Posted by:
gwoelfel on
February 8, 2008 at
7:14PM CST
BY GERY WOELFEL
Can you imagine how Bobby Knight would have reacted if one of his basketball players over the years had told him he was "tired’’ or that things were maybe getting to be a little too "tough’’ for him to handle and, heaven forbid, that he was quitting?
God only knows what Knight would have done to them. You can safely assume Mount Knight would have erupted and spewed out voluminous amounts of venom.
So it was ironic that Knight, in a television interview, said he resigned at Texas Tech to make the transition for his son, Pat, to replace him more seamless and because "I was kind of tired.’’ Knight then added, "This has been a tough season.’’
So, instead of showing resolve and showing commitment, like Knight always demanded of his players, Knight flat out quit. And he quit in the middle of the season.
Knight couldn’t have waited until after the season and exhibited some honor and loyalty to the Red Raiders program and especially to his players, many of whom probably attended Texas Tech to play for him?
But Knight has always been about himself. He always wants it his way and, when that doesn’t occur, he pouts and becomes a condescending bully.
He has bullied players, he has bullied officials, he has bullied the media and he has bullied virtually anyone else who doesn’t conform to his wishes.
Yet, because Knight has been a highly-successful coach, his supporters over the years have tolerated and even accepted his boorish behavior, conventiently ignoring his numerous transgressions. And they’ll probably continue to do so.
That’s because Knight has made it abundantly clear he has resigned, and not retired, from coaching. He still longs to coach, and you can go to the bank some desperate and misguided university president will grant him that opportunity.
And that’s a shame, for while Knight is the winningest coach in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history, he is one of the all-time classless coaches as well.
Posted by: brewpackman on February 8, 2008 7:36PM CST
BRAVO....(STANDING AND APPLAUDING) Finally something I can get with you on, Gery. Bobby Knight has become famous as a basketball coach first and a world class jerk a very close second. When the coach of one of the most storied basketball programs in history, in a post game press conference, says to a room full of reporters...."When I die I want to be buried face down, so you can all kiss my ass" somebody at that supposed institute of higher learning should have walked into his office the next day and canned his sorry behind. Yet there are many of these stories about coach Knight and it is a disgrace how people just look the other way because his teams won so frequently . How somebody could send their kid to play for this sad excuse of a human being is beyond me.
Gery - agree with many of your comments, but you still need to give Knight props for a few things -
1. His kids always graduated and he always supported his players after graduation. Landon Turner is a good example. Breaks his neck in an auto accident. Knight arranged medical support, housing and employment. He is loyal. 2. He was never on NCAA probation - he did not break the rules. 3. Even though his coaching methods often times were questionable, he won and he won often, without cutting corners. 4. He probably had less talent than other teams when he was Indiana, but he won because his players played within a successful system. Willie Wood, Green Bay Packer legend, once told me that there were more talented teams in the NFL in the 1960's, but there was no beter TEAM than the Packers. Same thing can be said for some of the teams Knight coached. 5. He coached a team of stars and won an Olympic gold medal. 6. His peers such as Coach K and Coach Wooden all paid him props when he announced his departure. There is no better accolade than to be recognized by your peers.
I heard him present a motivational speech to a sales organization. He spoke for 90 minutes - no notes. I have never heard a better speech or speaker. At the end of the speech, if he had told us to stand, turn to our right and run into the wall, everyone in the room would have done it! He was phenomenal.
Did he leave the wrong way? Yes, that was disappointing. But did he leave HIS way? Yes, and that was true to form.
Lastly - thanks for the good article about something other than the Yucks! :-)
Well considering Bobby Knight is pushing 68 I think it's ok that he is "kind of tired". And last time I looked none of Knights players are Senior Citizens, so I highly doubt any of them would come to Knight and tell him they are tired. What's your point? He's an old guy.
Posted by: jackbenibble on February 10, 2008 11:23PM CST
I'll take Coach Knight on my team any day! He'll be back again. Sorry to see him go.
Posted by: forracine on February 11, 2008 8:43AM CST
brewpackerman Your story was true ,but when/where is false. It was at the session ending floor speech this event happened. I graduated from IU before BK was coach. He was blunt gross at times. My favorite quote by BK.."weall learned to write by the 2nd grade...most of us went on to more meaniful pursuits" I think BK might have been talking about author on this blog.
Gery perhaps you can cover something that people actually care about in Wisconsin, after all you are reporting in the Racine Wisconsin newspaper aren't you? http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/PKR07/802160494/1989
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