A tale of two coaches
Editorial
Bobby Knight, who seems to have the amazing ability to attract the spotlight like a dog attracts fleas, has struck again.Knight added to his seemingly endless list of transgressions this past week while his Hoosiers were battling Illinois. Knight stampeded onto the court to protest a) a foul call/non-call and b) the fact he felt one of his players – superstar freshman Luke Recker – was seriously injured. As is his wont, Knight vociferously protested what he felt was a grave injustice perpetrated upon one of his players.Thankfully, Recker was not seriously hurt, but Knight still felt the need to hammer Ted Valentine, with whom he has a long-standing love-hate – they love to hate each other – relationship.Knight received three – that’s right, three – technical fouls, was ejected, called Valentine’s calling of the game the “greatest travesty” he has seen in his career, and was seemingly waiting on a stiff penalty from the Big Ten Conference. However, as has often happened in his career, he received what basically amounts to a slap on the wrist.Or, more appropriately, the institution which employs and adores Knight – Indiana University – received a slap on the wrist. IU has the opportunity to either pay a $10,000 fine or suspend Knight for one game.This seems to be an easy call. Indiana will simply pay the fine and retain Knight’s services, since his presence – and the mere possibility of the spectacle he may create – is priceless. People in the state of Indiana, where basketball is a religion, are almost cult-like in their following – and undying support – of Grand Poobah Bobby.However, Knight has once again created a situation which is embarassing to himself, his university, his players and his family. However, considering Knight once physically assaulted his own son during a game, embarassment does not seem to be a concern to him.Knight’s list of misdeeds and inappropriate actions has grown over time. He has constantly berated officials, media and low-paid underappreciated lackeys of the NCAA in his time at the helm of Indiana’s basketball squad. Not to mention he has thrown chairs, physically and verbally abused his own players, and invited certain players he did not feel were living up to his standards to leave the program.In John Feinstein’s wonderfully written tome, A Season on the Brink, he paints a portrait of a man one step away from either incarceration or institutionialization. What’s surprising is not the fact that Knight came across this way, but rather the fact that Knight – the ultimate media manipulator – allowed Feinstein access to his team for an entire season.Knight loves to play up his association with the great Ohio State teams of the early 1960s. He is especially proud of the fact Fred Taylor was his coach.That is definitely something to be proud of. However, Knight does not seem to have followed Taylor’s lead. Taylor always conducted himself with class. Even now, in his later years and in declining health, Taylor is gracious and polite. In the last Buckeye basketball game ever played at St. John Arena, Taylor, from his courtside seat in a wheelchair – necessitated by a brain anyeurism in 1996 and a heart attack last year – politely chatted with adoring fans and signed autographs.Most of the autograph requests came from children too young to remember Taylor. Doubtless, their mothers and fathers pointed out a true legend who always conducted himself with class. Many of these people were acting vicariously through their children, remembering what it is like to make contact with a hero.Knight’s supporters always point to his record, his lack of NCAA violations and his graduation rate. However, Taylor’s supporters can point to one thing which Knight seems to have lost:His unfailing dignity.
