Knight's lawyer admits coach shoved ex-aide
Bloomington, Ind. Bob Knight's lawyer admitted Thursday the former Indiana coach shoved former assistant Ron Felling, but he denied it was assault.
Felling filed a lawsuit in April against Knight and the university, claiming he was wrongfully terminated in 1999. In the lawsuit, Felling claims he was assaulted by Knight.
Knight's attorney, Russell Yates, told Indianapolis TV station WTHR that Knight did nothing more than shove Felling.
"Mr. Felling turned to leave, Bob Knight reached out and pushed him back to say, 'Stay here 'til I'm finished talking to ya.'" Yates said. "That's quite different than being a violent punch to hurt someone."
Felling is seeking damages from Knight, now the coach at Texas Tech, for violating his civil rights, assault, battery and "outrage," a claim relating to Knight's alleged intention to inflict emotional harm.
Detroit Mercy center dismissed from team
Detroit Starting center Mike Harmon was cut from the Detroit Mercy basketball team because of conduct detrimental to the team. Harmon, a senior, started the first 10 games of the season, averaging 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds.
Coach Perry Watson also said senior forward Hilton Napoleon will return to the team after missing the first 12 games of the season.
Former SMSU player given probation
Springfield, Mo. Former Southwest Missouri State basketball player Steven Ausler was given probation Thursday on a drug trafficking charge.
Ausler, who played only three games in the 1999-2000 season before being sidelined by a stress fracture and later arrested, was given a suspended imposition of sentence when he appeared before a Greene County judge.
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