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Howard played Ken Reeves, an NBA journeyman turned Carver High coach on the old-school TV drama The White Shadow, now available on DVD.
TSN: You played college ball at Amherst. How did your career as a player influence the show?
HOWARD: I also played at Manhasset High on Long Island for a wonderful coach named Fritz Mueller. My nickname was "White Shadow." My senior year, I was the only white guy starting. Our colors were orange and blue, like Carver High. There were two brothers named Thorpe and a guy named Jackson who were my teammates. There were guys named Thorpe and Jackson on the show. And, as Ken Reeves, I dressed a lot like Fritz Mueller did.
TSN: Do players and coaches recognize you today, nearly 25 years later?
HOWARD: It happens at events or charity golf outings. Coaches, especially, are so sweet. Coach K, Bobby Cremins, Tommy Heinsohn, they all call me Coach. So, it's, "Hey, Coach, come here and meet this guy." I have somehow become welcome in that world.
TSN: So, I have to know, could Coolidge really dunk?
HOWARD: Oh, yeah. He's 6-8 1/2. They had to lower the basket for me to dunk, but the actor who played Coolidge, ...