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Bobby Knight, David Smith {TX Tech Chancellor} in Public Spat
Louisville, KY, Courier-Journal ^ | 02-03-04 | Gonzales, Patrick

Posted on 02/03/2004 5:29:26 AM PST by Theodore R.

Knight, Smith in public spat BY PATRICK GONZALES A-J SPORTS EDITOR

A popular Lubbock lunch spot was the scene Monday of a verbal dust up between Texas Tech Chancellor David Smith and head basketball coach Bob Knight. Knight and Tech athletic director Gerald Myers did not return repeated telephone calls Monday seeking comment. Smith would say only that the university will have a comment at the appropriate time.

``I can't comment on it. It's a personnel matter,'' Smith said. An eyewitness to the incident gave the following account to The Avalanche-Journal: Smith was having lunch with another Tech employee at United Supermarkets' Market Street at 50th Street and Indiana Avenue.

Smith went over to the salad bar to talk to the coach. Knight flew into a rage, accusing Smith of being a liar and saying that there had been nothing wrong with his demeanor this year.

At that point, Smith backed away and turned to leave the area. Knight continued to follow Smith, who stopped and told Knight that he was chancellorof the university and deserved more respect from him.

The witness said there was no physical contact between the men, and nothing was thrown. Dan Sanders, executive marketing manager of United Supermarkets, said of the incident: ``This was not a major event as far as I'm concerned. It didn't inconvenience any customers, and it didn't destroy anything in the store. It's a fairly minor incident and the fact that it happened in our store is inconsequential.

They exited the store and that was it.'' Robert Black, chairman of the board of regents, said he was informed of the situation, and it will be handled by the university. He said he had no further comment.

The incident comes on the eve of a Big 12 matchup between Knight's Red Raiders and Baylor at 7 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. The Red Raiders are 16-4 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12 Conference. Knight spent 29 years at Indiana and six at Army before being hired by Tech on March 23, 2001. During those stints, he fashioned a 763-290 record, with 11 Big Ten championships, three national championships and an Olympic gold medal in 1984.

His record at Tech is 61-26. Over the course of a storied career, however, Knight's volcanic temper and sometimes run-ins on and off the court have fallen under national media scrutiny.

Throughout his years at Indiana, television cameras have often caught Knight making physical contact with players. Two such episodes resulted in his well-publicized downfall at IU in September 2000. In March 2000, CNN-SI aired a videotape of Knight apparently grabbing former player Neil Reed by the neck.

After reviewing the tape, IU president Myles Brand placed Knight under a ``no-tolerance'' policy in regard to his behavior on and off the court. Also in September 2000, Knight allegedly grabbed an IU student by the arm and lectured him after the student greeted the legendary coach by asking ``What's up, Knight?'' Knight acknowledged the verbal confrontation with the student, but denied any physical contact.

Despite Knight's denial, Brand fired Knight several days later. Knight's temper returned earlier this season during an interview prior to a game against Iowa in Dallas on Dec. 22 and was aired nationwide at halftime on ESPN. Knight, sitting with former player and Iowa coach Steve Alford, responded to a question ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla asked Alford about a reported rift five years ago between the two coaches.

Knight responded with a profanity-laced tirade against Fraschilla and the media in general. Knight apologized the next day during a taping of his basketball show that aired later in the week. Myers released a statement on the night following the tirade.

``Neither the university nor the athletic department in any way condones the use of profanity in Coach Knight's description of his feelings about the media (Monday night),'' Myers stated. ``We feel Coach Knight was sincere in saying that he wished he had not used that type of language he used toward the media. ```I have talked to Coach Knight and I have expressed our feelings to him and he is in total agreement with them and regrets his choice of words.''


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: bobbyknight; davidsmith; espn; franfraschilla; geraldmyers; lubbock; tech; tx; unitedsupermarkets
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1 posted on 02/03/2004 5:29:27 AM PST by Theodore R.
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To: Theodore R.
My double T children are distressed..wondering if all those good recruits will not have Knight as a coach.This may not be as as serious as my son in law feared.
2 posted on 02/03/2004 5:34:07 AM PST by MEG33 (God bless our armed forces)
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To: Theodore R.; dighton; BlueLancer; hellinahandcart; Poohbah; L,TOWM; Tijeras_Slim
"Knight flew into a rage, accusing Smith of being a liar and saying that there had been nothing wrong with his demeanor this year."

*snicker*

Someday, Knight's going to cross the wrong Texan.
I hope there's video when it happens.

3 posted on 02/03/2004 5:41:23 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day
" Someday, Knight's going to cross the wrong Texan. I hope there's video when it happens. "

Now that might be news!<>But, 3 threads on knights escapades at a supermarket salad bar.......come on. This is nothing if your familiar with this man, he's made a living on being worshipped as a horses ass.

4 posted on 02/03/2004 5:45:37 AM PST by Kakaze
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To: MEG33
This may not be as as serious as my son in law feared.

Knight's got a serious anger problem, and always has.

It's just a matter of time before he's shown the door at Tech, too.

5 posted on 02/03/2004 5:49:04 AM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: Constitution Day
The witness said there was no physical contact between the men, and nothing was thrown.

A miracle, considering that they were surrounded by weapons...

6 posted on 02/03/2004 5:50:32 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: sinkspur
I know,I'm no fan of Knight's demeanor.I was shocked when Tech hired him.

He does have a terrific record concerning players graduating.He wasn't hired but for one reason..to make Tech a winning team.
7 posted on 02/03/2004 5:55:56 AM PST by MEG33 (God bless our armed forces)
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To: Constitution Day

8 posted on 02/03/2004 5:57:12 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: Theodore R.
Hide the chairs!
9 posted on 02/03/2004 5:58:25 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (I'd rather be driving my '57 Chevy)
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To: Constitution Day
Someday, Knight's going to cross the wrong Texan.

Your Honor, my client pleads "not Guilty", and we intend to prove to this court that the Son of a B!+ch my client shot repeatedly simply needed killin'...

10 posted on 02/03/2004 6:07:42 AM PST by L,TOWM (Liberals, The Other White Meat)
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To: hellinahandcart
FOOD FIGHT!
11 posted on 02/03/2004 6:08:21 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: MEG33
"My double T children are distressed..wondering if all those good recruits will not have Knight as a coach."

They ought to be distressed that he is the coach at TT. Go ahead and defend your statement if you like but Bully Knight is a horrible excuse for a human being.

12 posted on 02/03/2004 6:12:03 AM PST by subterfuge (Hitlary's worst nightmare? ..Truth.)
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To: MEG33
He has some very good new players this year.The athleticism of TT is 100% improved over the last two years.
13 posted on 02/03/2004 6:12:23 AM PST by John W
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To: subterfuge
Do you have some personal experience with the man?
14 posted on 02/03/2004 6:13:55 AM PST by John W
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To: Theodore R.
... at United Supermarkets' Market Street at 50th Street and Indiana Avenue.

You gotta be kiddin...

15 posted on 02/03/2004 6:17:02 AM PST by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: Theodore R.
Smith went over to the salad bar to talk to the coach.

SS. This is were all chancellors should approach their coaches. ( sarcasm /)

Guess we will never hear what was said to Knight. The truth of what happened is ignored by the Knight haters. ie. see previous posts

16 posted on 02/03/2004 6:17:28 AM PST by sausageseller
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To: John W
Nope. You?
17 posted on 02/03/2004 6:19:40 AM PST by subterfuge (Hitlary's worst nightmare? ..Truth.)
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To: subterfuge
#7..and what on earth would I have to defend about a truthful,accurate statement?
18 posted on 02/03/2004 6:19:59 AM PST by MEG33 (God bless our armed forces)
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To: MEG33
Right. My statement was accurate. That Bully Knight is a "horrible excuse for a human being."
I thought you might want to defend BK in light of what I wrote.
19 posted on 02/03/2004 6:23:00 AM PST by subterfuge (Hitlary's worst nightmare? ..Truth.)
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To: subterfuge
Not really.I have attended a speaking engagement of his at a small venue in northern Indiana.He certainly was not an ogre at that event obviously.He also loves his country and ends his talk with a tribute to the veterans in the audience.He is not perfect,but,I believe there is some baiting of him at times by what I would call the "new" breed of man we have today.We could debate this forever,we probably simply will disagree.
20 posted on 02/03/2004 6:24:00 AM PST by John W
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