Bobby Knight
When Arkansas plays Alabama tomorrow night the color analyst will be Bobby Knight, which has sent a few inquiries as to why I don’t write or say his name.
Obviously, I do now.
I did go about 10 years I would not say or write his name.
What happened was about 14 years ago when he came to Little Rock to speak at a fundraiser for UALR, featured as a family night get together, Knight, of course, was foul-mouthed and then he started in on something I had written and said I had to be the son of a prostitute.
My mom, 75 at the time, heard it on the news that night and cried for a week. No one had ever called her a prostitute.
A few years ago my former pastor, and still close friend, Robert Lewis asked with a smile if I thought my not writing Knight’s name showed forgiveness on my part.
Since then I have written his name, but not very often.
My mom is 89 now and doesn’t remember it, but that isn’t unusual for her any more.
Seems like every school has at least one sports legend. Notre Dame has a few, but one named Rudy comes to mind for his class and determination. Indiana has a few, including Knight, and you could call him Rude-y, too, for all the classes behavior he has exhibited over the years. It’s rather amazing that West Point produced such high successful coaches, as far as wins and losses, as Knight and Coach K at Duke, but their actions on and off the court are polar opposites. I’ll be listening to Chuck Barrett on the radio while I watch TV with the sound turned down instead of listening to Blowhard Booby (sic).
I’m glad you found it in your heart to forgive him. It shows you’re the bigger man. Although, “Rash in a Red Sweater” seemed quite appropriate.