history .

Yeah, well, that's the rumor.

I've never seen him in class.

Yeah, I understand.

He failed to show
up for his final?

Oh, he probably couldn't
find the classroom.

Well, if he doesn't get
at least a . average,

he'll be ineligible for
the rest of the season.

He's already got
a B and two C's.

An F would knock
him off the court.

I see.

Now is there any
way you could consider

giving him a make up exam?

You want me to test him
again for a test he never

took in the first
place, on material

he's probably never looked at?

Maybe an oral exam.

It would really help the team.

Oral exam.

You would not believe
this kid's college record.

What kid?

Basketball player,
Choo Choo Lavell.

Never heard of him.

You got to be
the only one, then.

So how's it going with you, son?

You get all checked
into the dorm?

Yeah, I'm I'll set.

My roommate's still
trying to get a date.

I'm trying to b*at
him to it, though.

I hear you.

I got some bad news
for you though, Dad.

The financial aid
didn't come through.

Oh?

This says I made too much money.

They must be out of their minds.

You got to be really
poor to qualify.

I am really poor.

No, really poor.

The state is saying that
I am not poor enough to send

my son to a State University?

I'm a public servant.

I am poor by definition.

Too bad you're not
a foot inch

black man who refuses
to go to class.

I'm black.

Not good enough.

Gotta have a jump sh*t as well.

Look, don't worry
about this, son.

We'll find a way, I promise.

DOUG PENHALL: Mm, baby.

Salad, ensalada.

Oh, da weenie.

Can you believe the food
they're serving in this place?

There were some lovely noodles
with a white cream sauce.

Well, you know, pasteurized.

Good for athletes.

High in carbs.

The rest of the
school knew what

they were serving in this place,
they'd storm the Bastille.

We have some very
good news for you.

You kids come into some money?

A rich relative d*ed.

OK.

And tonight we make the bet.

What's the line?

State's favored by .

All they have to do is hold
the score down, win by ,

we collect and
nobody is suspicious.

Won't the-- won't the
bookie get suspicious

when a college
kid comes in to be

$ , against his own team?

Yeah.

Won't he smell that
something's weird?

Of course.

That's where Fat Al comes in.

Fat Al?

He's a very
well-connected book.

He'll lay the money
off in Birmingham,

Baltimore, Dallas,
places like that.

Are we going to owe
this guy a percentage?

SEAN LIVINGSTONE: No.

He just puts in his cash.

With our information he'll
bet against state as well.

The trick is him spreading
it around so nobody

catches wise to the fix.

How do you know this guy?

He's a friend of my dad's.

Let me ask you something else.

What if Texas Westerns
is like really bad,

and they lose by
more than points?

Then we're in major
freaking trouble.

What if something else
goes wrong and we get caught?

Hey, man, the
players came to us.

Good point.

Look, I'll come
by later and I'll

collect the cash, all right?

You know, listen.

About that.

$ , is like a lot of grams.

We'd kind of like to
be there when you make

the bet, just to make sure.

In other words,
you don't trust

me as far as you can throw me.

Right?

Would you trust you?

Absolutely not.

You wanted to see me, coach?

Yeah.

Charles, do you know who I am?

Yeah, you Fisher.

What class do I teach?

Don't you know?

Here's your grade, Charles.

Hey, man, I just want to tell
you I think it's very uncool,

you flunking me.

You jeopardizing my
career, my livelihood.

I'm going lottery.

They've been telling me
that since the th grade.

Do you even know
what that means?

That's the first eight players
picked in the NBA draft.

I'm looking at a million
dollars, man, guaranteed.

And you try to take
the ball on my hands

instead-- instead of helping
out a little brother.

Charles, did you
look at what that says?

Yeah, man, I
know what it says.

It says you hate
basketball players.

- Read it to me.
- Hey, look, man.

I told you.
- Just read it to me.

It says you passed, Charles.

You can't read, can you?

When was the last time
you opened a book?

I don't know.

th grade, maybe?

But there was no need, man.

I knew where I was
going, and I didn't

need no books to get me there.

Bets are in.

We met the book.

Doesn't matter.

I'm putting an end
to this right now.

How?

I flunked Choo Choo.

That will make
him ineligible, he

won't be able to throw the game
against Texas Western tomorrow

night.
- But, captain.

The boy is illiterate, Doug.

He's got no business in
college to begin with,

except to make money for the
university and the coach.

And himself.

Don't forget, he stands
to make a lot of money

for himself once he turns pro.

And I may be taking
away his only chance.

Yeah.

Excuse me, Captain, but this
sounds a lot like obstruction

of justice to me.

There are a lot of times
when we know someone's

going to make a big mistake.

We don't usually stop them.

Sometimes we do.

Because he's a ballplayer.

No, because he's a
victim of the system.

A system that tells this kid
that the way out of the ghetto

is with a basketball,
not with a book.

End of discussion, Doug.

He's not playing
against Texas Western.

Hey, Fisher.

I was just looking for you.

You can save it, coach.

I am not changing the grade.

A C was more than generous.

He only needed to pass.

I just wanted to thank you.

A C?

Yeah, Dr. Sullivan
just showed me the card.

You know, with a .
average, Choo Choo

is going to be eligible
for the rest of the season.

I really owe you one, man.

You coming to the game tonight?

I'll see you there.

[marching band playing]

Excuse me?

Tickets?

Tickets.

Got any tickets?

Hey you kid.

You guys take these, huh?

Hey, man.

These have holes in the.

These are good seats.

Don't tell anybody I got
it from a player, huh?

Really?

You'll find out
when you get inside.

Whoa.

Come on, man.

I want to see the warm ups.

Thanks, mister.

[inaudible] making any money.

I didn't want to see
Texas Western, anyway.

It's too bad, though.

Going to be a game.

- You think?
- I know.

I spoke to Choo Choo
about an hour ago.

We're in business, gentlemen.

Then somehow Doctor Sullivan
must have gotten the grade

changed, because the
next thing I hear,

Choo Choo is suiting up.

Listen, it's minutes
till the start of the game.

Can you pull him?

I appreciate everything
you and your officers

have done, Adam.

When this thing started,
I had my doubts.

Yeah, well, frankly so did we.

But I have to let Lavell play.

Say what?

Did you ever play ball?

No, not really.

It's very hard for an
athlete to go out there

and intentionally give up.

When push comes to shove,
he may get out on the court

and go all out.

Either way, I've got to let
Charles make that decision.

And I have to have
faith in the kid

that he will do the right thing.

Your call.

ANNOUNCER: The Wildcat
leader to ,

and this ball game is
in the refrigerator.

Here come the Wildcats again,
from the top of the key.

A jump cut by Choo Choo.

That's good.

Give them points.

The All-American out
of Columbus, Ohio.

Now for Texas Western GK Maxwell
comes through the front door.

He's pretty well
covered the man for man.

Rich Schaub, their
best score has

fouled out of the ball game.

Morales sets up a pick
and Maxwell bounce pass.

Nice play to Ripley,
who puts it up and in.

The Wildcats don't want
to stop the clock now.

They're up by .
Here comes Lavell.

They call him Choo Choo,
and he's definitely

been on track tonight.

They'll try to run
the clock down now.

Lavell comes out
to the NBA three

point line, fires the sh*t.

I don't believe it.

Bad sh*t selection.

Rebound Texas Western.

They work the ball out in front.

A foot jumper.

That's good, and Texas
Western fights its way back.

The Wildcats still up
by a comfortable margin

with a minute left to play.

Choo Choo is at the
top of the game.

Makes a horrible pass.

That was a sh*t,
I call it a brick.

He's had enough bricks
tonight to build a chimney.

A fast break developed
from Texas Western.

Here they come, Gentian
swinging in from the right side,

slam dunk.
They've cut it to .

Lavell brings the
ball to the front.

Gordon takes it over to Casey.

Beautiful touch pass right back
to Lavell for the slam dunk.

Kenny blows it,
ladies and gentlemen.

Rebound, Texas Western.

Long pass down the
floor to Gentian.

He goes through the hole up
in, and that wasn't a gimme.

Texas Western has outscored the
Wildcats eight in this run.

Lavell just jammed
it on the rim,

and he looked like a fifth
grader on an eight foot basket

in the school yard.

Hey McKay is yelling for a
timeout along the sideline.

Texas Western would be right
back in this ballgame folks,

I think, if it
weren't for the fact

that there's only
seconds left on the clock.

McKay going absolutely nuts
as he gets the timeout.

Larry Struthers checking
into the scorer's table,

and that means that McKay is
putting Lavelle on the pine

for the rest of this game.

And that's the coach
telling the players,

hey, I want % for
a full minutes.

And Choo Choo Lavelle will
have to think about that

for a long seconds.

CROWD: Choo Choo,
Choo Choo, Choo Choo,

Choo Choo, Choo Choo.

You did it, didn't you?

Just went cold, that's all.

You feel good?

Does it look like I feel good?

Hey, Chooch.

Coach wants to see you, man.

[door opening]

Where you guys been, huh?

I've been looking
all over for you.

We've been around
collecting suspects.

We're cops.

You got to be
kidding me, right?

You guys are cops?

Oh, we're cops.

It's kind of a bad picture.

Hey, just remember,
you came to me.

He wanted to fix the game.

I'll be sure and
remind the judge.

Hey, do I look worried?

My father happens
to be an attorney.

And a close personal
friend of Fat Al's, right?

I'm fired?

What do you mean I'm fired?

I mean you're
through here at State.

I got a contract.

You violated the morals
clause, the academic clauses,

and a host of NCAA regulations.

You haven't got a chance.

What the hell do you know
about running a big time

college basketball program?

I know I don't
like what I've seen,

and I know it doesn't
have to be this way.

Tell it to the alumni.

I intend to do that.

I made a mistake.

I realize that.

You messed with the
integrity of the game.

You do that, you
can't play the game.

Oh, come on.

How can you do this to me?

You know the game.

Hell, you wouldn't be
sitting there except you

were big time in the pros.

Oh, come on, man,
give me a chance.

I'm giving you a chance.

You're throwing me out.

I'm not throwing you
out of school, Charles.

I'm just suspending you
from the basketball team.

Provided they don't send you
to jail, you're free to stay.

Get your degree.

Learn to read.

Lawrence McKay has resigned as
head basketball coach effective

immediately.

Assistant coach Tom Holloway
has resigned as well.

Charles Lavell has been
suspended from the team,

pending an investigation into
the criminal charges brought

against him by the grand jury.

In the future, no
athlete will be admitted

into this university
without an SAT score of ,

and a high school C average.

Mr. Williams.

Mr. Williams.

Coach Thompson at Georgetown
and several others

have argued that props
and put black athletes

at a disadvantage.

That it denies them the
opportunity to go to college.

All student
athletes must realize

that they're students first.

That attitude has to begin at
the junior high and high school

level.

They must realize that they
can't all make it to the pros.

It is true that to Choo
Choo Lavell can't read?

The situation
will be addressed

by the remedial programs
here at the University.

Well, how did he get through
and / years of college

without anyone knowing?

Ladies and gentlemen,
that is the problem.

You were right
about that dorm.

I was?

Yeah.

I've been locked out of my
room three times this week.

Ah.

He was getting
luckier than you, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, I was
thinking that, you know,

you could save a lot of money
on dorm fees, and, you know,

I could eat at home and--

what I'm saying is, can I still
have the room in the basement?

Wait a minute.

You're not just saying
this because you feel

bad about the money, are you?

Dad, I'm saying it because
I want to live with you.

The keys to your
entrance, son.

All right.

Rasheed, Rasheed!

You got to see this, man.
- What?

Choo Choo Lavell, man.

He dropped out.

Get out.

No, it's the truth, man.

He's turning pro.

He's gone lottery!

Whoa!

He's going to get a
million dollars guaranteed.

All right.

[slap]

[MUSIC, JUMP
STREET END THEME]