| Yesterday Indiana University publicly admitted that
its basketball coach Bob Knight was a jerk, and his behavior was unacceptable.
Well, yeah. Everyone outside the state of Indiana has been saying that
in unison for years.
Indiana University sent down word that they are going to tolerate no more
from Knight -- that one more slip-up and he will be "terminated". My
question is why now after decades of this behavior is the ultimatum being
made? This is the man who is known not for being a winning coach, but
solely for pulling stunt like throwing chairs across the court in the middle
of games, and for pulling the US national team off the court during the PanAm
games.
This is a man known for using every swear word in the book on a regular
basis during public press conferences. This is a man who kicked his
own son in front of everyone during a game while he was on the bench. This
is the man who grabbed former player Neil Reed by the throat during a practice
-- a stunt that was caught on videotape. A stunt that surprised noone.
Where is the outrage? The howls? The public saying this in
unacceptable? It's not there because everyone in America who knows
anything about college basketball has known for years that Bob Knight is
a jerk, a creep, and that if he coached in Texas he'd probably already be
on death row for some of the things he's done.
For crying out loud, this is a man who shot a "friend" while on a hunting
trip this past year. He shot him! As in "with a gun"! And
we're supposed to believe it was an "accident' and not one of his temper
tantrums? What's the matter Bob, did your friend spook away a deer
you had your sights on and so you shot him instead?!
Indiana University claims this is the Last Chance Salloon for Knight.
Everyone outside of Indiana knows better. IU will certainly see
to it Knight will remain head coach until he retires, at which point will
probably find out Knight never changed his ways and continued abusing his
player, the media, and everyone and everything else he abuses so well.
This isn't so much a sports issue as it is an issue of sheer decency. WHY?
Why does Indiana put up with Knight? He's not the winner he was
once, and has coached mediocre teams at best over the last several years.
Blue-chip prospects have been transferring out of Indiana to other
schools left and right, wanting no part of Knight. So obviously players
have had enough. The media has long had enough of Knight. Other
coaches have had enough of Knight.
So why? Why does Indiana, an otherwise decent and respectable school,
put up with Knight and let him drag the University's name through the mud
every time he so much as breathes? Are they scared of him?
Intimidated? Come on, intimidated by a basketball coach. What
could Knight do to them? Are they literally terrified that he'll break
into their houses some night and strangle them individually?
Then again... this IS Bob Knight we're talking about, a man who has grabbed
more than one media member by the throat...
This is what Knight hath wrought upon himself. If the man is tormented
in the 8th Circle of Hell for eternity it might not be enough considering
all he has done... all the people he has hurt and insulted.... all the time
he has wasted every time he has opened his mouth... all the young men he
has abused and affected for life...
I agree with Rick Reiley of Sports Illustrated. We should all walk
up to Bobby Knight once and just punch him in the face for all the antics
he's pulled, all the people he's hurt, all the bad name he's given Indiana
University and college basketball in general. I'm sure plenty of people
would be glad to take a number and wait.
Weep not for Indiana University. They've had years to correct their
mistake in keeping Knight on, and they never flinched, never moved a muscle.
And now they are reaping that which they sowed. And folks...
it's not pretty.
As for Knight... well... when does Hoosier Hunting Season open again?
-- Rik A. Kyser |
