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Just Getting Your Attention
Imagine that you clicked on my face on the Press-Republican homepage. Imagine that you clicked on the title "On the Sly" that provides the link to get to this page. Now imagine that just as my blog appears a hand reaches out through your monitor and slaps you in the jaw, just to get your attention.
That's basically what happened last night to one of Bobby Knight's Texas Tech basketball players. Yes, Bobby Knight has done it again -- and again and again! In a sideline rage Coach Knight screamed in his player's face and, apparantly because the player wasn't looking Knight directly in the eyes, the coach jabbed at the player's jaw in an effort to command attention.
I was a school teacher for 35 years. Let me even once slap a student in the face to get their attention, and I don't have to tell you the nightmare. I'd need a lawyer, be suspended from my job and my picture would be on the front page of the local newspaper.
In Bobby Knight's case, however, this sort of aggressive behavior has become almost routine, almost expected. If you play for Knight you just better be ready for his tirades. If you play for Knight you just better know that on any given night he feels he has the right to demand your attention. To show you who's the boss. To let you know that he's the coach. To embarrass you in front of thousands.
We've all seen him headbutt his own player, and we've all seen him choke one of his players at a practice session. And we've all seen him screaming at referees and even opposing coaches. And he has even punched a basketball official. Even his own son, who was on the Indiana team for two seasons, couldn't escape his father's wrath. Oh, didn't he once throw a chair across the entire gym floor?
I've seen enough of Bobby Knight. Time to suspend him for a few games while the Texas Tech administration talks to the school's attorney's about smacking Knight in the face with a lawsuit. There are plenty of good coaches around to coach this season at Texas Tech. I think Larry Converse, the dean of North Country basketball coaches, would look great in a 10-gallon hat. Or how about Kevin Dougherty? He already has college coaching experience and he has never popped any of his players in the jaw.
Don't give me any excuse about Bobby Knight knows how to win. I respect coaches like John Wooden, Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Jim Valvano and the UVM guru Tom Brennan. They all know how to win and not once have they headbutted a player or smacked one on the jaw just to get their attention.
Bobby Knight is a big guy with big hair and a big ego and a big attitude. For some reason he feels he has to become physical when he's coaching. It's not good enough to explain the strategies of the game to his players and let them go out on the floor to perform. He feels he has to perform. He feels he is more important than the game, his players and the university. I say, "He's been wrong too long, let's get rid of Knight tonight!"
Comments
I am of the opinion corporal punishment continues to be used with impugnity in more than one public school in the North Country, and guess what it does NOTHING. Fot it to be effective, the punish-EE must respect the punish-ER and that lack of respect for authority is the real problem, which cannot be solved with a few whacks.
Posted by: Scott Dosztan "S-M-B" | November 30, 2006 8:28 AM
Not today's girls fer sher!!!
Posted by: diane | November 16, 2006 9:47 PM
Having considered it further I don't think Coach Knight should be allowed to coach girls.
Posted by: rubble | November 16, 2006 5:04 PM
Wow. You guys sound pretty barbaric to me. There just seems to be an incredible lack of civility in too many aspects of life - especially sports. I love sports, and have even gotten a little carried away with my emotions at times, but hands off should always be a rule - especially when a person in a leadership/mentor role is involved. HANDS OFF. Period.
Posted by: diane | November 15, 2006 8:16 PM
You missed the curveball on this one, oh great pundit!
In all the years of playing sports in the North Country and into college, it was accepted practice to be the recipient of some “tough love” from coaches. Sure, they might not always pop you under this chin, but they did make you do wind sprints until you puked, skate until you were dizzy, and bring you to the verge of tears during tyrants, but it was all for the purpose of self-improvement. Only in the course of my upbringing by my wonderful parents, and through my participation in sports, inclusive of the stern hand of many great coaches, did I learn to respect not only those I was teammates with, and those I played against, but also myself.
Posted by: Kern | November 15, 2006 12:10 PM
Foxy,
As I said yesterday I disagree with your assessment of Knight's behavior.
A flick under the chin of his player to get his attention is not as "out of line" as you or other sports pundits on ESPN seem to imagine. The player admits that the incident is not demeaning; his parents think not; Texas Tech administration does not. It is a non-story.
I can remember after going through Catholic schools that good Sister Willomena or Brother Savemysoul gave me a little reminder to pay attention. I remember my drill sergeant doing the same . or more. I was not demeaned, my parents didn't think I was demeaned, but I was brought to attention on at the task at hand.
The Knight in tarnished armor has been demeaned enough because of his past transgressions. This incident is not one of them.
Let it go!!!! Play ball and Hey! pay attention to me.
Love ya,
Skip
Posted by: skip zatonski | November 15, 2006 9:22 AM
I strongly disagree with your opinion of Bobby Knight. Yes, he has made a few mistakes in the past and he will gladly admit it. In this particular case the media has blown things way out of proportion. Even the parents of Mike Prince say that Knight did nothing wrong. They say their son had history of getting down on himself and not making eye contact when he was being spoken to. They praised Knight for what he has done to help their son while at Texas Tech.
Another thing to check is the quality of individuals that Bobby Knight turns out. Everybody graduates (Coach K, Brennan, and Boeheim can't say that) and you dont see any of Knight's former players making headlines on Sportscenter for off-court problems. Knight's squads have frequently won NCAA recognition for academic achievement something that can't be said for most of the top 25 schools and coaches. The facts show that Bobby Knight helps develop quality young men in his program.
Having an 11 yr old who is very active in sports, I can only hope that someday Rob gets a chance to play for a coach that teaches discipline, respect and hard work in class. A coach just like Bobby Knight.
Posted by: Rick K | November 15, 2006 8:09 AM
John Wooden is in a class by himself. A teacher who also coached. Bright , articulate professor of English. They don't make them that way anymore. The other guys you mentioned at the collegiate level, aside from Dean Smith, are/were shrewd recruiters and self promoters.
As for Bobby he is simply misunderstood. His kids learn to be disciplined , to go to class and to graduate. Who hasn't said, as he did, to reporters regarding his son Pat "now you know why some animals eat their young" or something to that effect. What other coach has tried to start up a game of musical chairs like Bobby did during a game by simply removing one of the chairs from his bench area and tossing it to the far side of the court. Who better to play charades with when the answer is "game face." By the way I don't recall Knight hitting an official, do remember him roughing up a Pan Am game security guard once though. The guy from the american point of view was no more than a rent-a-cop.
As for Coach Converse , he had his chance years ago to go to Georgia Tech and be Bobby Crimmens body double. Turned it down to stay with Jim Baker (not the one from the Praise the Lord (PTL) network, and stay at Seton.
There is no need to fear the Knight, just pay attention, keep your head up and give it your all.
Posted by: rubble | November 14, 2006 10:12 PM