I don’t think I have one memory of “The White Shadow” that isn’t fun. Part of it is that we created it. I don’t know who knows that. I created it with Bruce Paltrow, who’s no longer with us, bless his heart. Probably known to younger generations as Gwyneth’s daddy.
What happened was, Bruce and I went to CBS and said we have this idea, and they kind of rolled their eyes, but they didn’t send us to marketing like they might’ve today. They went, “Alright, we’ll give you a shot.” And we wrote it and we did it.
CBS was very good to us, but they began by saying, “We really like your idea, but we’d like you to stay away from sex, crime and drugs.” And we went, “You understand that that’s the heartbeat of the show?” Basketball was kind of a metaphor, but the whole point is I’m coaching kids in the ghetto who are threatened by–let’s see, what are the top three?–sex, crime and drugs. Are you crazy?
Here’s a line that I’ve never seen in print. It was Bruce Paltrow talking to the network. This, of course, was 1979, 1980. He said, “You know, we have to tell the truth about what it is to be a ghetto school. Not every kid on the team can be O.J. Simpson.” Back then, it was like the white guy’s idea of the perfect, well-spoken brother.
I had a buddy named Jon Kovler, who was one of the owners of the Chicago Bulls. This was 1978, around September. Jonny said, “You can steal a little footage. Don’t push it.” He was a very reasonable guy. The network was talking with Jerry Buss and the price was so high. Norm Van Lier, I saw him recently, he said, “I remember that crisp $100 bill. You snapped that right in my palm, took a shot of me, and we said goodbye.”
I’m going to New York next week and shaking hands and saying “Hi” (1), but in terms of me working, I’m just showing up. I’m like Roy Rogers, or I’m Trigger. I’m not sure which one.
I actually played on a team where I was the only white guy in the starting five on Manhasset, which is a small town on Long Island.
Officially, I was an athlete. I was all-everything and MVP and captain in college and scoring records. I don’t want to push it because I know so many jocks. It would be like, “Yeah, but that was a little school on Long Island, then you went to Amherst. Give us a break.” So, I just shut up.
A lot of people still to this day–it says a lot of what careers are made of–they go, “Now how many years did you play with the Bulls?” I go, “No.” “Well, didn’t you ever …” I go, “No, I played in college and then I went to Yale Drama School and then I went to Broadway and did musicals.” “Oh, well, you’re not even close to cool. We thought you were like an NBA guy who wound up being an actor.”
Like Rick Barry would really be good at that?
I remember always admiring Paul Newman and thinking he was a very special guy, which he is.
I want you to know this, and I’m not kidding. I worked with a lot of actresses who were prepared, spontaneous, wonderful. I fell in love with them and everything, OK? The best actress I’ve ever worked with–and this includes people like Blythe Danner–is Dakota Fanning (2). Dakota Fanning is unbelievable in “Dreamers” one of the two movies I have out. The other is “In Her Shoes.”
For some reason I always rooted for the New York teams and loved the Boston teams. I loved the Bruins, even though I rooted for the Rangers. I loved the Red Sox, and I rooted for the Yankees.
I would love it if that’s what my issues were. Go to a psychiatrist. “What are your issues?” “Boston-New York.” “Get out of here. Work it out. Work. It. Out.”
My goal in life is to be morally strong, and I think I fail at every turn. Every now and then I have a moment where it’s a little something.
My favorite roles always are from the stage because you get to experience the result. I played Thomas Jeffferson in “1776.” I won a Tony for a role as a young coach in a play called “Child’s Play.” I did “Equus,” that big role that Richard Burton played in the movie.
Although probably my best memory will always be the “The White Shadow” because we made it up.
(1)-To promote the release of the DVD of the first season of “The White Shadow”.
(2)-The 11-year-old actress.
