| | The announcement by Indiana University president Myles Brand that Bob Knight was fired brought a truly sad and unfortunate end to Knight's tenure at Indiana.
Just as many of Knight's supporters and detractors predicted, Knight's own behavior ultimately forced him out the door at Indiana, against his considerable will. Knight's dismissal carries with it an eerie Woody Hayes-like feel, and that, from a purely basketball context, is tragic.
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Business of Knight
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It appears Bobby Knight will remain popular in the sports business world, as both a speaker and in the memorabilia market.
"I'll bet he'll end up making more speeches than any prior year," predicted Bob Williams, president of Burns Sports, a company that matches sports speakers for corporate engagements. "People have hired Bob Knight for years, knowing exactly who he is and what he has done. He throws chairs and still gets hired, so I don't see his dismissal being a big enough negative for companies not to hire him now."
Knight usually does eight to 15 speaking engagements a year during the offseason at $15,000 to $20,000 per appearance.
"He's a great motivational speaker," Williams said. "He has terrific stories and he can be very funny if he wants to be. He's well read, he's a bright man, and he has a lot of stories outside of basketball that people want to hear."
Knight has had very few national endorsements to worry about. In the past he's done TV commercials for Ford, Nutrisweet and Taco Bell, as well as a print advertisement for American Greetings.
Knight's firing also has the collectible market stirring. In the 24 hours since his firing, 74 Knight-related items went up for bid on eBay. Among some of the items for sale:
"Hoos-yer Daddy Bobby Knight" commemorative pins (1971-2000) for $2.95.
A "Bobby Knight for President" bumper sticker is up to $7.50.
A photo of his chair throwing incident from 1985 is now over $35.
Knight signed photos ($10) and basketballs ($100).
Some 100 audio clips from a locker room tirade a couple years ago are being offered at 25 cents each.
Indiana Daily Student papers have been gobbled up and are being sold in bulk.
-- Darren Rovell
ESPN.com
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It is indisputable that Bob Knight has done innumerable good things for the game of basketball and for Indiana. He is one of the finest strategists, innovators and teachers in the game's history, and one of its most prolific competitors and winners.
He has won an astounding 763 games against only 290 losses, and has guided Indiana to five Final Fours, winning three national championships. Throughout his coaching career, Knight has steered clear of NCAA violations, and has graduated his players.
Knight is intensely loyal, and has often gone out of his way to assist former players and give of himself to charitable causes, without the glare of the media spotlight.
However, it is also indisputable that Knight's deplorable behavior over the years has overshadowed, even eclipsed, his good deeds and positive attributes. In that regard, Knight has been his own worst adversary.
After Indiana University officials finally showed some principled leadership by policing Knight's behavior and placing him under "zero-tolerance guidelines," Knight has been insubordinate to the end.
Instead of showing contrition and attempting to change his behavior, Knight acted publicly and privately as if he had "won" by being retained as Indiana's coach.
Knight has privately voiced his displeasure with the Indiana administration, has defiantly refused to speak to his athletic director, has displayed an unwillingness to work with his superiors in a meaningful way, and has chosen not to wear Indiana gear in public.
Essentially, Knight has publicly and privately carried on as if he were bigger than Indiana basketball and Indiana University.
While Knight has been a valued member of the Indiana University community for over 29 years, he was still just a part of the greater whole. On Sunday, Brand formally acknowledged that Knight is most certainly not bigger than Indiana University, and the fact that such a bright and talented person as Bob Knight did not recognize that fact earlier is truly unfortunate.
Knight's behavior, and this result, was predictable. While Knight was fully capable of understanding the guidelines for his behavior and what it would take to stay within them, he was emotionally unable to deal with his situation.
For many years now, Knight has been navigating a slippery slope with regard to his public and private behavior. Several people that have been close to Knight have told me that Knight has not had anyone around him for some time that has been willing to say "no" to him, or to stand up and challenge him on his actions or words.
Tellingly, Knight has alienated several of his closest friends and confidants over the last 10 years, and has irreparably damaged those close relationships. That such a legendary figure, a man so respected for his abilities and values, can act with such callous disregard for the feelings and beliefs of those who admire him most, is heartbreaking.
What is also sad is that Knight could have avoided this entire mess by taking the opportunity to resign in May, or over the summer, yet chose not to do so.
Even before Sunday morning, Knight was given the opportunity to spare embarrassment and pain to the Indiana community and those he should most value by stepping down voluntarily.
Unfortunately, that is not Bob Knight, and he did not choose to take into account the best interest of the Indiana program, which has resulted in this miserable ending.
Knight's university, players, staff, supporters, friends and loved ones deserved better. Knight himself deserved better from himself.
Jay Bilas is a college basketball analyst for ESPN.com | |
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