Bob Knight was at home at Indiana State yesterday. Will he ever be home at Assembly Hall again?
So, I wrote yesterday about how I am no longer invested in former Indiana coach Bob Knight returning to Assembly Hall, and how being jerked around by Knight has grown tiresome. The phone started ringing as soon as I published the post.
On the other end of the phone for the rest of the morning were former Knight players, each certain that Knight has very little to do with the decision making and his avoidance of Assembly Hall.
When Knight went to a Marian University instead of the Indiana vs. Ohio State game on January 11th I felt like I had been played. Yesterday, Knight watched an Indiana State practice with his son Pat. He’s scheduled to attend the Indiana Pacers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game this Saturday night with former Purdue coach Gene Keady as part of the Basketball Day Indiana celebration.
At 2p, a few hours before the Pacers vs. Pelicans, Indiana will host Purdue. Knight is rumored to be planning to attend that game as a public return to the building where he coached the Hoosiers for 29 seasons.
As I wrote yesterday, I am no longer enthusiastic about Knight coming back to Assembly Hall. The rumor proliferation began to feel like manipulation – as though an easily amused guy with nothing better to do was yanking the chains of those who respect him – maybe a guy who used to eat at the Jiffy Treat in Bloomington who had a closet full of red sweaters.
The IU Basketball alums who took the time to call said the same thing – Knight has dementia and his wife is the cause of the difficulties in engineering a successful return to Assembly Hall. I have no reason to distrust any of those who called. We’ve spoken many times before without lying to each other.
So it seems my angst was misdirected. I understand a wife protecting a husband who is battling an erosion of his mental capabilities. Throwing him into an arena, even one with which he is intimately familiar, can be startling for a man battling dementia.
If he comes back this Saturday, we’ll hope for the best. Knight being received warmly would be a nice moment for those who love him. It would be great if he understands what the ovation he’ll receive means.
There are a lot of Indiana Basketball fans who remember what he meant to IU and would like to thank him. Maybe that opportunity comes this Saturday and maybe not. Regardless, it might be time to stop investing in Knight coming back for a bunch of reasons.
Who are you? No one gives a sh%t about what you feel or if you care about Bob Knight coming back. Your column was as big of a waist of time reading as listening to any of Dakich’s commentary. Both of you are only relevant for a short time because of mentioning Bob Knight. Crawl back into your hole because no one gives a shi%t about your opinion.
You cared enough to comment – which I appreciate!
Waste, not waist
Exactly what I expect from a sports writer.
Thank you!
I care; never heard of Kent, before, but, if he has former players, coached by Bobby, offering information, he must have SOME credibility!!!! I, even, care about YOUR opinion, no matter how crass it might be.
Dear Kenny – you clearly have a first class education, and as a fellow elite, I was touched by your abusive post directed toward the author. While muckraking may have been the author’s primary intent, I nonetheless found the point about Knight having dementia to be particularly poignant.
I hope the man finds peace in his final years on earth, and I do hope “they” take him up on his infamous request to be buried face down, so the critics may kiss his legendary ass.
Love,
Tyler
PS: in your context, the verb “waste” was misspelled as the noun “waist.” Again, Kenny, as a non-white trash hillbilly with a smartphone, I’m sure you’re embarrassed of such a trivial error.
Big man Kenny.
I got to the point I was ready for Knight to go because he wasn’t getting the good playerz and was out of touch with today’s kids. But then as the years past, I wished he was still here. I personally think Kelvin Sampson was the best coach we’ve had since. Now I would like to see Knight back and name the court after him.
I wish college basketball would return to Knight/Keady style of play. Today there’s no defense and few convert free throws. Today is NBA…run and gun. I rarely watch anymore. Kelvin Sampson the best coach??? That’s a laugh. Coach Knight has forgotten more than he even knows or has ever learned
What a shame that they brought him back. Bobby was embarrassing in his obviously unhealthy state. That wasn’t The General everyone remembered. His wife was right in keeping him away. She shouldn’t have caved, IMHO.
Many with dementia, recall their long term memory. Im glad he came back . He did alot for IU library fund and for IU period. He made sure players went to class and graduated. That’s what college sports is about. Getting a free education doing something you loved. He followed NCAA rules unlike o the college coaches. Athletes have changed, and coaches like Knight, become obsolete. They style of coaching has gone by the wayside.,Unfortunately. So now we have lost the intesitity or hysteria we once had.
Back when Tebow was at UF he was claimin he was a virgin but I had me a Tebow jersey and I wuz makin me wife watch whilst I splurged my precious babies n’ cock juice all over Tebow’s as$ like 3 er 4 times a day. Those wuz the days.
Change your Kotex, Jared.
Bobby Knight will go the way of Woody Hayes, not John Wooden.