02x04 - The New World

[bunniefuu]

- Are you joking?
- Oh, what the f*ck?

I thought we were
supposed to be the cover.

Halftime here as the
boys in Forum Blue

close out their exhibition
season, racking up

a 28-point lead against
the newly minted champs.

Now, don't buy stock
just yet, though.

That score can be deceiving.

These Celtics have yet to play a
single member of their starting five...

- Hey, Kareem.
- What's that, Lon?

- "Sports Illustrated"?
- Yeah.

- What the f*ck is this, Lon?
- I know, I know.

How about that score, huh?

These guys struggle with
The System all through camp,

but then you get
it on the floor...

It is a symphony.

It's an exhibition
against their bench.

Paul, we're running
the guys ragged.

Why not give our subs a look?

We still need to decide who
fills out that last roster spot.

We did that already. Mikey?

Oh, no, you cutting Rambis?

- Yeah, his numbers are subpar.
- He's not a numbers guy.

He's effort. That's the kind
of sh*t that wins games.

Ooh! Our issue!

Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

Oh, my. Would you look at that?

"What are Norm Nixon,
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,

"Jamaal Wilkes, and Magic
Johnson doing in a classroom

with Laker coach Paul Westhead?"

Good f*ck' question.

"Hitting the blackboards."

- Do you get it?
- Is that a joke?

- You're kiddin' me.
- Okay.

- This is the dumbest sh*t I ever seen.
- Teaching basketball?

It bad enough he got
us playing like robots,

running in his damn spot.

Hit your spot!
That's not your spot!

Where's your spot? Not there!

I'll put a spot in that m*therf*cker
eye he keep yelling at me.

Hey, maybe put your picture on the
floor, you'll remember where to go.

But we can't go criticize
this man right now.

Say right here he a genius.

He don't know sh*t
about basketball.

In his mind, this sh*t
a science experiment.

Try telling that to Buss.

He paying that man
a million dollars.

We can always send the
Great White Hope in there

to talk to him for
us. Hey, Kupchak!

Go do some of that cr*cker talk.

If I'm the cr*cker,
then you're the cheese.

I don't know why I'm
not in this picture.

I've been white on this
team longer than you, Mitch.

Landsberger, sit your a*s down.

Here, gimme a look of that.

Oh, f*ck, Bill! You see this?

Yeah. Publicity.

f*ck' telling the whole f*ck' world
our captain's a f*ck' douchebag.

- Jerry...
- Oh, hey! There he is.

- Mr. Matinee Idol.
- How's it going, Jerry?

How you doin'? Congratulations.

Yeah, thank you. I thought
your office was upstairs.

Jerry, come on. Paul. We just...

We just stopped by to
pick up the final roster.

- Mikey's got it all figured out.
- Good! Who's gettin' the axe, huh?

Probably that long-haired
hippie m*therf*cker, Rambis.

We should've axed him
the first f*ck' week.

He's a good player.

Can I see that for one second?

Thank you. Excuse me, sorry.

There we go.

Next champions.

Well, we'll start
engraving the trophies.

- Sounds good, Bill.
- Come on, Jerry. Come on.

This is f*ck' first-rate.

- Bye, Jerry.
- Yeah, see you guys.

Let me look at that.
What'd he f*ck' write?

What'd you change?

- f*ck' the motherfuckin' hippie?!
- Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

- Come on! Get outta here.
- This f*ck'...

God f*ck' damn it!

Congratulations, Pat. Why
don't you go tell him?

Second half, let's go. System.

That means you, Johnson.

Did he just snap at me?

Hey. Rambis.

Congrats. You made the
team. You're a Laker.

Cool. Far out, man.

Ooh! I've been lookin'
for one of those.

Let me see that, Kurt.

Oh, damn. Red, you should've
told your guy to smile!

I don't pay my guys to smile.

Unlike you and your
fakakta lifetime contract.

He runs the committee.

Ah, don't worry.

I can't approve it fast enough.

Nothing makes me happier than
watching you piss away your fortune.

You know, you used to be
ahead of the curve, Red,

but now, you're about
10 steps behind.

Listen, I'd explain business to
you but halftime is almost over

and you got enough to worry about
with your team gettin' whooped!

It's pre-season, Buss.
Nobody gives a sh*t.

No one but you and me!

Wise a*s. I'll see ya.

- Come on, fellas.
- Don't be f*ck' dumb.

- It's just a preseason game.
- We're down by 28 points, Coach.

Yeah, and we're not
gonna come back.

f*ck you gotta drag me
out here to La La Land

- if you're just gonna sit me?
- Put him in.

- I thought you said...
- Go knock their dicks in the dirt.

- About g*dd*mn time.
- Relax yourself.

- We're gonna have some fun.
- Make up your f*cking mind, Red.

Dyan! Heaven can
wait, but I can't.

You're lookin' great.

Looking good, Lou!
It's gonna rain?

Guys, look at that.
Fantastic, right?

Jack! Nice to see ya.

- Love the variety you got going on here.
- Right?

Exhibition game, but we got
'em on the run. I'll take it.

A lotta angles, a lotta colors.

- Gimme that.
- The f*ck?

Count 'em.

Okay, fellas. Who wants a scoop?

How about this for a headline?

"Magic Signs Lifetime
Contract with the Lakers."

What are the terms?

- Lifetime? What does that mean?
- How much? How long?

25 million for 25 years.

Dr. Buss!

Any comment on
Magic's new contract?

I told you boys.
Just an extension.

But I hear 25
million for 25 years.

Yeah? Where'd you hear that?

Let's say a little leprechaun
whispered it into my ear.

- League source.
- Yeah, well, no comment.

- What's up, Doc!
- Hey, kid!

Think we can rap after the game?

Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure
thing. Sure thing.

Oh, there's Jerry. You
can ask him. Go ahead.

I'll be in the box.
I'll come find you.

- Just be a minute.
- Sure.

- Yeah? Cool.
- Absolutely.

- You think he's really worth it, Dr. Buss?
- Guys, guys, come on!

Halftime's almost over.

We can talk about
it after the game!

That makes you the highest-paid
athlete in history!

We gotta start the game
again! Get outta here!

We can talk about it after
the game! After the game!

After the game!

After the game, baby!

There it is

Yeah, ah, uh

Yeah

Okay

Check it out

Death to the pigs is
my basic statement

I spit street stories
'til I taste the pavement

Tryin' to stay out the pen
where we face enslavement

Had a foolproof hustle 'til
they traced the payments

I was grippin' my palm
around some shitty rum

Tryin' to find psalm number 151

To forget what I'm owed,
as I clutch the commode

I read "Put down the bottle
and come get the g*n"

Let's get off the chain like
Kunta Kinte with a MAC-10

They want us gone like
a dollar in a crack den

Steadily subtractin'
seeds and stems

Mind cloudy through
the wheeze and phlegm

Numbin' my brain off of
that and the Jesus hymns

If we waiting for the time
to fight, these is thems

Tellin' us to relax
while they ease it in

We gettin greased again

The truth I write is so cold

It'd freeze my pen

I'm Boots Riley it's
a pleasure to meet you

Never let they punk
a*s ever defeat you

They got us on the corner
wearin' pleather and see-thru

All y'all's gold mines,
they wanna deplete you

I ain't just finna rap on the
track, I finna clap on 'em back

And it's been stackin' to that

500 years before Iceberg
ever leaned back in the 'lac

Before they told Rosa
"Black in the back"

Before the CIA told Ricky
Ross to put crack in a sack

And Gil Scott traded
rappin' for smack

This beat alone should
get platinum plaques

I'd rather see a million
of us ecstatic to scrap

'Cause if we bappin' 'em
back we automatically stack

Lansing hero Earvin
"Magic" Johnson...

News broke of Magic
Johnson's new epic deal...

Earvin Johnson Jr.,
the showstopper...

The highest-paid
athlete in the world.

How did his teammates
take the news?

The normally tight-lipped
Kareem had this to say.

A basketball team
is like a family.

You pick out any one member and
say, "This is my favorite child,"

it's inevitable that
others will begin to wonder

whether or not they belong.

The only other place

I would consider
playing is New York.

I've always felt
like the people there

appreciate quality basketball,
and I can provide that.

f*ck 'em.

They don't like it?

f*ck 'em.

Kareem should be happy!

More money for Earvin
means more for him!

What if he tries to get
it from another team?

- He's not gonna do that.
- He already f*ck' did!

He ain't talkin'
to the press, man!

He's talkin' to the Knicks!

Well, I'll talk to him first.

When am I sitting down
with him at Benihana?

- He rescheduled.
- Oh, f*ck.

Hey, he's a busy guy.
I'll pin him down.

- You ain't f*ck'...
- No!

It has to be me. Okay?

Who...

I'm his coach,

so I will assure him

that he's still the
fulcrum of this team.

- I'll handle that, Paul.
- You can't.

You just told him the opposite.

You just told him

and every other
player on my team

that Magic is more important.

I think you mean my team.

Sure.

But I'm the one who
has to coach it,

and that's been hard
enough as it is.

Look, gentlemen, none of us
want a repeat of last year!

Okay, Magic has been a

struggle since
the start of camp.

Resisting his role
in The System.

At first, I thought, okay,

this guy's not used to
structured play. Now, I see.

He thinks it's optional.
And you know why?

Because he has a direct
line to the king.

You know, Bill, Jerry,
it's getting a little late.

Why don't you hit the road?

- Yeah, yeah, we should get outta here.
- Yeah. Yeah, we're gonna...

Get outta here.
Good night, boss.

You asked for Kupchak.

I gave you Kupchak.

You asked for a million dollars.

I gave you that.

Paul, this is a speed bump.

Don't whine to me about it.

Figure it out!

What the f*ck else do you need?

Nothing.

But I'd like to be able
to handle my players

without interference.

So, if you can do that for me,

I'll promise you that I'll
bring you another trophy.

Well, Paul, if you don't, I'm
gonna look like a f*cking idiot.

And you're gonna be
looking for a new job.

Sounds like we're in
this together then, huh?

No, Paul. I'm the king!

We're not in it together!

- Hey.
- Hey. Are you okay?

Yeah.

It's just basketball.

It is, you know?

It's just ba...

Flatfoot Sam bought
an automobile

No money down, it
was a real good deal

Oh, morning.

He didn't wanna wait
to ride around town...

Oh, I took the last one.
Do you wanna split it?

You're always in a jam

Flatfoot Sam...

You want the whole thing?

Oh, come on, Johnny! You have
to talk to me eventually!

f*ck.

You know, an apology
works wonders.

Excuse me?

- He's hurting.
- What f*cking business is it of yours?

Ooh. Okay. I'm just
trying to help.

Yeah. Well, I don't
need your help, okay?

Well, your father does,
and I do love him.

- Okay, God.
- We're not in competition.

Oh, yeah. Okay.
That's good to know.

Thank you for that, Honey!

You're always in a jam

- It's just a contract.
- Contract?

f*ck you think, we stupid?

You part owner of
this damn team now.

Ain't like that.

He offered, I said yes.

- Same as any of y'all would.
- I know I would.

Right on!

Look, this could
be a good thing.

Speak for yourself, man.

You got your money. Boy.

Won't be happy till
everything else go your way?

- Go run, tell Daddy.
- Man, f*ck you.

Ain't enough money in the
contract for that, bruh.

- Norm, just calm down, man.
- n*gga, you calm up!

Stop acting like a b*tch!
All you m*therf*ckers!

What? We supposed
to kiss his a*s now

just 'cause he struck gold?

f*ck all that!

Y'all put on y'all uniform
the same way he do.

Ain't saying no otherwise.

No.

You got the boss man
saying it for you.

I'm just doing business. Maybe
you could learn something.

I'ma talk to Coach.

Straighten everything out.

Straighten everything
out. Oh. Y'all hear that?

Big money talk to big money.

Y'all just shut up.

Let Richie Rich here take
care of all our problems.

Just mad it ain't you.

Yeah, whatever, n*gga.

I'm telling y'all! This
don't change nothin'!

Gentlemen!

Bring it in. Bring
it in. Bring it in.

Good. Gather round.

As Viktor Frankl said,

"What does not k*ll
me makes me stronger."

This is the start
of a new season.

And none of us wants it to
end the way last one did.

- Right?
- No. No. Mm-mm.

Okay, great.

I wanna make something
clear. I have been empowered.

I have been empowered
to coach this team.

My way. And that means
we run The System.

Every play. Every
game. No deviation.

Anyone who has a problem with
that is gonna find a home

next to me on the bench.

Anyone.

Okay. Sound fun?

Let's go out there and
kick some a*s, alright?

- Let's go!
- System on three. One, two, three.

- System! Woo!
- Good.

Well, happy Halloween, folks.

Welcome to a new season,

and, hey, let's hope
the Lakers have banished

all the ghosts of last year.

Your Los Angeles Lakers!

- Nixon fighting to get open.
- Ball!

Magic taking his time at the
top of the key, searching.

Boy, the offense
is slow tonight.

- Westhead urging.
- Let's go! Earvin!

Magic finally with a move to the
basket, but he turns it over.

Fast break the other way and
Malone finishes it over Kareem.

Time out! Time out.

And so much for
redemption, folks.

A new year underway the
same way last one ended

with a loss to the Rockets.

Alright, let's go,
Norm, I'm open!

- What was that?
- Earvin!

- It ain't right, Cook.
- Have you just talked to him?

- Man-to-man?
- I tried!

Told him we'd be best
when we just goin'.

Not thinkin' all the time,
running no damn spots.

Okay, so what did
he say to that?

That's not your spot!
Where's your spot?

Not there! You're
nowhere near your spot!

But he ain't out there trying
to make this dumb sh*t work.

How I'm supposed to run
the show when I gotta stop,

find him, wait for him to
throw some fingers in the air

and then figure out what
the hell them fingers mean?

Ain't no choice but
to dump to Kareem!

Rest of us just watching
him do his thing.

- Which ain't your thing.
- Hell, no!

Ain't how I got here!

I don't pull this team together,

I'm gonna be outta
here by next year.

Heck, you might be off
to New York City, huh?

This franchise disrespected you.

After all that
you've given them.

You'd be well within your
rights to hold a grudge.

They have me under
contract for another year.

Until it ends...

I'll be a Laker.

- Team, let's go!
- Feed Kareem in the post.

Ain't the Magic man.

I feels the flow.

Who be hot. Who need a
shot. Where the mismatch.

I feeds off my teammates
and they feeds off of me!

Okay, so what do they say?

We scraping and scratching
to make it deal to deal.

And then you get
something like this?

I hate to say it, brother, but

gonna rub some
people the wrong way.

f*ck them! Jealous-a*s
m*therf*ckers,

just 'cause they ain't
got the contract I do!

Blame me for some sh*t
they'd love to have.

Wouldn't any one of 'em say
no, Buss brought it to 'em.

- Come on, Earvin!
- Push up! Let's do it!

Y'all just don't get it, man.

We just don't get it?

Then I guess you the
only one that do.

Just wanted a home, Cook.

Now I'm stuck.

- You could talk to Dr. Buss.
- I do that,

I'm boss man's boy,
just how they say I is.

Okay.

You can't have the money, the
power, and the love, Earvin.

I'm supposed to be gettin'
that love from you.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

Just figured I'd try
and see where we was at.

- How's our boy, Virginia?
- Virgil!

Another monster for
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

29 points, 13 boards
for the big fella.

But he's the only one.

Magic Johnson still looking
lost in Westhead's offense.

Gone is the boyish
enthusiasm of yesteryear,

replaced by a petulant
scowl as his Lakers fall,

and, boy, do they fall hard.

- Good game, Cap.
- That's not what the final score said.

I'm tellin' you, this
System sh*t ain't working.

You out there k*lling yourself
and we still losing by 26?

It might help me if other
people played their roles.

You think I ain't trying?

Out there running the same way,

moving to the same spots.

Ain't how we won the whole damn
thing with McKinney, remember?

Of course, I remember.

And I also remember
you telling me

that this team could benefit
if I just humbled myself.

Yeah. Shrunk the
ego a little bit.

Perhaps it's time you
took the same advice.

I thought you quit.

Wish I could.

Okay. Would you take it easy?

I'm gonna go talk to him, okay?

'Cause that'll work wonders.

I'm sorry. What?

Nothing.

You don't talk,
Paul. You belittle.

Oh, my God. This again, Pat?

You see? You're doing
it to me, right now.

You're doing it.

Listen, man. We're
at two and four.

It ain't gettin' better.

It's gettin' worse.

Alright, so you want
a compromise from him?

How about you meet
the guy halfway?

- Let him improvise a little.
- No, goddammit, Pat.

- It's not The System.
- Let him get a f*cking rhythm.

It's not The System.

I understand that
you don't get it

but if you compromise
any aspect of The System,

then The System is compromised.

It requires a total buy-in.

That means you, too!

Look, this ship only has
one captain, and that's me!

I understand, yes, Kareem
is also called Captain,

but that's a nickname.

You understand what I'm trying
to say? I'm the f*cking boss.

I am in charge, not
Magic f*cking Johnson...

Finish.

Just let him stew. Okay?

- Good job, Paul.
- Shut up, Pat.

Just for a f*cking second.

- Cooper!
- Yeah.

You're right there. Okay.

Go tell Magic that if he's not
on this bus in five minutes,

- that he can catch a cab home.
- Me?

Yes, you! Unless you
wanna catch one yourself.

- Yes. You.
- Goddammit...

Really?

Ooh, short and sweet

No sense in dragging
on past our needs

Let's don't keep it hanging on

Earvin!

We are two and f*ck' four!

Come on, boss. I gotta
spell this out for you?

Westhead's lost
control of the team.

- The guys don't respect him.
- It's been six games.

That's five f*ck' more
than I needed to see!

Jerry.

Well, I talked to him and he
told me it's a numbers game!

A proven fact, quicker
offense means more makes.

It's not f*ck' algebra,
man. It's f*ck' ball!

He's got Magic so mixed up,

he wouldn't get on the
g*dd*mn bus in San Antonio!

You gotta help us out here, Doc.

Okay, now we built this
f*ck' team to win.

- Okay?
- Alright, I'll talk to him again.

- There's no talking to him.
- No!

Just let us shake the
tree, see who falls out.

Yeah. Just have a f*ck'
little, little rustle around.

Who the f*ck is gonna fall
out of a tree, Bill? A coach?

No! No! We're not changing
f*cking coaches again mid-season!

Absolutely not, Bill!

Johnson's a f*ck'
winner, okay?

And hell, Westhead,
even he got lucky.

But things change!

Don't make good decisions bad ones,
because your pride got mixed up in it.

My pride?

My pride has got jack
sh*t to do with that.

I'm all in because that's what you do
when you believe you have a winner!

And that's what I've done with
this team! I believe in it!

Six games in, firing the coach
is a bad idea, for the record.

Can you imagine if
the press even...

The press even hears one
f*cking word about this,

and we're toast.

Alright. They won't.

Westhead has no answer.

If I'm Buss, I'd pull the plug.

All I know is they're not
playing Laker basketball.

Where's the
razzle-dazzle? The pop?

Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na

Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na

Ba-doo

Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na...

So then I said to him,

"If it must be done,
best it be done quickly."

I swear to God, with a
straight face, he says,

"So throw it to Kareem?"

Big f*ck! Gonna
throw it to Kareem!

sh*t. What happened?

- Did you get in a car crash?
- No.

Ah, f*ck!

It's this f*ck' stress.

He refuses to listen. He
doesn't f*cking listen to me.

Won't change or do
anything f*cking different!

It's nothing.

You get a chance to look at
those adjustments I suggested?

Uh, no. I have not.

Get a job, sha-na-na-na

I think you're sitting on 'em.

Okay.

Mike?

Sure thing, boss.

- Mike.
- Pat.

- It's a tweak.
- It's a retreat, Pat.

You're gonna get us fired, Paul.

- I have authority from Buss.
- You have authority?

Yeah, he gave Jack a
four-year deal, pal.

It's words. If we keep
losing, we're kaput!

I don't care!

I don't care.

Do you have any idea how many
times I've been counted out?

Huh?

I sat the bench in college.

Ramsey only kept me on the team
'cause he needed a towel boy.

Jack only hired me here because
he needed somebody pliable,

"a dilettante."

I know. I know.

I lucked my way to where I'm at.

'Cause West quit.

'Cause Tark's friend got
stuffed into a trunk.

'Cause Jack crashed a bicycle.

'Cause I found you.

And yet, somehow

somehow

I won a championship.

So I will be goddamned

if I'm gonna throw that away
playing somebody else's game!

If I am going to go down,
I will go down my way!

You're just not leaving
us a way out, Paul.

- If things keep going south...
- Do you know what Cortez did

when he made landfall
in the New World?

You know what he did?

He saw the Aztec empire ahead.

All its riches, all
its gold, and its army.

A hundred times his own.
You know what he did?

- I know we speak English.
- He burned the ships.

All of them. His own.

The entire fleet. Torched it.

So that his men
only had one option.

To forge ahead and conquer.

Laker fans love to see it.

After a rocky start
to the season,

three quick wins for
the purple and gold.

Excuse me! Coach
Westhead has arrived!

h*! h*! h*!

We got a ways to go, but that's
the good thing about The System.

You can plug anybody in.

He'll pick up on the nuances.

Tonto, jump on it,
jump on it, jump on it

Kemosabe, jump on...

Earvin! There he is!

- Dr. Buss.
- I hope you brought your appetite.

We ordered in. Come on.

- I want you to meet Honey.
- Yeah.

- Can we talk for a minute?
- Yeah.

Been sittin' on this
thing for a while now.

Oh, is this about the
contract details getting out?

That wasn't me. And there's
gonna be hell to pay,

so don't sweat it,
though. Don't sweat it.

Nah, nah, nah. Ain't that.

It's the way we been playing.

Ah.

Well, that's not really
my bailiwick, you know?

But you got eyes.

You can see that it ain't
been goin' right, right?

Well, yeah, tough start.

But, you know, these
things take time, so.

Coach telling us exactly where
to go like we don't know.

He the one don't know!

He ain't never played the game.

That's why we dropping games
that we should be winning,

squeaking by teams that
we should be blowing out!

It ain't showtime no more.

So have you talked
to Coach about this?

- I tried!
- And?

He wanna do it his way.

I see. Well...

Look, Dr. Buss,

I ain't trying to tell
nobody how to do their job

but you paying me
a lot of money,

and we been trying to
make this thing like...

Earvin. Earvin.

You know I want you
to be happy, right?

Do you trust me?

Of course. That's why I'm here.

Because, you know, we partners.

Yeah. That's
exactly what we are.

In the grand scheme of things.

But, Earvin, Paul's
a partner, too.

Look, I pay you a
lot of money to play.

I pay him a lot to coach,

and I don't tell either one
of you how to do what you do.

Well, Dr. Buss, I ain't
trying to tell you what to do,

or him what to do. I ain't
trying to be a coach.

I just wanna play...

I think the smart
thing to do right now,

is just let this ride
out a little bit.

And let's just ride this thing
out for a second, alright?

We'll reevaluate
in a couple months.

But you and I'll keep talking.

We'll keep comparing notes.

I wanna hear what you have
to say about it at all times.

- Setsuo!
- Your guests are here.

Grab 'em some
champagne, will you?

And in the meantime, I
told you we ordered in.

Some of Honey's
friends are in town

and they happen
to be Raiderettes.

- Ladies!
- Hey.

Welcome to Pickfair!

Jean-bean?

I got big news, kiddo.

- Oh, yeah?
- Me and Honey are gonna tie the knot

and I need you to help me pick
out the most beautiful ring.

So, sweetie, let's go shopping.

Wait.

I'm sorry. So you're
really gonna...

You're really gonna do it?

Huh? Yeah, of course.

f*ck, Dad.

Jeanie, you know I'm doing
this for the family, too.

Making it real. We're growing.

You know, it's another
one in the nest.

Hey. What...

What's going on with you?

- I just want you to be happy.
- Okay.

So I come down to give
my little girl a kiss

- and this is how you're gonna be.
- What? What?

Alright. Forget it.

Forget it.

Listen, the next time, why
don't you hold up a sign

so I know you woke up on
the wrong side of the bed

'cause I don't need
this crap, Jeanie.

- Hey, Coach.
- Good to see ya.

Hey!

Come see us at The Forum!

Jack!

Coach.

- Good to see you.
- You, too.

You look great. Really.

Oh, no. You found
my fancy mug shot.

Hey, could somebody bring me a pen
so I can sign this for Jack's kids?

Just joking.

- Some place, though, huh?
- I see why you like it.

So, what's good
here? Onion strings?

Burgers, ribs.
Everything is fantastic.

Well, you're buying.

Million Dollar Man.

Hey. I learned from the best.

You didn't learn that
song and dance from me.

The System's just doing
what it's meant to.

Not that crap.

You. I'm proud of you.

You're doing what I never could.

The Hollywood thing?
You fit right in.

All I ever thought
about was basketball.

Look where that got me.

- Coach of the Year, right?
- Miss Congeniality.

But, hey, this c*ck
scheme of yours.

A few more articles like
this, it could be you.

Except you got me
on your schedule.

It's the matchup I've
had circled, Jack.

You and me both. Let me
tell you what I'm gonna do.

You got a flair for the dramatic,
so I think you'll appreciate this.

I'm gonna expose you.

Not all at once.

Halfway tonight, and the rest

the second time I see
you back in Indiana.

Well, I think I'm gonna
get the shoestring potatoes

and the chicken wings.

Hot wings we call roosters.
You want some chicken wings?

Wanna split some
chicken wings with me?

Hang back with me. Hang
back with me a second.

What's up, Riles?

You tell me.

Hm? What's it gonna take?

To get you to buy in.

Man, I'm bringin'
it every night.

That's bullshit.

I see everybody
else bringing it.

I see you out there, just
going through the motions.

Got your lip poked out

like some kid picked
last on the playground.

Running to my spot.

Yeah.

What else you want?

What do I want? I want you to be the
star that they're paying you to be.

- A star?
- Uh-huh.

How I'm supposed to be a star

when you won't let me
do what made me a star?

Larry Bird a star.
Iceman a Star.

- Mm-hmm.
- Dr. J!

Ain't nobody telling them
to run to no f*cking spots!

- They lettin' them be them!
- Yeah, it's frustrating.

- Yeah!
- For all of us!

You don't think they got
their sh*t to deal with?

Huh, big man?

You think you're the only one?

Hey, it can't be your
way or the highway.

Just leave me the f*ck alone.

Listen to me.

I'm trying to get
through to you, man!

You're a basketball savant,

but until you put your
f*ck' heart into this thing,

you have no idea if
this is gonna work.

Paul?

Paul?

Paul. We all set with...

- Yeah. That looks great. Thanks, Mike.
- Alright.

Good to see you.

You guys are playing
some good ball.

Thank you. Thank you.

- Somehow. Hey! How are you?
- Coach. Hey!

Coach?

Am I getting minutes tonight?

- What?
- I haven't touched the court.

- I know, Kurt. We'll see.
- Am I gonna play this season?

Go get a rebound, please.

How's the wife?

- Good to see you. Alright, Cap.
- See ya, Coach.

I am, are you?

Yep.

The birds and the bees, man!

And here we go. Second
overtime, four seconds to go,

and this one has been
tooth and nail, Keith.

His underdogs refusing
to die as Coach McKinney

uses his old protege's
quick-shot system against him,

putting up the Pacers' best
offensive night of the season.

And now, he has the ball
and a chance to win.

- Westhead is out of timeouts.
- And here we go.

Alright. Davis to inbound.

Searching. Where's it gonna go?

Magic, double team!
He's going to Herb!

- Stay on him.
- I'm open! I'm open!

Davis with the fake,
and Magic fights.

Owens left wide open on the way.

Oh, sh*t!

Lakers scrambling.

- Go down! Stay down!
- f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck.

Owens with the lob for the win.

No good! Off
Williams' fingertips

and these Lakers just barely
manage to survive this one.

And I'll tell you, Paul Westhead
is gonna need the jaws of life

to unclench himself tonight,

but, well, a win's a win, folks,
and that is four in a row.

Good instinct. f*ck 'em.

Alright, guys. Good game.

Yes!

McKinney's still the
reigning coach of the year

but the way you guys been grooving,
you think this next one could be you?

Magic! Nice win.

I guess you're finally
getting the hang

- of the new offense, huh?
- Yeah, I guess so.

Love sensation

Oh

Love sensation

Oh, sensation

Love sensation

You got me burnin' up
with your love sensation

Hi!

Now, we're talking!

- What did I tell you?
- Oh, yeah, yeah. You told me.

- You sure did.
- You heard it here first!

- Never fold a winner!
- Yeah. I'm glad we held off.

Yeah, well, patience
is a virtue, huh?

Go on and get yourself
a drink on me.

I wanna see you cut the rug! I
wanna see that victory dance!

- Alright, boss.
- Smile, Bill! We won!

Huh? Oh, don't f*ck' tell
me he thought that was a win.

It was. Can't argue
with the scoreboard.

Sure we f*ck' can, Bill!
That's what we f*ck' do!

Yeah, well, knock yourself
out. I need a drink.

Love sensation

I prefer it when the
emperor has no clothes.

Well, that can be arranged.

Love sensation

- Proud of you.
- What do you wanna do?

Wanna blow this
joint and get naked?

Sweet sensation

I can't find the
words to explain

You're such a hot temptation

You just walk right
in and take me away

And all I wanna say is

- Don't leave me hanging, Buss.
- Let's see what you got.

Can't you see that
I love nobody else?

I love nobody else

Can't you see that
I love nobody else?

I love nobody

And time won't take my...

Love...

Away...

Oh h*! Time won't

Alright, so help me
pick out a good one.

Make your father an honest man.

What do you think?

Well, I don't
wanna say. You say.

Anything jumping out at
you? Oh, yeah. That one.

Oh, yeah. I like the gold.
It's like Lakers gold on there.

How many carats is that?

Third win in a row for
the streaking Lakers.

Quick shots,
effective rebounding,

and a notch in the win column.

And they're still paying
Magic all them millions

but they shouldn't be.

No sign of any fancy passing.

No more show.

Might as well be any other
b*tch-a*s point guard in the league.

Watch the pick!

Damn it! Time out! Time out!

- Hey. You alright? You alright?
- I'm good.

sh*t!

Earvin! Earvin! What
the hell is that?

It's the same g*dd*mn play
he beat you on last season.

- That's his man!
- Do not blame him!

- You stick with your own man!
- Tell him that!

Do not blame him! Stick
with your own man!

Mitch! Good job.
Fine work out there.

- He's doing a great job.
- Great job, Mitch?

Where are you going?

- Where the hell do you think you're...
- Draw up the play, Paul.

- Come on.
- Okay.

Time out to discuss the
miscommunication on defense

between Magic and
Kupchak. Lakers lead...

Huddle up! Huddle up.

- Earvin, would you get in here?
- Man, I am here!

Back from break at the Salt
Palace and things have escalated.

Magic Johnson refusing
to join his team.

Get your a*s into this huddle.

I am here!

Magic! Nice disappearing act!

- Disappear this!
- You're a bum!

- And you live in Utah!
- Paul, come on.

Earvin! Would you leave those people
alone and get your a*s over here?

Man, I said I'm listening.

To hell you are.

Earvin, get your
a*s into my huddle,

or take your a*s back
to the locker room.

- Paul, come on.
- Can you not touch me, please?

Come on, Buck.

We can't repeat what we
just heard courtside,

just say the fans
aren't giving...

You're gonna walk away
when your team needs you?

Get back here now!

Earvin, get back here!

Lansing hero...

Get back here!

Okay.

A basketball team
is like a family.

- Oh, my, folks, the most...
- little b*tch...

25 million for 25...

And the Lakers dodge
another b*llet, Keith,

pulling out a road win by
a paltry single possession.

And I'll tell you, my friend,
this one was not pretty.

The System's unstoppable.

Come on. Look at us.

- I have to go take care of this right now.
- Paul.

- Paul!
- What, Pat?

Nothing.

Nothing.

Good.

Earvin!

Earvin!

Earvin! Earvin,
I'd like to talk...

- Get the f*ck off me! f*ck off!
- In here, please.

Coach, are you losing
control of the team?

I'm sorry, I can't...

Do not ever do that to me again.

You humiliated
yourself out there.

You disrespected me.

You disrespected your
teammates. I will not have it.

That's it?

I'm tired of your crap.

I am sick and tired of
your horseshit attitude.

And if it happens again, you will
be sitting on the f*cking bench!

Next to me!

Might as well.

Excuse me?

You ain't using me right no
how. Might as well sit me down.

If you sit, it
will be my choice.

If you play, it
will be my choice.

Not yours.

Do you understand?

You done?

Sure.

Paul, what happened with Magic?

We had a productive
conversation.

- What about?
- That's not...

It's not for public consumption.

You two seemed very steamed
out there. Is everything okay?

The almond tree bears
its fruit in silence.

- What did he say?
- Don't know.

Who are you quoting?

Me. That's a Paul
Westhead original.

I feel like we're going around
in circles here, gentlemen,

so that's my time.

We're going around in
circles here, gentlemen!

Hey, guys, we got, like,
one or two press incoming.

It wasn't pretty, but was
another notch in the win column.

- Can you tell us what happened?
- How'd it go with Westhead?

Are you and Coach finally
seeing eye-to-eye?

Do you have a comment, Magic?

Something?

Something the matter?

Any comment?

Ain't nothing
towards the fellas.

I love my teammates.

I love everybody,
but I ain't happy.

I...

I'm showing up,

playing hard as I can.

But I ain't having no fun.

I gotta go.

Gonna go in the morning,

talk to the man, the
Buss, see what he can do.

- What's that mean, Magic?
- About what?

Yeah, what would you say to him?

I wanna be traded.