Jim Mashek - (Biloxi, Miss.) Sun — Texas Tech athletics director Gerald Myers believes in Bob Knight.
Believes he'll bring the Red Raiders to prominence in men's basketball. Believes Knight's ends justify his questionable means. Believes he'll function as an adjusted member of society.
Knight's introductory press conference Friday in Lubbock, Texas, was such in name only. The 60-year-old coach told the 7,500 Texas Tech fans on hand to stick around for the Q&A portion of the festivities, and to offer their input on any questions they might find objectionable.
In other words, follow my lead.
In other words, these subjects were off limits:
l The Puerto Rico policeman Knight assaulted at the 1979 Pan Am Games.
l The sportswriter at whom he fired a starter's pistol, in order, in Knight's words, to "keep from going nuts."
l Neil Reed.
l Indiana University president Myles Brand.
l Showing IU players soiled toilet paper, supposedly for motivational purposes.
l Potted plants thrown at 62-year-old secretaries.
l Going on national television and telling Connie Chung, "If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it."
l Neil Reed.
We are, of course, a nation that is willing to impart with second chances, and Bob Knight is no exception.
Knight was dismissed at Indiana because, ostensibly, he failed to adhere to the school's "zero-tolerance policy," when, in reality, he was fired because he grabbed Neil Reed by the throat on the practice floor and someone recorded the moment with a video camera.
There are no behavior-related clauses in Knight's Texas Tech contract, which is short-sighted but probably the only way Knight would agree to resume his career there.
Knight demands autonomy. He had it at Indiana. He'll get it at Texas Tech.
Reporters were told in Lubbock that they'd get the chance to ask Knight questions, without the interference of thousands of Texas Tech fans, before Knight decided to change the format to suit his needs.
As in:
"How many of you want to hear a follow-up (question) from this guy?"
A cascade of boos ensued.
It was totally shameless.
For all of his coaching genius, for all of his philanthropic efforts, Knight is best known for being a bully. And that's exactly what he is.
The photo from Friday's dog-and-pony show that will live in infamy shows a smirking Knight with Texas Tech's "guns up" hand gesture, like a cowboy firing his pistols into the sky.
Knight, remember, once accidentally shot a friend while on a hunting trip. He's the last guy I'd want to see with a firearm in his hands.
Bob Knight has his second chance, but people are watching. What he does with it is anyone's guess, but his track record suggests the end could be ugly, and it might happen sooner rather than later.
"I'm not right all the time," he said, "but when it comes to this game, I'm right most of the time."
There's a lot more to coaching than just coaching. Gerald Myers will find out soon enough.
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