The Big Slide (Playhouse 90)

The Big Slide was an episode of the American television anthology series Playhouse 90 that aired on October 4, 1956. It was a live television drama based on the novel of the same name by Irving Shulman. The story focuses on the cutthroat world of professional basketball and the pressures faced by players, coaches, and team owners.

The episode starred John Ireland as Coach Pete Kramer, Keenan Wynn as the cynical and manipulative team owner Lew Marine, and Everett Sloane as Ben Stocker, a player battling personal demons. Other notable cast members included Diana Lynn and Ray Danton.

The Big Slide explored themes of corruption, ambition, and the exploitation of athletes. The narrative depicted the compromises and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals within the high-stakes environment of professional sports. While the original novel was praised for its realism, the Playhouse 90 adaptation received mixed reviews, with some critics finding the performances compelling but the pacing uneven. It remains a significant example of early live television drama and an early exploration of the darker side of American sports culture.