In re-watching the pilot for the White Shadow, we had to wonder why more episodes did not focus on James Hayward. He was the focal player in the pilot, but in many other episodes, he was largely ignored. Sure, it was an ensemble cast, but Hayward emerged as the intellect of the group; and the one who exhibited the most social conscious. It may not have been the most remembered character of the show, put perhaps it could have been.

Arguably the coolest of the cool players on Carver High, we admit we were still shocked when reviewing all of the episodes of the White Shadow (even though we remember it happening) when we watched the death of Curtis Jackson. We suppose in a show based on the inner city of Los Angeles, that one of the players was not going to make it out alive, but we will always remember the party animal of Carver High.

Clearly the nerd of the Carver High Basketball team, Abner Goldstein was the social misfit of the group. He looked like a fish out of water, and there were many episodes that played off of it. In a way, he was the stereotypical clumsy 70’s Jewish athlete, though it was implied he wasn’t a bad player. Does he get a break for our Hall by being the first (we think) Jewish TV athlete? Based on what he did for stereotypes, we suspect not.