Last night's episode of CBS's "COSBY" featured one of
the show's characters, GRIFFIN VESEY, dreaming about a world
where school teachers, not athletes, are society's
celebrities. Vesey, nearing the end of his $25M contract,
must decide whether to remain at his high school in Queens,
NY, or take a better offer ($70M) to teach in Westchester,
NY. Vesey's travails are chronicled through the mock-
"Entertainment Tonight" show called, "Education Tonight,"
which is hosted by PHYLICIA RASHAD, who plays the character
RUTH LUCAS on "Cosby," and real-life husband AHMAD RASHAD.
Vesey, on the pressures of teaching: "Biology is a challenge,
but if I teach within myself, and I take it class by class,
I'll tell you one thing, there's going to be a victory for
education." Vesey, surrounded by all the trappings of a pro
athlete, consults with his agent, played by BILL COSBY.
Cosby tells Vesey, "Queens will only come up with $50
million." Vesey: "I don't want to hear that ... I not only
taught science, but also organized chaperoned dances and that
... safety patrol." Westchester's offer of $70M included a
percentage of all of Vesey's endorsements (the adidas
teachers' shoe for moving around the classroom). While
Vesey's decision is the talk of the nation, several sports
figures made cameos in which they expressed their frustration
with the amount of attention paid to "teachers." JERRY RICE:
"You know, I'm out there busting my butt every Sunday and
this guy is earning millions barely getting chalk dust on his
sleeve. I tell you, something is wrong with this country."
DOUG FLUTIE: "You know, people don't understand the
seriousness of the situation. If Griffin Vesey isn't happy,
he could jump to the Canadian school system. I've seen it
happen. Believe me, it's cold up there and the classrooms
are longer." GREG GUMBEL and PHIL SIMMS hosted the
"Crunchitos Class of the Week," a take off of the "NFL
Today," which detailed Vesey's classroom work (CBS, 11/17).
