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The Softer Side of Bobby Knight
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BLOOMINGTON, IN - Indiana Hoosiers Men's Basketball Coach and state icon Bobby Knight has had to deal with recent accusations of violent behavior with his player. Most notably are accusations in Sports Illustrated by former Knight player Neil Reed that Knight choked him during a Hoosier practice. This is just the latest in a long line of violent and controversial incidents involving Knight.
The incident drew even more criticism toward Knight when a video supporting Reed showed up. However, many are coming forward to defend Knight, saying that the man portrayed as out of control by the media is really a warm compassionate man.
Eighty-seven old Bloomington resident and Knight neighbor, Patricia Declerc, relates how Knight has helped her across the street almost daily, noting that out of all those times "he has only choked me once or twice, that I recall."
And then there is Ellen Marshall, who says she ran into Knight at the grocery store when her three sons.
"My boys asked him for his autograph and he was very generous. He patiently signed for all three of my sons before he started choking them. Very thoughtful, don't you think?"
Down at the animal shelter they praise Knight for his support, noting his frequent contributions of choke chains for the dogs.
And down at the local hospital his visits are as legendary as they are frequent.
"Everybody here just loves him," notes head nurse Danielle Plimpton. "He is so considerate of all the patients. No matter who is busy looking in on, he makes sure not to upset their stitches, bandages or IV drips if he starts choking them."
The debate over Bobby Knight has never been more divisive then it is these days with the Reed incident and some are calling for the Indiana administration to let Knight go. But others simply are not ready to let go of the man they think of as a friend as much as an institution.
"If they fire Coach Knight, who knows who the what the next coach might be like," explained Marshall of her support of Knight. "I mean, how do we know the next coach won't just choke people and be on his merry way. A new coach won't have invested so much in our community as Coach Knight has and I don't feel we need to bring in anyone new to choke my sons."
©2000 Copyright David Oliver
DISCLAIMER: These stories are not true. No really. It's all just a joke, you know for fun.
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