Don't get me wrong, Nakeman. I'm not making excuses for coach Knight's behavior. It was wrong to throw that chair. Oh, and by the way, it was A chair. And that was about 20 years ago or so. So he has a really strong chair to win ratio going. But seriously, Knight's days at IU were numbered anyway. He is a throwback to a simpler time. A time when the school hired a coach to do a job and then let him do it. Knight never wanted to listen to anyone else tell him how to be a basketball coach. He ran the program on HIS terms and took zero B.S from anyone. Nowadays that just don't work. IU wanted to take him down a few notches and tell him what to do and he wanted no part of it. They put him into a situation they knew he would never be able to live with and he promptly got himself fired. In time he would have probably left on his own anyway. I don't throw chairs around my living room and I doubt that Bobby Knight does either. But warts and all, I respect coach Knight and what he stands for. The world has changed, but he is the same hard nosed, stubborn, opinionated son of a bitch he always was. And I find something very respectable about that. As for coach K, I couldn't agree more. I have great respect for him as well. There are many great coaches who get results without "throwing chairs" and they deserve credit for all they accomplish. As a parent I would not stand for the kind of behavior you describe. However, I don't think The university president was Bobby Knight's father. He was not even involved when coach Knight was hired to run that basketball program. For years he was allowed to run that program as he saw fit. And they stayed out of his business. That program had a great deal of success. Then as time passed by and the world caught up to IU and it's basketball program, others started trying to stick their nose in his program and started making changes and telling him what to do. And you know the result. He just didn't fit in anymore. Now he's back in the driver's seat, and look what happened. He has taken TTU's program and turned it into a pretty respectable program. And I don't know, but I'll bet they stay out of his business down there in Texas. I'm not saying it is right or wrong, but it works for Bobby Knight, And it is working pretty well for Texas tech.
posted by indycoltsfan at 11:13 PM on January 19, 2008
canstusdis, As I recall, he was run out of town by a politically correct a-hole university president. The next trash day after he was fired, trash cans all over town were overflowing with red IU gear and Texas Tech license plates started showing up on cars as soon as he took the job there. I have always been a fan of Mr Knight and all he stands for. Yes, he has a short fuse. Yes, he has crossed the line when his temper got the best of him. But he is a coach who coaches for the love of the game and he cares about his players. He teaches his boys much more than the game of basketball. He prepares them to be winners on the court and out in the real world, just in case that big NBA contract don't come through. I don't agree with chair throwing or cussing a blue streak after a tough loss, but he is a real man, and this world could use more guys like him.
posted by indycoltsfan at 08:11 PM on January 19, 2008
Do you really think that's a valid characterization of people who saw a kid being booed at a PPK award ceremony and thought, "Wow, that's kinda messed up"? I admit, I have a different point of view, having been there. If I had just watched it on TV, I might have thought differently. However, I don't believe a soul in that place meant any harm, and It's obvious that the little girl didn't take offense to it. This whole incident was blown way out of proportion by a bunch of people who only saw a 10 second blurb on sports center. Was it in poor taste? Of course it was. But it wasn't exactly a hearty chorus of boos raining down for 5 minutes like some want to believe. In fact, more people were applauding her than were booing her jersey. If it had been an Indianapolis fan in New England, you all know it would have been the same result. And it would have been expected.
posted by indycoltsfan at 07:46 PM on January 19, 2008
And let's not forget, this is the RCA Dome. Dungy probably had those boos piped in!
posted by indycoltsfan at 10:50 PM on January 18, 2008
It really seems to me that some folks out there just go around looking for something to get mad about. I was at that game, and while no one in the section I was sitting in actually booed her. Everyone (including the girl) got a laugh out of it and seemed to take it in the spirit in which it was intended. I think I speak for 99% of Colts fans and RCA Dome regulars when I say that we welcome anyone in our house whether or not they happen to be rooting for the Colts. But don't expect to get out of there without having a little harmless fun poked at you. I think that would be true of any stadium in the country. There were several Chargers fans sitting near us during that game and everyone had a good time poking fun at one another and watching the game. Get over it already!!
posted by indycoltsfan at 10:38 PM on January 18, 2008
Nice work General Knight. We miss you back here in indiana!
posted by indycoltsfan at 10:12 PM on January 18, 2008
Dungy: Nothing has Changed
That's absolutely correct. There isn't a classier act in all of football, or probably any other sport for that matter. He will be sorely missed when he does go. With that said, I think Jim Caldwell will make a good replacement for him when he does leave. He is a very good coach as well.
posted by indycoltsfan at 05:07 PM on January 21, 2008