Bob Knight's Latest
 

After breaking the record today, Coach Knight received a number of trophies, one of which was presented by a commissioner of the Big 12. After receiving that trophy, here is part of the statement made by coach Knight:

"You know it's been a real pleasure to be in the Big 12......I have really enjoyed Big 12 Competition, the teams, the coaches, and actually, on occassion, I have enjoyed the officiating."

Love him or hate him, you gotta respect what he's done.

I was watching the game and I must admit that I was surprised to hear Dan Schulman make an intelligent comment about the rules. When the Texas Tech crowd was yelling for a travel at one point, Schulman said that the UM player did not have have control of the ball; thus it was not a travel. Wow!

As for Knight, I am ambilavent about his success. He is honest, he does not cheat, he is a great coach etc... Yet I cannot get past some of the comments and actions that he has done over the years. Would I want my son to play for him? I'm not sure.

Honestly, I don't. What difference does it make how many wins and losses you have when you are remembered for being a first-class jerk?

I agree with zman. Its like he goes miles out of his way just to be a hateful person.

There are athletes and coaches out there that you find yourself pulling for sometimes, not because you like that team necessarily but because you like what that person stands for and how he/she conducts himself/herself. BK isn't one of them, IMHO.

Nah. I have no respect for him. This "trophy" ceremony is a good example. Dean Smith had no such ceremony win he broke Rupp's record. Pat Summit had no such ceremony when she broke Smith's record.

Good article describing how most people feel.

Knight Has Record, Plus Tarnished Legacy

I would agree with this if we lived in a society that also called the guy who puts on a good public persona a jerk. Did anyone just think of coach K?

Also, you have to respect the fact that he has three championships with one NBA all-star while Dean Smith has two championships with 12 all-stars - and many more pro players than Knight.

I don't have a problem with people disliking outspoken people like Knight, Bonds and Barkley as long as they aren't gullable enough to think a lot of other sports figures aren't like them. There are two other super-popular sports figures that come to mind. One of them has skeletons flying out of the closet left and right and the other one is still keeping up the image.

I would rather deal with someone who I know is a jerk than someone who is trying to snowball me. And yes I'm from Indiana so my opinions are tainted. :D

I'm not from Iniana, I'm from Iowa. I was happy to see Knight leave the Hoosiers for selfish reasons. I do respect what he's done. Yeah, he's a hard-headed jerk, but he lays it all out on the table. I can appreciate brutal honesty. Would I want him babysitting my 6 year old daughter (or son)? Absolutely not. Would I want him coaching my 20 year old son? Yes.

Whether you think the man is a jerk is more about you than him. First of all he has never been a jerk to me. Secondly the people that say he is a jerk are often people in the media who comments about the same stupid stuff as we talk about when Billy Packer opens his mouth or many other commentators give an opinion about something they know nothing about. I think Bobby Knight is one of the few coaches that challenge the media and the media does everything to try to blow out of proportion things he does. For one most media people never played a single minute of college basketball or any sport in HS, but for some reason because they want an interview, all sports figures are supposed to help make their jobs easier by telling them something they already know by what they saw. I just watched a Michigan team stick up the Rose Bowl in person and I do not need Lloyd Carr to tell me what happen. I already saw what happen. But if you do not give an interview to the right reporter as a player or coach, I am a bad guy. Give me a break.

Peace

And if I recollect correctly, didn't you say you would be in Pasadena? How bad did it really smell?

I don't like Knight, because his misbehavior (which seems to be great entertainment) sets such a bad example for the 99% of coaches who will never coach in the pros or college.

JRut, I don't need anybody in the media to tell me that BK did or didn't strike a player or throw a chair. Your routine of taking the oppositional side and attempting to put a politically correct spin on a fairly obvious situation grows tiresome.

I thought he was fired!

I agree with this, but sometimes, brutally honest is too honest, imo. The same can be accomplished thru lesser means. Dean Smith for example.

What I find most displeasureable about Knight which is often overlooked, is how he treats his peers or other college administrative personnel. When you add that in to his on-the-court behavior, this is not something to be desired. I know what Knight is allowed to get away with, others, especially minorities, would be fired the next day, and this guy is still coaching! That's incredible, and you want to give him an award, wow! I'm concerned our society has no morals anymore. ESPN will give Hitler an award if he won this many games. What a disgrace!!!!

I didn't imply otherwise. I simply said I was happy for selfish reasons.
Overlooked by whom? It's discussed constantly when his name gets brought up.
And there have been examples of minority coaches who get away with the same type of behavior. The key factor hasn't been skin color, but success levels. All kinds of white coaches would have been fired for Knight's behavior as well.
Seriously, you're comparing Knight to Hitler? Seriously? "Hyperbole" just doesn't do this justice.

It usually takes a lot longer in a discussion for Godwin's Law to apply.