I had the privilege of attending the Bob Knight Basketball School years ago as a young player. I learned a lot about the game, a lot about life, and felt challenged and inspired to become a better player and person.
I later had the honor of working three of those camps as my career continued past High School - and felt the same emotions, with the added appreciation of young kids who were trying to learn more about how to play Basketball, and a bit about how to play life.
Coach Knight was quite gracious, and worked those camps, unlike many Coaches who show a few minutes each day, and really just want the financial benefits. Coach Knight can be tough, is demanding, can blister your ears with some horrible language. He has made mistakes - his Puerto Rico encounter might qualify, certainly his comments on rape do. However, he is human, in a constant spotlight, and all make mistakes or say things they would love to erase.
But Coach Knight played by the rules, and his players were student-athletes. He helped most become better people, and they would attest to this. He is not unlike Coach Saban, who a large media segment also reviles at any turn, but with a more volatile temprament - maybe a cross of Woody Hayes with Nick Saban would not be a bad analogy. Not sure.
But I am sure has my respect. He was tough, and Old School Guy, maybe too tough at times. But I attended a Final Four a few years back, and made a point to seek out Coach just to thank him for the impression he made on me, and the inspiration he gave. He remembered me right away, and we chatted pleasantly for almost half an hour. You can tell the time out of Coaching has mellowed him a good deal, you can sense he might regret some things, but you also know the tough old Coach and that fire is lurking right below the surface.
He knows he is not perfect, but Coach Knight is comfortable in his skin because by and large, he did things the right way, did things his way.
But, as kids say now, "Haters gonna Hate"
:smile: