AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 14
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Knight must be stopped
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We all know that Taye Diggs’ new show “Day Break” starts tomorrow – and don’t tell me you haven’t seen the commercial about the guy who wakes up and relives the same terrible day over and over again because it comes on 24 times a day. But tell me if you didn’t feel like his character this morning when you saw that Bobby Knight had yet another incident where he’s putting his hands on a player?
Seriously, how many times does this have to happen for someone to say enough is enough. Anybody wanting to argue that it was “no big deal” or “just a tap.” I’m more inclined to side with those who believe it was yet another inappropriate move by a guy who’s destroyed a Hall of Fame legacy with a series of those moves.
In an era where there’s outrage (and rightfully so) when Little League parents snap and fight with coaches and game officials, and often each other, how could anyone dismiss Knight’s lick as no biggie? I heard a who’s who of talking heads explain it away on the radio this morning. And that’s junk.
But I wonder if they’d have the same reaction if that kid Knight smacked had lifted his head, reared back and flattened Knight with a right cross? What happens when Knight puts his hands on somebody that hits back? Is the kid a bigger villain than a coach?
There’s a level of civility that should be involved in the process that seems to be missing here. Gene Keady made some ridiculous comment along the lines of “if parents would do what Knight did at home coach Knight wouldn’t have to.” There’s a genius theory if ever I’ve heard one. Keady’s another of the coaching profession’s dinosaurs who simply doesn’t get it in this case. There is no need to put your hands on someone else’s child. None.
