A Prescription For Bobby Knight

The thought that Bobby Knight will soon overtake Dean Smith as men's college basketball's all-time winningest coach has me rooting for a heart attack.

Mind you, I'm not talking about anything fatal. That would be heartless. Just something that will force a medical professional to look Knight in the eyes and tell him he can't handle the stress of coaching college basketball.

The problem is, Knight doesn't suffer from stress. He's a carrier.

For something like 40 years, Knight has put his abusive — both physically and emotionally — personality on display in a wide range of ways.

Just last month, he hit a player in the face during a game. Knight's apologists tried to explain that away by parroting his own excuse that his player came to the sideline with his head down and he was just trying to get the kid's chin up.

These are the same people who praise Knight because his players get degrees, which sounds a little bit like that old saw about Mussolini getting the trains to run on time.

What killed me was that the player's parents came to Knight's defense. Any coach does that to my son and I'll be wearing his backside around at the end of my foot like a boot.

But that jab to the chin, the tantrums directed at sportswriters, the chair-throwing, hunting-buddy-shooting, rape-epithet-spouting, cop-punching, student-accosting, and throat-grabbing isn't why I despise Knight.

It's because of Knight's hypocrisy, which makes all that possible.

Bob Knight demands respect from everyone around him, but consistently fails to return the courtesy, especially for those who disagree with or question him.

Since no doctor is going to diagnose Knight with life-threatening stress, it seems inevitable that he will claim the record now held by Smith, who was one of college basketball's real class acts, the anti-Knight, if you will.

So I recommend that Knight complete a week-long anger management course. Not to manage his anger — that's a lost cause — but mine.

The goal of my seven-day program is to force Knight to experience first-hand the abuse he has heaped on others.

Day 1: Knight spends eight hours in a dunk tank. But while people are in front of him trying to hit the dunk target with softballs, the real throwers are behind him, throwing folding chairs at his head. And he's not allowed to turn around.

Day 2: Strapped into a chair with his eyes forced open "Clockwork Orange"-style, Knight has to watch an endless loop of a "The Simpsons" episode as Homer strangles an animated likeness of himself.

Day 3: For two hours, Knight has to sit in a chair, tape recorder in hand, while sportswriters from around the country yell insults and obscenities at him. For the next 22 hours, he has to watch the videotape.

Day 4: Knight gets shot by grouse hunters. I wanted to try this with grouse, but their little birdie feet aren't strong enough to pull the trigger.

Day 5: Knight has to work as a butler for a rap star and obey his every whim unquestioningly. Ideally, the rapper will be someone like Snoop Dogg, who would send his servant to procure certain substances at a certain Caribbean island.

Day 6: He has to work security at a sporting event while Puerto Rico police officers, dressed as coaches, take turns gut punching him for eight solid hours. During the beating, the cops find an illicit substance in Knight's possession.

Day 7: While in prison, Knight's cellmate is a very large, very violent man who sidles up real close to the Texas Tech coach and says, "It's inevitable, so just sit back and enjoy it."

If he can complete the program without his head exploding — and I'd bet against that — Knight is welcome to Smith's record. But first, I think he needs to know what it is like to be shown real disrespect, not the "disrespect" he perceives when someone has the temerity to question him.

Knight doesn't teach his players to respect authority, partly because he has respect for authority only when the authority figure agrees with him. He teaches them to fear authority, which is an entirely different animal.

There is a difference between a leader and a dictator. And that difference is as clear as the contrast between Dean Smith and the guy who is about to break his career victory mark.

Comments and Conversation

December 15, 2006

MIke:

You are an idiot. And a pile of festering doggie doo.

You’re a loser, and I would love to coach your namby-pamby little kid so I could run him/her until their feet bleed just because you are their dad.

If your wife didn’t have an affair to get them. For some reason I doubt you have to seed to throw an offspring.

BTW…Did I happen to tell you that you are an idiot?

Know what….HOw about I wish the heart attack on you.

December 16, 2006

Tom:

You wouldn’t do anything to Knight if he did that to your kid. Why? Because you’re a pussy and Knight at 70 would still beat your ass. Just step aside into obscurity while Knight sets the record and laughs at morons like you like he always has, tough guy.

December 16, 2006

Guy Wellman:

Get a life>

December 16, 2006

Paul:

You have no clue as to what you write about. Is it a hypocrisy to graduate ALL of your players? Is it a hypocrisy to turn players into better men when they leave his program? Is it a hypocrisy to make his players tough enough to handle life challenges? When you go to play for Coach Knight, you know what you are getting into. He is by far the best college basketball coach ever!!! He demands the very best from his players, on the court and off. He didn’t have any boosters paying the best players in the country, to come and play for a legend (Wooden). He has always been always been totally honest in his approach, something the media has rarely done in covering him. If you were to investigate the list of his graduates from IU, the list is pretty impressive, from CEO’s to company presidents, to head coaches. Most of these men will tell you that Coach Knight made them better and stronger men. Can you say your journalistic style or lack there of has had as much of an impact on as many men as Coach Knigth has? I know the answere—-No you haven’t.

December 16, 2006

Jamie:

It might be a good idea for you to adhere to the proverbial saying that it’s better to keep your mouth shut and have people wonder if you’re a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it.

December 16, 2006

Andy:

Wishing for heart attacks? Come on. Obviously no one close to you has ever suffered one. That was totally cruel. I don’t apologize for Knight any more. But I certainly don’t wish any ill will on him either. That was a loser article!

December 16, 2006

Dan:

No NCAA violations, players graduate, 3 NCAA titles, Gold Medal in the Olympics (something that hasn’t happened lately with our overpriced prima- donnas)—-so he taps a player on the chin, tosses a chair 20+ years ago and other minor incidents—so what!! Get some nads and stop whining like a little girl. Your comment on the heart attack was real classy-what journalism school taught you that one?? Oh, just an aside—have you contributed more than $1M to your library? Any library? Anything?? Didn’t think so…. .

December 16, 2006

Rob:

I agree with the above, “your a pussy”. How dare you wish illness on someone ? Is your job on the line and you need readers ? Your kids , no doubt adopted because man/man relationships cant have children, are probably the type that recieve ribbons for finishing 10th in something, because “Everyone is a winner” You are pathetic and I feel sorry for your kids.

December 16, 2006

Mike:

Who’s the hypocrite? Your “Touch my son…” comment sounds like you’re the one needing the anger management.

December 16, 2006

robert knight:

I agree, you do have some antisocial problems and I hope that blogging your freshman writing exercise helped you deal with your issues. Thanks for sharing.

December 16, 2006

rick:

that article was pure trash. why didnt you put the a on the end of your name? didnt you want us readers to know you are a girl? i doubt if your kids will ever play a sport for anybody because of their dad/mom (whichever you are) attitude. i hope you get a tee shirt for Christmas that says booger -eating-moron. that pretty much describes you.

December 16, 2006

rich minier:

You are a moron who obviously knows nothing about Bob Kinght, the man. He is a leader and for all of his faults, always trys to do the best thing for his players, not for himself. Try getting to know the man and you would find the same.

P.S. If you tried to put your boot up his ass like you said, I have a feeling that you would find his hands around your neck as well. Pussy.

December 16, 2006

rob hargesheimer, bedford, IN:

I read the first line, skipped to the comments and immensely enjoyed the readers views.
You should hang yourself and make the world a better place.

December 16, 2006

Jason:

Ditto all the above.

December 16, 2006

Cameron Thompson:

Your article makes some valid points and everyone knows that Knight cannot put aside his own feelings of disgust for sports writers like yourself. One thing you need to remember is Knight did the right things when it mattered. His outburst during the 90s can be attributed to a change in the players and how they are pampered and coddled while in high school because they are the stars. Knight won with teams not superstars. Case in point, Dan Dakich helped shut down Jordan in the 83 tournament and overall Knight held a 3-2 advantage over Smith including a victory in the 81 championship. So, if you think a weak person like Neil Reed needs praise for coming out against Knight and if all you can see is negatives in a brilliant 40+ year career then you are as blind and stupid as Knight and the rest of his profeesion believes writers like you are.

December 16, 2006

DenniS C.Mann:

As a long time IU fan, you are right. I really became tired of his verbal abuse of the players toward the end of his reign. Jerry Yeagley, former IU soccer coach who won several NCAA titles did not treat his players the way Knight. does. He does many good thing, but his behavior over shadows his deed. He and Dean are worlds apart in how they treat people. Thank you.

December 16, 2006

John:

I agree that wishing a heart attack on Knight is bad form, and the 7 day reform plan diffuses the writer’s main point here, but make no mistake, Knight is a hypocrite.

He has absolute disdain for anyone who doesn’t bow at his feet, and he refuses to hold himself to the standards that he seemingly demands of his players.

Any ounce of respect I had for Knight went out the door when he turned his full venom against Indiana University. Regardless of what he thinks about the administration that ran him out of town, he should have had more respect and sympathy for the fan base who, in large part supported him through the years, and undoubtedly suffered from his distractions of attacking the university and intervening in the influence of players’ decisions to go to IU (Sean May).

December 16, 2006

Gary:

Who is this Bob Knight you are writing about? It’s certainly not the one who is about to become the alltime winningest coach. All we read about it how Bob Knight respects many people, including most of the hundreds of players who have played for him. You need to get out of the writing business and take up a profession to which you’re qualified. Why don’t you try garbage collecting?

December 16, 2006

Norma McCarty:

What rubbish. Do you know Bob Knight? Have you ever talked with the man? I doubt he would give the likes of you the time of day. Go RED RAIDERS!!

December 16, 2006

Coach Fun:

Wow…! That was probably the dumbest, most pointless anti-RMK article I’ve ever read. Besides its content idiocy, the writer appears to not only know anything about basketball or coaching, but also doesn’t know that Dean Smith and Coach Knight are not only good friends who respect each other, but are both very similar in A LOT of ways. I think this guy is using a pseudonym—it’s really Curry Kirkpatrick!

December 16, 2006

Mike:

I always have to chuckle at the sanctimonious self righteous writers (the biggest second guessing Monday morning quarterbacks in the world) when they decide to plie on Bob Knight again. Maybe if some of you writers would have had a mentor like Knight who tells his players, coaches, etc in no uncertain terms how they screwed up, not to do it again, and how to do it better, you would have risen to a more elevated position in society. As Coach always says, “…most of us mastered the writing process in the fourth grade…”

Congratulations to Bob Knight as this year he will become the all time winningest college basketball coach. That feat, and all of the tireless work that came with it, commands our “respect”

December 16, 2006

Ken Gustin:

If I had a son that was talented enough to play for coach Knight, I would love to see my son play for him if he felt he was up to the challenge.

As for a week attending a class, my recommendation would be for you to attend one on sports journalism. What a terrible article!

December 16, 2006

Brian:

Get a life - like all of us there is good and bad. This story is a prime example of bad. I do not support everyhting he does but I could say that about any person or coach. He is a tremendous teacher to kigs that need his type of coaching.

December 16, 2006

Ron Flower:

Talking about a person’s faults and then stooping to their level (or below). Sounds like someone let their personal vendetta creep into their professional life. I would rather let my child play basketball for Coach Knight than read an article like this.

December 16, 2006

Myles Brand, Rob Simpson, & Clarence Doninger:

Bravo! Great article! Please invite us to this 7-day program. We will hide in the background like the little trolls that we are and yell insults and cast stones. Afterward we will try our best (unwillingly) to ruin an entire university’s stellar academic & athletic reputation by our actions. We will lose millions of supporters, millions of dollars, and be hated by everyone who knows anything about what good basketball & good coaching is all about. Then we’ll bolt for another job leaving behind the huge, unfixable mess we created!……Oh, wait…we already did that. Never mind!

December 16, 2006

Mary:

I thought your heart attack suggestion was tasteless but, as a long-time I.U. fan, your point was good. Knight became an embarrassment and a boor to any Indiana fan with an ounce of class. I just thought you tried to make your point in an equally class-less manor.

December 16, 2006

Jeremiah:

1) Learn how to write
2) Pick up a sport. You might understand the difference between a good coach and polished politician- they are two different things. Your ivory-tower philosophy on Coach Knight clearly shows you’re no athlete.
3) Learn how to construct a valid argument (..see point 1) Your article makes no point except to take tacky shots at a guy you’ve probably never met.

I’m not even a huge Knight fan, but I do think he’s a great coach who deserves better than your tasteless drivel.

December 16, 2006

Dave Browns:

Shakespeare had sportswriters figured when In King Lear, Glouster said: “We are as flies to wanton boys to the gods,
they kill us for the sport.” Get a clue.

December 16, 2006

Marc Young:

It is quite clear that you know NOTHING about Bob Knight.
How do you get away with holding your job as a writer. Incredibly ignorant article with absolutely no redeeming value. What comes through very clearly however, is that you have no idea what “respect” really is.

December 16, 2006

IM Snooping:

And….now you know why Coach Knight treats the media as he does. It’s filled with fools like you, Eric.

Congrats to Coach Knight on becoming the winningest coach in NCAA history and sticking it in the face of those lesser men who serve as your critics — like the writer of this, er, column.

And, Coach, I know that you’re happy to realize that the record you set will likely only be eclipsed by one of your finest products: Coach K.

Eric, go crawl back under the rock you came out from.

December 16, 2006

Jerry Amedro:

No one knows who you are, for obvious reasons, after reading your hatchet job. You are clueless.

Sports Central should be ashamed of you.

December 16, 2006

Tom Pence:

Nothing original here, just the same old blah blah blah from someone not all that successful in his own profession.

December 16, 2006

Wes Coast:

One sad thing about the blog world is that it provides a bully pulpit for anyone to pontificate, with no requirements for skill or knowledge.

Thus we have Sports Central. Yes, you can up your hit count by posting a mindless attack on a legend, but most who’ve been referred to this site are here only to view the remains of this particular verbal traffic accident and to pronounce this URL unworthy of any further attention.

Please—write what you know, and if you don’t know anything, do us all a favor and don’t write, okay?

December 16, 2006

david:

we the iu fans are just as guilty for puttin up with his bs. interesting what winning will do.rmk has no class,besides being a big jerk.

December 16, 2006

Woody Hayes:

I don’t have a problem with ‘ole Bobby shaking things up a little…I look down and see steroids, phoney SAT scores, resumes filled with BS, even forward passes in football. You have a problem with 5 decades of BB without so much as an inquiry by the NCAA? a player reunion dominated by lawyers, doctors, dentists, government leaders, athletic directors, captains of business? Not one time…and I repeat…not one time has RMK’s behavior been unprovocated. If you abhor him,,let me tell what else you abhor…,over two centuries of USMC basic training…most high level HS football programs,,,aggressive business models…police and fire safety professions,,,even farming,,,where it takes some uh stones to succeed, motivate, survive, perform, etc. It’s not always delicate and pleasing to the pacifist but it works. Sit down and shut up.

December 16, 2006

steve:

Coach Knight doesn’t know who you are, nor does he care.

You need to get some help.

December 16, 2006

mike stephenson:

I hope your wife or kids have a heart attack. Nothing fatal just enought to not let them work anymore.

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