The Best Episodes of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel

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   #1 - Episode 1 - The Uncivil War; Rodman; The American Singapore

   S1:E14/2/1995

   A report on the baseball strike; a profile of the NBA's Dennis Rodman; a behind-the-scenes look at Augusta National and The Masters. Also: Billy Crystal discusses sports memorabilia in an "Extra Point" segment.

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   #2 - Episode 2 - Nails; Agents of Fortune; Playing with Pain

   S1:E27/30/1995

   Segments on the second edition of the series include a profile of the Phillies' Lenny Dykstra; a report on player agents; and a look at injury problems in the NFL. Also: a tribute to Howard Cosell.

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   #3 - Episode 3 - Broken Promises; The Cowboy; Nike World

   S1:E310/31/1995

   The third edition of the sports magazine includes a profile of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones; a report on the recruitment of college athletes; and a look at Nike, Inc. and its impact on various sports.

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   #4 - Episode 4 - Coach; The Longest Season; The Money Trail

   S1:E412/26/1995

   Segments on this edition of the sports magazine: a profile of Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson, produced, written and directed by filmmaker Spike Lee; an interview with Seattle Seahawks Brian Blades, charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of his cousin; and a report on "runners" who funnel money from sports agents to college athletes. Also: a look at the year's most memorable sports moments.

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   #5 - Episode 5 - Hakeem Olajuwon; 1966 Texas Western; Women's College Basketball

   S2:E13/11/1996

   Segments include a profile of the NBA's Hakeem Olajuwon by Frank DeFord; a look at the 1966 NCAA basketball championship won by Texas Western---the first all-black team to do so---over an all-white Kentucky squad; and a report on women's college basketball by Jim Lampley.

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   #6 - Episode 6 - Lawrence Phillips; Open Wheel Racing Feud

   S2:E25/20/1996

   Segments include an interview with Lawrence Phillips, the controversial Nebraska back drafted by the St. Louis Rams; a look at the feud between the the new Indy Racing League and the established Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), and its impact on the Indianapolis 500; and a report on risks in boxing. James Brown, Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant report.

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   #7 - Episode 7 - The Olympic Show

   S2:E37/15/1996

   Segments on the Olympics include a profile of IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch; a look at U.S. weightlifter Mark Henry; visits with Olympic champions Mark Spitz and Bruce Jenner; and a report on the sponsorship of the U.S. decathlon team.

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   #8 - Episode 8 - Albert Belle; NFL Drug Testing

   S2:E49/10/1996

   Filmmaker Spike Lee's profile of Albert Belle is featured. The Cleveland outfielder is one of baseball's top hitters, but has been suspended five times in his turbulent career. Interviewed are Belle, his manager, Mike Hargrove, and teammate Kenny Lofton. Also: a report on the NFL's substance-abuse policy, reported by Jim Lampley.

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   #9 - Episode 9 - Shaquille O'Neal; Packers

   S2:E511/12/1996

   Segments include a look at the Los Angeles Lakers offseason signing of Shaquille O'Neal. Also: a visit with shareholders of the publicly-owned Green Bay Packers; and a report on a high-school football player afflicted with Down's syndrome.

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    #10 - Episode 10 - Steffi Graf; Russian Boxer; Super Bowl Ads

    S3:E11/13/1997

    Segments include: the financial turmoil of Steffi Graf and her father, Peter; the disappearance of boxer Sergei Kobozev; and Super Bowl commercials. Also: a visit with the NHL's Florida Panthers.

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    #11 - Episode 11 - Curt Flood; Tim Duncan; Women's Boxing

    S3:E23/10/1997

    Filmmaker Spike Lee offers a profile of Curt Flood, the former St. Louis Cardinal who started baseball on the road to free agency. Also: a visit with Wake Forest All-American Tim Duncan; and a report on women's boxing. Correspondents include Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant.

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    #12 - Episode 12 - Alan Eagleson; Charles Barkley

    S3:E35/12/1997

    Segments include a report on indictments facing former NHL Players Association president Alan Eagleson; a profile of the NBA's Charles Barkley; and a look at the vacancy in baseball's commissioner's office, and its effect on the game. Correspondents include Frank Deford and Mary Carillo.

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    #13 - Episode 13 - Ticket Brokers; Womens Basketball; Colorado Rockies

    S3:E47/28/1997

    Included: a report on ticket scalping; a look at the ABL and WNBA, the competing women's pro basketball leagues; and a segment on baseball's Colorado Rockies.

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    #14 - Episode 14 - Sports Handicappers; Golf Discrimination

    S3:E59/23/1997

    Included: a report on sports handicappers; a look at discrimination at country clubs; and a visit with Prairie View A&M's football team, which had lost 68 straight games prior to this season.

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    #15 - Episode 15 - Financial Mismanagement; Grant Hill

    S3:E611/18/1997

    Segments include reports on financial advisor John Gillette; NBA All-Star Grant Hill; and minority sports agents. Correspondents include Jim Lampley and Frank Deford.

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    #16 - Episode 16 - Sports Memorabilia; Disruptive Fans

    S4:E11/12/1998

    Included: a feature on the sports memorabilia business; profiles of former Dallas Cowboy Duane Thomas and Elizabeth O'Donnell, who teaches disabled people to skate; and a look at efforts to stop unruly fan behavior at stadiums. Correspondents include Jim Lampley and Mary Carillo.

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    #17 - Episode 17 - Point Shaving; Vladimir Konstantinov; Jeff Gordon

    S4:E23/16/1998

    Segments include a look at the 1994 Arizona State basketball point-shaving scandal; former Detroit Red Wings star Vladimir Konstantinov, who was injured in a June 1997 car crash; and a profile of NASCAR's Jeff Gordon.

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    #18 - Episode 18 - Jack Lalanne; Sports Radio

    S4:E35/19/1998

    Included: a profile of fitness expert Jack LaLanne; a report on sports-talk radio stations; a visit to the Arizona Diamondbacks' stadium; and a report on smokeless tobacco. Jim Lampley and Mary Carillo report.

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    #19 - Episode 19

    S4:E47/28/1998

    A look at efforts to remove baseball's lifetime ban on Pete Rose and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Also: a report on alleged steroid use by East German athletes in the 1970s; a profile of former boxing contender Tony Ayala; and a look at the post-racing fate of Thoroughbreds.

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    #20 - Episode 20 - John Madden; Baseball Pension

    S4:E59/15/1998

    Included: a profile of John Madden; a report on baseball's pension plan; Minnesota Vikings WR Randy Moss; and a look at former tennis star Andrea Jaeger and her work with children. Commentators include Mary Carillo, Jim Lampley and Frank Deford.

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21. 

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    #21 - Episode 21

    S4:E611/17/1998

    Included: a profile of golfer John Daly; a look back at the 1958 NFL Championship game between Baltimore and the New York Giants; a report on NCAA academic eligibility; and a look at extreme racing in Leadville, Colo. Frank Deford and Larry Merchant report.

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22. 

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    #22 - Episode 22

    S5:E11/25/1999

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23. 

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    #23 - Episode 23

    S5:E22/25/1999

    Included: the rivalry between the Fox network and Disney (owners of ABC and ESPN) in sports television; the recent Olympics scandal; the new NBA labor agreement; and Kentucky Wildcats coach Tubby Smith.

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    #24 - Episode 24

    S5:E33/22/1999

    A look at the UCLA-Houston basketball clash at the Astrodome in January 1968 that thrust the sport into the national spotlight. Also: a profile of Dick Vitale; and Major League Baseball's economic structure. Correspondents include James Brown and Larry Merchant.

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    #25 - Episode 25

    S5:E44/20/1999

    Included: a report on counterfeit golf equipment; an interview with NBA rookie Jason Williams; a look at the lack of racial diversity in NASCAR.

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