Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Good Knight (An alternative view of Bob Knight)
NRO ^ | December 27, 2006 | Michael Ledeen

Posted on 12/28/2006 8:40:51 AM PST by good old days

Thursday evening the Texas Tech men’s basketball team plays at home — Lubbock —against the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, UNLV, once a superpower now fallen from grace. If Texas Tech wins, their coach, Robert Montgomery Knight, will become the winningest coach in the history of the sport. And since most of the hunting pack that has pursued Knight throughout his career will recount his many sins, it’s only fair you hear the bright shining side of this knight errant.

Yes, he’s got a temper. I have never known a winning coach in any sport who did not have a terrible temper. A few years ago I went to the Final Four in Indianapolis and watched Wisconsin lose to Florida. The Wisconsin coach was named Bennett, and everybody loved him. At a certain point one of his players committed a stupid foul and he called timeout, walked onto the court, and let fly at this poor kid with a torrent of abuse that would have made Knight blush (which is saying something). We were sitting two rows down from the Arctic Circle, and we heard every epithet. But there was no mention of it in the press coverage, because the hunting pack had decided the guy was lovable...

(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Sports
KEYWORDS: basketball; bobknight; coachknight; knight; ncaa; texastech
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last
Great article. Best wishes, Coach Knight!
1 posted on 12/28/2006 8:40:53 AM PST by good old days
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: good old days
My favorite part of the article:

I once interviewed a member of his first team at Indiana, an all-American who met with Knight shortly after the coach’s arrival in Bloomington. Knight glared at him and said, “I’ve just looked at your transcript. You’re not going to class, you’re not doing your work. If you miss class, you won’t practice. And if you don’t practice, you won’t play. If that’s too tough for you, I’ll help you transfer to some place where they don’t give a damn.”

The all-American called his father in a panic, only to find that his dad was thrilled. “Thank God,” he said, “now you’ve got a chance in life.”

2 posted on 12/28/2006 8:47:23 AM PST by good old days
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: good old days

I have a good friend who played for Knight in the 70s. He will defend the guy to the death. Good enough for me.


3 posted on 12/28/2006 8:49:57 AM PST by newheart (The Truth? You can't handle the Truth. But He can handle you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: good old days; MikefromOhio; SevenofNine

Bobby Knight PING


4 posted on 12/28/2006 8:51:35 AM PST by JRios1968 (Tagline wanted...inquire within)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: newheart

Correction. Early 80s.


5 posted on 12/28/2006 9:07:27 AM PST by newheart (The Truth? You can't handle the Truth. But He can handle you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: hispanarepublicana

Bob Knight/TTU ping


6 posted on 12/28/2006 9:19:53 AM PST by indcons (The Koran - the world's first WMD.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Professional Engineer; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; SF Republican; Baynative; TexasNative2000; ...

Guns-Up Red Raider PING!


7 posted on 12/28/2006 9:29:59 AM PST by hispanarepublicana (Funny, but I don't remember pressing 1 for English in 1994.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: good old days

"I have never known a winning coach in any sport who did not have a terrible temper."

Dean Smith, NC Tarheels. Make a note.


8 posted on 12/28/2006 9:32:54 AM PST by Adder (Can we bring back stoning again? Please?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: good old days

Yep, for all the negative press Knight gets, Knight really cares about the success of his kids, not just in basketball but in life. And you know when you watch a Kight-team play, you will see well played game. It is unfortunate that he lets his temper get in the way.


9 posted on 12/28/2006 9:37:40 AM PST by Always Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: good old days

FYI..amazingly, but in today's NY Times Sports section, there is actually a pretty positive view of Knight's accomplishments..


10 posted on 12/28/2006 9:46:15 AM PST by ken5050
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hispanarepublicana

My wife graduated from TT in 1978 and me being a Longhorn makes for very interesting games. During the last football game I was getting so much grief for the first quarter and then things changed for the better.


11 posted on 12/28/2006 9:49:27 AM PST by longhorn too
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: longhorn too
graduated from TT in 1978 ah the good ole days; my fondest sports memory was Tech and Rodney Allison beating Earl Campbell and the Longhorns in 1976 your wife probably agrees, you probably NOT; I will add I DID buy a Longhorns sweatshirt last year before the Rose Bowl. Congrats you guys are still the Reigning National Champions. Bobby Knight has gotten a pretty tough rap on things, he is a great coach and during these PC times, lots of fun to watch and listen to.
12 posted on 12/28/2006 9:55:41 AM PST by SF Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: hispanarepublicana

Our football and basketball programs have a very high rate of graduation!


14 posted on 12/28/2006 10:59:48 AM PST by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (Remembering Beirut Vets 1983 American Embassy April 1983/Marine Headquarters Oct.1983)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Adder
"I have never known a winning coach in any sport who did not have a terrible temper." Dean Smith, NC Tarheels. Make a note.

Should we take notes from a liberal lefty like Dean Smith?

15 posted on 12/28/2006 11:09:49 AM PST by Niteranger68 (Life's greatest obstacle is in the mirror.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RacerF150

Wasn't talking the man's politics...but he did not have a violent temper and was rarely visibly angry.


16 posted on 12/28/2006 11:56:58 AM PST by Adder (Can we bring back stoning again? Please?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: JRios1968

I found out something on ESPN Sportcenter Bobby Knight is not winnest coach that honor go to that Women basketball coach from Tenn


17 posted on 12/28/2006 3:59:45 PM PST by SevenofNine ("Step aside Jefe"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: good old days

There's no doubt that Knight has had a positive impact on many young men's lives. That said, there's also no doubt that he's a bully. That's why his legacy will always be a mixed one.


18 posted on 12/28/2006 4:05:16 PM PST by NittanyLion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SevenofNine

Yeah, Knight is only the winningest coach in real basketball (ducking...)


19 posted on 12/28/2006 8:22:26 PM PST by JRios1968 (Tagline wanted...inquire within)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: JRios1968

Choking his players


20 posted on 12/28/2006 8:39:36 PM PST by SevenofNine ("Step aside Jefe"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson