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 ...
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.”
I have a good friend who played for Knight in the 70s. He will defend the guy to the death. Good enough for me.
Bobby Knight PING
Correction. Early 80s.
Bob Knight/TTU ping
Guns-Up Red Raider PING!
"I have never known a winning coach in any sport who did not have a terrible temper."
Dean Smith, NC Tarheels. Make a note.
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.
FYI..amazingly, but in today's NY Times Sports section, there is actually a pretty positive view of Knight's accomplishments..
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.
Our football and basketball programs have a very high rate of graduation!
Should we take notes from a liberal lefty like Dean Smith?
Wasn't talking the man's politics...but he did not have a violent temper and was rarely visibly angry.
I found out something on ESPN Sportcenter Bobby Knight is not winnest coach that honor go to that Women basketball coach from Tenn
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.
Yeah, Knight is only the winningest coach in real basketball (ducking...)
Choking his players
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