Terrence Cook

Life isn't easy for the former Sharks champion. Charming but weak-willed, he succumbs to a gambling addiction and becomes indebted to shady people, who force him to throw an important game. His team never really makes it again after that, and though his scam has erased some of his debts, it also has rendered him vulnerable to blackmail from often rather surprising sources. One of them is one-night stand Leslie Dumass, a Neptune High journalism teacher, who wants to regain Terrence's love — or at least make lots of money on him by writing a tell-all.

Fortunately for him, she is one of the victims in the tragic bus crash that rattles Neptune — or rather, unfortunately, since their tumultous relationship doesn't stay secret for long and Terrence soon becomes the prime suspect for the dastardly deed. His generally suspicious behavior doesn't help matters, especially after incriminating evidence is found in the hangar he uses to store his cars. Keith Mars, a long-time fan, does what he can to help his idol, but he can't prevent that a warrant is issued for Terrence's arrest. In a desperate attempt to at least destroy Leslie's scandalous manuscript Terrence gets shot and has to be hospitalized, which at least gives him ample time to spend with his formerly estranged daughter. Even though Jackie is the result of a one-night stand with a Brooklyn waitress, Terrence tries hard to be the father she needs.

Unfortunately, his biggest secret was leaked to the press, taking away any chance for him to stay a hero in anyone but Jackie's eyes. After Leonard Lobo comes forward to a friendly judge with testimony that Terrence couldn't have made any calls at the time of the crash, Terrence is finally released from the hospital. However, the consequence of Lobo's "help" means that Terrence will basically be his indentured servant for the next decade. This puts him in such a bad mood that he pushes Jackie away, encouraging her to leave early for the Sorbonne. Jackie's real plans involved returning to Brooklyn to be with her two-year-old son, so perhaps Terrence can become both the grandfather and father he's never had a chance to be.