Saltzman Sees...Rebound (1996)

Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault is a true story of the greatest basketball player nobody got to see play.  Manigault, played by Don Cheadle, became legendary for his play at Rucker Park in New York.  However, he became a drug addict and wasn't ever able to pursue any dreams of playing basketball professionally.  It is a tragic look at the young life of "The Goat" but in the end it is the story of redemption and recovery.  James Earl Jones, Forrest Whitaker and Loretta Devine are all terrific in Eriq La Salle's directorial debut for HBO.

Eriq La Salle won my Best Director of 1996.

The TV Movie did not win any awards.  It is not even the most well-known movie named Rebound, ever since Martin Lawrence came out with a comedy of the same name in 2005.

Saltzman Sees...Lean on Me (1989)

Lean on Me stars Morgan Freeman as a dedicated but tyrannical principal named Joe Clark who is in charge of a decaying inner-city school that he is determined to improve.  Freeman is fantastic and shows that discipline doesn't mean someone can't care deeply as well.  Lean on Me is a terrific movie every student should see.

It only grossed $31 million at the box office, and was not nominated for any awards.  It is the Most Underrated Movie of 1989.

Mr. Clark, the principal at Eastside, is my Teacher of the Year.