Knight Apologists Flood the Hoosier Landscape
by Tom Rathkamp
 yth tells us
that cats have nine lives. For argument sake, let’s believe it. Now come
back to reality; the reality that says: "Cats Got Nothin On Bob
Knight." It’s old news by now, but allow me to spend (waste) a few
moments on Indiana’s largest religion: BobKnightology, which more
closely resembles a cult than a religious denomination.
BobKnightology is the belief that anything former Hoosier
basketball coach Bob Knight does (did) is OK, as long as he wins – or
tries to win – basketball games. This cult is nearly 30 years old, which
is coincidentally synonymous with the number of years Knight coached at
Indiana University.
What has brought this troubling assembly to a renewed light? Well,
obvious reason #1 was Knight’s overdue exodus from a job he held so
dear. Reason #2 is the nauseating, babbling banter from the Bob Knight
apologists, mostly from the state in which he coached for so long. You
know who you are. You’re like the husband or wife of an alcoholic who
turns the other cheek when shown an empty liquor bottle. (I wonder if BobKnightologists
drink purple Kool Aid and wear Nike shoes.)
BobKnightologists hold a common moniker. They refuse to put any
blame on Knight, which is consistent with Knight himself, who continues to
play the sorry victim in this fiasco. They insist that his talents as a
basketball coach justify anything – anything – he does in the process.
He can choke a player, shove a player, grab a non-player, and verbally
abuse anybody in his path. It doesn’t matter. He’s God in their eyes.
Mr. Indiana. He can defy authority. Hmm … defy authority. Doesn’t that
break a BobKnightology commandment?
BobKnightologists talk about the respect that Knight commandeers,
then develop sudden amnesia when Knight rarely shows respect himself. "Do
as I say, not as I do." That’s the mission statement of BobKnightology
(actually, one of many). Authority, discipline, respect:
all hefty, meaningful qualities indeed. BobKnightologists throw
these terms around freely, all the while their leader is rubbing his own
commandments in the mud.
Thanks to ESPN’s Dan Patrick this past Wednesday for lambasting
Knight, mainly for the wretched way he acted in an interview the day
earlier with Patrick’s colleague, Jeremy Schapp. All Knight did was
request that Schapp do the interview, then proceed to act like a total
imbecile during most of it. He even insulted Schapp, saying that he is a
long way from being as good as his father, longtime sports journalist Dick
Schapp. And how dare the junior Schapp interrupt Mr. Knight.
At press time, Mr. Knight will have already addressed the Indiana U.
student body. That’s perfect. An old, warn-out prude addressing his
flock of enablers. We could go on and on about this guy, but I’ve
already wasted enough ink and would like to keep my dinner down. On to
better things …
Sporting Briefs …
*** The folks in Brown County, Wisconsin approved a hike in their sales
tax to fund the proposed renovations at Lambeau Field. I think it’s time
sports leagues shell out the dough to keep teams afloat. What do you
think?
*** Football season is back! So far, oodles of exciting matchups. My
Packers are 0-2, but it’s too early to fret.
*** More Patrick Ewing trade rumors flood the airwaves. Just what the
pitbull New York media craves.
*** Remember a few weeks back when I commented that anything less than
a World Series for Arizona Diamondbacks after the Curt Shilling
acquisition would be a disappointment? Well, take a peak at the MLB
standings.
*** The 2000 Olympic Games are right around the corner. Check back in
this space in the coming weeks for a story on a truly special Olympian.
Any comments, criticisms, or condemnations on
this sports column or previous ones? Feel free to email me at andydan@milwpc.com
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