Directed by David Platt
Written by Elle Johnson & Richard Sweren
Green and Fontana investigate the murder of Ira Walderman, who initially appears to have been killed over a dispute with his landlord. It emerges that the victim was engaged in a harassment campaign against basketball player Silas Inwood, including suing him over an alleged physical assault. The case is initially thrown out on a technicality due to improperly obtained fingerprint evidence. But when Borgia and McCoy learn that Walderman was actively stalking Inwood, Inwood confesses to the murder. He claims self-defence and says Walderman attacked him with a knife.
Numerous witnesses testify to Inwood's temper and history of violent behavior, but confirm that he'd been stalked for months by Walderman, who wanted to "help" his favorite team by destroying the career of their rivals' star player. Inwood says he didn't mean to kill Walderman and was just trying to restrain him. McCoy argues that it was deliberate murder, because Walderman had approached and threatened Inwood's young son at a public event. The jury is asked to compare the defendant with a court official of similar size and weight as the victim; McCoy does not believe Inwood would ever feel physically threatened by Walderman. Inwood is convicted, and the press reports that his basketball team is now trying to distance itself from him. Branch reflects that none of this need ever have happened if the team management had forced Inwood to address his anger issues.
This episode contains examples of:
- Asshole Victim: Walderman
- "Friends" Rent Control: Walderman was paying $700 a month for a 2-bed, 2-bath apartment in New York City. His landlord explains that he inherited a rent-controlled apartment.
- Game-Breaking Injury: It's mentioned that Inwood's agent used to be a player himself until he suffered one of these.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Inwood has one.
- Loners Are Freaks: Walderman was very reclusive, possibly contributing to his obsession with basketball.
- Loony Fan: Walderman was so obsessed with his favorite basketball team that he tried to help them by forcing out their main rival's star player.
- Manchild: Inwood's former coach describes him as this.
- Papa Wolf: McCoy speculates that Walderman was killed because he'd threatened Inwood's son.
- Ripped from the Headlines: Based on real-life events surrounding a fight that broke out at an Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game in 2004.
- Self-Defense Ruse: Inwood claims that killing Walderman was self defense. McCoy shows the impossibility of this by having Inwood stand next to a man with the approximate same height and weight as Walderman.
- Title Drop: Given by a witness who states Walderman considered himself the sixth member of his favorite team.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Walderman sued claiming that Inwood had physically attacked him during a brawl that broke out at a game. Video and medical evidence is inconclusive as to whether this really happened, and it's highly likely Walderman was lying.
