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Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,168
Registered: ‎03-14-2010

Just saw former coach Bobby Knight being shown lots of love at the Indiana basketball game today. Standing ovation. He had quite a fiery yet successful coaching career. Sad to read he is in in declining health and has  difficulty with his memory. He will turn 80 next October.

Contributor
Posts: 64
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

It was the first time Coach Knight has been back in Assembly Hall since he was fired in 2000. It was wonderful to see the former players there too. I had tears in my eyes when he came out. This past summer Coach & his wife moved back to Bloomington and he's seen around town eating quite often. I'm thankful for Quinn Buckner & Randy Wittman for being instrumental in getting coach back today. Former Purdue Coach Gene Keady is also at the IU/Purdue game. And, both he & Coach Knight will be honored at the Pacers game this evening. 

Valued Contributor
Posts: 691
Registered: ‎09-06-2011

 

I don't wish suffering on anyone.  But Bobby Knight was a volatile man.  He cursed at reporters, threw a chair across a court, chocked a player, and slapped another.  He even kicked his own son during a game.  He was verbally abusive to players as well.  Knight was a successful coach but not a great person.  I don't think I could stand up an applaud him.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 32,486
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

I would hope my alma mater wouldn't tolerate a coach with that attitude.  I am sure he is loved by many, but he is not my idea of what athletics should embody.

 

I, however, wish him no ill will.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,415
Registered: ‎11-25-2011

@liliblu wrote:

 

I don't wish suffering on anyone.  But Bobby Knight was a volatile man.  He cursed at reporters, threw a chair across a court, chocked a player, and slapped another.  He even kicked his own son during a game.  He was verbally abusive to players as well.  Knight was a successful coach but not a great person.  I don't think I could stand up an applaud him.


@liliblu 

Thank you.

He's one of the many stories we hear about where horrible people

who are ill or declining in health & suddenly we should forget 

every wrong-doing they've ever done.  
Nope. 
Doesn't work that way.

I, too, couldn't stand up and applaud him. He's a creep. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,669
Registered: ‎06-07-2010

Bobby Knight was a mean coach.  However, hearing him as a commentator on a few games, he does know his basketball!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,827
Registered: ‎03-15-2010

We are big Purdue fans (Boiler Up!) but even I had tears in my eyes. Not because I am a Bobby Knight fan, but because he looked frail and aged. He showed up and his players and the crowd were happy.


I'm happy Purdue won!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,484
Registered: ‎11-24-2013

I don't think being old and frail gives a mean, nasty coach a pass.

 

He was horrible and abusive to his players and I recall when he kicked his own son.

 

No pity from me.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,827
Registered: ‎03-15-2010

@Love my grandkids wrote:

I don't think being old and frail gives a mean, nasty coach a pass.

 

He was horrible and abusive to his players and I recall when he kicked his own son.

 

No pity from me.


I didn't say I gave him a pass. I said I am not a fan. The only pity I have for him is his visible declining health. 


But where was IU when he was abusive, kicking, throwing chairs, screaming? Looking the other way? That seemed to be a theme back then (I'm thinking of a certain church)

Regular Contributor
Posts: 189
Registered: ‎04-29-2015

As a Purdue fan, I witnessed a lot of Knight's bad behavior. IU fans would always say, "yeah, but how many national championship flags hang in Mackey Arena?" As if that excused the chair tossing and abuse. . .