Bobby Knight’s “love tap” to the chin of sophomore forward Michael Prince on Monday night was far from the coach’s worst behavior.
It isn’t a fireable offense, albeit it is another example of Knight embarrassing the institution for which he works.
Far more disgusting than Knight’s action was the instant series of coaches and commentators who felt the need to vehemently defend him. You would have thought Jay Bilas, Gene Keady, Fran Fraschilla and other college basketball apologists were defending the U.S. Bill of Rights. Only ESPN Radio’s Doug Gottlieb, a former player at Oklahoma State, is on record saying Knight’s action was out of line
Fraschilla went as far to say “hundreds of coaches do this all the time.” OK, Fran, name one that will go on the record that he pops the occasional kid in the chops. You won’t find a single one.
Let’s change the dynamics of the incident for discussion sake. Also, here are some possible responses from fans, the NCAA and media members. What if:
The Knight incident involved a black player? The Rev. Jesse Jackson would have torn himself away from his theatrical crying at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial groundbreaking in Washington, D.C. to hold a press conference in Lubbock by Tuesday night. Other black leaders and coaches would be appalled and call for Knight’s resignation. As a result, the school would close ranks and Knight would not be as much as scolded by Texas Tech.
Missouri Coach Mike Anderson did it? It would create a wave of negative momentum for the first-year coach. Activist and Mizzou alumni Demetrious Johnson would come to the coach’s defense faster than lightning. If the player were white, the Confederate Flag wavin’ crown of rural Missouri would be so offended there would be a call to dismiss Anderson. It would be a good thing the president of the Mizzou system, Elson Floyd, is black.
SLU coach Brad Soderberg did it? With Saint Louis University building a new basketball facility, an incident like this would be viewed differently than at a traditional basketball power. Announcers Bob Ramsey and Earl Austin Jr. would stand by the coach, but SLU President Lawrence Biondi might pull the trigger on a change of coaches. If the player were black, American columnist Maurice Scott might call for a boycott of not only the basketball team, but of the entire school.
Quin Snyder had done it? It would not have mattered if the player were black or white; Snyder would have been fired minutes after the game. If KFNS’ Kevin Slaten had his way, Snyder would have been fired on the spot and Norm Stewart called to coach the rest of the game from his home and then serve as interim coach.
Illinois coach Bruce Webber had done it? After a rocky start in Illini land, Webber would survive the turmoil, regardless of the player’s race.
Vashon coach Anthony Bonner did it? The Floyd Irons’ apologists would roar for Bonner to be released. The somewhat spineless SLPS Board of Education might wilt under the pressure and create even more turmoil by releasing Bonner from not only the coaching position, but his community relations duties as well. Activist Demetrious Johnson would picket Bonner’s house until Bonner stepped outside to politely ask D.J. if he needed a tap to the jaw, as well.
Floyd Irons had done it? Nothing would have happened. Irons put a hurting on a student six years ago (rightfully so, by the way) and it was kept under wraps until this year. Most area hoops fans, media members and coaches weren’t up in arms over missing funds, a scoreboard that cost tens of thousands of dollars and expensive uniforms at one of the poorest schools per capita in the state, so why would they care if a kid got a tough nudge to the chin?