The General walks off the court without class
Devon Roehrich
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Sports
It was not supposed to end like this. When you are statistically the greatest of all-time at what you do, the finale of your career should be one of celebration, anticipation, and universal appreciation,Unfortunately for Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight, his 902 wins will not be what immediately springs to mind when his legacy is brought up, and he has brought that all on himself, through bouts of stubbornness and immaturity.
Monday night, Knight shocked the college basketball world by resigning as coach of the Red Raiders, leaving the job to his designated successor, his very own son Pat Knight.
The team is 12-8, and will have to put together a pretty good February to make a strong case to reach the NCAA Tournament, making Knight's decision all the more baffling.
You see, Knight is a coaching icon, and I mean that in regards to his coaching ability, not his chair-throwing ability.
Put bluntly, Knight is a living legend.
He has won three national titles, coached the U.S. to an Olympic gold medal, and led the undefeated 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to one of the greatest championship seasons in history.
If any other man with these credentials were to walk away, we would instantaneously celebrate his accomplishments.
But this is not any other man. And sadly, Knight's main remembrance will now be one of utter hypocrisy and inflexibility.
He abused his players, disrespected the media and has now put the final tarnish on his legacy. There is no coach in recent memory with a more "one-way" outlook on running a basketball program than Knight's, and he was never shy about what he thought about people and/or items he deemed unnecessary.
That's where the hypocrisy just oozes. Knight was always in high demand of personal accountability, finishing what one starts, and being ridiculously disciplined.
All of that is great and jolly, but what kind of message do you send when you QUIT in the middle of the season?
Monday night, Knight shocked the college basketball world by resigning as coach of the Red Raiders, leaving the job to his designated successor, his very own son Pat Knight.
The team is 12-8, and will have to put together a pretty good February to make a strong case to reach the NCAA Tournament, making Knight's decision all the more baffling.
You see, Knight is a coaching icon, and I mean that in regards to his coaching ability, not his chair-throwing ability.
Put bluntly, Knight is a living legend.
He has won three national titles, coached the U.S. to an Olympic gold medal, and led the undefeated 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to one of the greatest championship seasons in history.
If any other man with these credentials were to walk away, we would instantaneously celebrate his accomplishments.
But this is not any other man. And sadly, Knight's main remembrance will now be one of utter hypocrisy and inflexibility.
He abused his players, disrespected the media and has now put the final tarnish on his legacy. There is no coach in recent memory with a more "one-way" outlook on running a basketball program than Knight's, and he was never shy about what he thought about people and/or items he deemed unnecessary.
That's where the hypocrisy just oozes. Knight was always in high demand of personal accountability, finishing what one starts, and being ridiculously disciplined.
All of that is great and jolly, but what kind of message do you send when you QUIT in the middle of the season?
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