The Strike

"**The Strike**" is the seventh episode of *Hoops*.

## Plot

Coach Hopkins weaves a tangled web when he bets big against his rival. Opal worries — justifiably, it seems — that the school may be haunted.

## Summary

Hopkins visits the dentist, who tells him that he knows he can open wider, that he's been to his games. The dentist, Dr. Pinkman, says that Coach Chapman's boys romp him every year and a nurse comes in saying that there's a problem with Hopkins's insurance, he doesn't have any. Pinkman tells him that Janet is going to finish up because Hopkins can't afford him out of pocket. "She wants to be a dentist someday." Hopkins tells her she doesn't have it, but passes out from the gas Pinkman gave him.

Hopkins barges into Opal's office, complaining about teachers not having dental insurance and how he had to get a bargain basement job. He puts her off her lunch. She replies that she gets it, but it's not worth striking over. He asks who said anything about a strike and she tells him that the teachers are deciding whether or not to strike and it's making her anxious. She asks him to go to the union meeting and get some intel to nip the strike in the bud. She says she can't be stuck alone at a haunted school, that there's a ghost of Lenwood High School and if it's a student, he's going to kill the principal first.

Hopkins tells his team that the upcoming game is personal. They're playing Bridgeport High and the coach is Damian Chapman. They went to high school together, the star of the team and apple of his dad's eye. They have a yearly bet on the game and he's never won it. Over the years, the bets have been more creative, involving such things as Hopkins dressing as a baby. Hopkins says that he has Chapman right where he wants them, with Matty... and the rest of the team. At Barry Hopkins Steakhouse, Barry Hopkins and Chapman have a happy reunion, much to Ben Hopkins's disgust. Damian says he's gonna destroy his son's honor, then jet. He says it's time to figure out the year's bet. Hopkins tells him he's going to give him a break, while Barry Hopkins orders the best steak in the house for Damian. Hopkins gloats to Damian about having a seven-foot kid on his team and Damian replies that he just landed twins from the Sichuan Province. He asks if Hopkins has ever heard of it. He says he has *two* seven-foot players.

Hopkins returns to the team, saying that the second he saw Matty, he thought he could finally prove to his dad that he's a better son than Chapman. He came up with some plays, but all he actually has is a penis on a board. Isaac tells him he can't lose a game he doesn't play. Hopkins asks him to speak English and Isaac tells him there's no game if the teachers go on a strike. Hopkins agrees with Isaac, saying he can rile up the yahoos and start a strike. At the union meeting, an old lady tells the union that they're not going on strike, that it's not fair to the kids. Just then, Hopkins appears, asking who cares about the kids. He says they come and go and it's about their needs. Ron calls it a "different energy." The school board thinks they're weak, but they're not. He tells them all they believe in him. The leader asks if he's even in the union. Hopkins replies that he owns it. The leader asks if he's even paid his dues. He takes her clipboard, saying he's taking over. He asks who's with him and they all cheer. "Strike, strike, strike!" they chant.

Opal arrives outside the school where everyone is striking, and asks what happened to her favor. Hopkins tells her he did her a better favor: he told the strikers not to set fire to her car. She begs him not to strike, that she's going to be doing paperwork by herself in a haunted school. He tells her she's crazy and has to stop watching so many horror movies. He tells her to walk in like the bossy lady she is and she'll be fine. They then all shout out her for being a scab. At the restaurant, Barry Hopkins laments to Shannon about Hopkins not losing to Chapman. Shannon is surprised Ron didn't mention a strike to her. Barry suggests she's not supportive, asking if she really tries to be involved with the stuff he likes. She goes to him, asking why he didn't tell her about the strike and he brings up a good half a dozen times he *did* mention it. Hopkins meets with a man named Rance, who says he recognizes him from all the parental complaint hearings. He demands that Hopkins be ready to talk the finer points in detail and at this, Hopkins says that Ms. Henderson, the old lady, is coming too. He says he loses the points if they don't use the room at the Lenwood Inn & Suites. Even the Lenwood Colts are outside holding signs, until DJ says that the school is empty and they can do whatever they want in there. So they go in and start tearing things up and messing around, all set to a song number. They encounter Principal Opal, who is convinced she's seen the ghost of Lenwood High.

Hopkins tells Henderson that the difference between him and her is that he makes the strike look good. She tells him that she just got off the phone with Rance, who's agreed to their demands. He tells her that he hasn't agreed yet and this can't end until Sunday. She tells him that they got dental, class size and even a serious bump to their pensions. He demands that they're not done striking, but she reports to the other teachers that the board caved. Hopkins tells them it's only a first offer and he won't accept it, but when he tries to literally pee on the offer, nothing comes out. He is finally forced to give up and hang out with Kirk, who tells him that the Chin twins are out due to a car accident. Hopkins realizes that they can win this, but Kirk says there's no game because of the strike. Hopkins returns to the school board, saying he's there to accept all their terms. He returns with the contract, crumpled and it turns out he finally did manage to pee on. They tell him the contract is off the table. He asks who he has to blow to get it done. Meanwhile, Opal stalks the halls of the baseball bat, telling the "ghost" to end this. Matty appears, telling her to chill out. She says she nearly gave him a heart attack. She asks why he's there when school's closed and he says that it turns out he likes school, he just hates it when there's people. She asks why he's wearing a graduation gown, and he says he was cold and it was the only thing laying around, plus it's the only chance he might have to wear one. She talks about the various supernatural phenomenon in the school, but he says he has her. Barry Hopkins appears at the school, handing out food for the striking teachers.

Hopkins tells the striking teachers that they made a deal. When Lonnie asks what the deal is, he tries to brush it off, but then says he got them almost everything they had before the strike. Basically, he got them nothing. They all boo him, saying he sold them out and he flees the angry crowd. In the school, Opal finds herself face-to-face with a banging locker. Matty tells her he'll open it and they find Bryan inside. He's been trapped there by bullies for a week and Matty forgot till now. They hear more banging and Bryan hides inside the locker again. Matty tells Opal it's all her this time. Hopkins races inside the building and Opal hits him in the mouth with the bat. She knocks out his bad tooth. "Who needs dental when you have Opal?" he asks. In the flaming parking lot, Ron asks Shannon if their relationship is just a rebound for her. She tells him it isn't that Hopkins took a shot and missed. Barry says to DJ that he gives them three more weeks.

Hopkins tells his team that it's their time to shine, that Chapman's giants are dead. Matty asks what the bet is, and Hopkins replies that it's something that will be with Chapman for the rest of his life. Then, the Chin twins show up. Chapman explains that he planted the article, knowing that Hopkins would fall for it and end the strike. Hopkins calls him an evil genius, as Barry shouts that he really wishes Chapman was his son. DJ eats an old steak that Barry was saving and the game begins. It is, of course, a total wipeout and Hopkins is forced to have the lyrics to "All Star" tattooed on his back and butt.

## Cast and characters

Starring:

* Jake Johnson as Coach Ben Hopkins
* Ron Funches as Ron
* Cleo King as Principal Opal Lowry
* Natasha Leggero as Shannon
* A.D. Miles as Matty
* Rob Riggle as Barry Hopkins

Also Starring:

* James Adomian
* Steve Berg as DJ
* Eric Edelstein
* Max Greenfield as Lonnie Seymour
* Ben Hoffman as Timebomb
* Mary Holland
* Gil Ozeri as Isaac
* Sam Richardson as Marcus
* Damon Wayans Jr. as Damian Chapman

## Gallery

Isaac and BenBen, tattoo artist, and Damian ChapmanDamian Chapman and BenKirk and BenTeam
## Navigation

* 1.01 The Pilot
* 1.02 My Two Dads
* 1.03 Ethics
* 1.04 The Sponsor
* 1.05 Matty Gets a Girlfriend
* 1.06 Zen
* 1.07 **The Strike**
* 1.08 Death
* 1.09 The Road Game
* 1.10 The Scout

## External links

* The Strike on the Internet Movie Database

## References

1. ↑ "Netflix’s ‘Hoops’ Is Like a Quarter Pounder With Cheese Says Star Jake Johnson"