College basketball

Readers sound off on Bob Knight

Was Texas Tech coach out of line? Read on

NBC Sports

updated 12:01 p.m. ET Feb. 4, 2004

If you buy a pit-bull, don't expect it to act like a french poodle.
— Jeff, New York

A coach should never lose two things. His sense of humor and his temper. If he loses either ... Dump him!
— Jerry Welch, Ennis, Montana

Knight is out of control ... again. This is a perfect example of the 'star' philosophy of sports that says 'genius' can be forgiven if it chooses to abuse others. He should be fired ... again.
— Daniel Hines, St. Louis

Why does what happen in a grocery store off the court and away from campus have anything to do with Knights coaching abilities on the court? I think this is just another "hype story." I think Texas Tech should do nothing and let Mr. Bob Knight and the Chancellor work things out on their own. ... They are adults right?
—Kelly Heath, Kunkle, Ohio

Tech should get Knight back to coaching as soon as possible. His outbutsts and temper put fans in the stands which is money in the bank for Tech. Plus, Knight has turned Tech into a wining basketball program. You may not like Knight but you can't argue with his winning percentage.
— John James, San Antonio

I don't think people should be put under a spot light because of who they are. If this would have been any one else this would not be news, worth reporting. He's who he is and they (TT) knew what they were getting. A great coach and a human being.
— Alvin J. Adams, Houston

Texas Tech should set an example for the entire country and dump Coach Knight. By removing him, Tech would demonstrate to everyone young and old, that good sportsmanship begins with setting a good example. Too many young people think it is okay to yell and scream to get their way. Canning Knight would show that our values and how we treat one another are still important lessons in life. Getting rid of Bad Bobby, would be the ultimate victory for Texas Tech, the Big 12, and the country.
— Sandy Diamond, St. Louis

After what he did a few months ago to a reporter, he should be fired. He should be a leader and a role-model for those young men. He does not have any of those qualities. Winning isn't everything.
— Molly Pate, Texarcana, Texas

The Texas Tech Chancellor needs to cow boy up and act like a man instead of a spoiled brat if he intends to be a Texan.
— Jerry Matt, Browning, Montana

Texas Tech is lucky to have Bob Knight. Had anyone ever heard of Texas Tech before 2001? What is with the comment, "Wise up Tech, get rid of Knight?" Get rid of Knight? Why? Because he had an exchange of words in a grocery store? Because he gets angry and uses curse words? Look what he has done for Tech! He is 56 wins away from Dean Smith's winning record. He has brought more publicity, fans, and players to Texas Tech than anyone could have dreamed. If he were anyone other than the legendary coach from Indiana, you can bet his "altercation" would never had made it to media headlines. Altercations happen every day between co-workers. There are just too many head hunters out for Mr. Knight. Give the man a break, along with the respect he deserves.
— Adrienne Bach, Sellersberg, Ind.

Bob Knight is what he is. Texas Tech knew that when they hired him. The Big 12 has needed a good coach with some personality since Billy Tubbs left and Norm Stewart retired.
— J. Rembecki, Lebanon, Mo.

Check the comments of both people. He's been suspended 5 days. Move on.
—Sande Bemis, Rockville, IN

Knight should be fired. he is not a good role model for anybody....
— Walt Titchener, Dunn, N.C.

I don't care as long as you keep him in Texas. We don't want him back in Indiana.
— Doug Bonnell, Columbus, Indiana

Coach Knight has the right to go to a grocery store without the Chancellor making comments to him. The chancellor was out of line.
— Fred Taylor, Harlingen, Texas

Knight has done a great job for Tech and for Lubbock. However, I feel that he does need to realize that he is much more than a coach to this school and this community and does need to be responsible for his actions. I really would not want to see him go, but he does have a history. Texas Tech, like everyone else, knew this when signing him on. I think he should be reprimanded to let him know this is not acceptable, but also given a probationary period.
— Mary Falcon Martinez, Lubbock, Texas

Let's see exactly what happen and what was said. Bob Knight is good for students in that he makes them get good grades and learn. However he should learn to control his temper at times. Some people know that he is a marked man and say things just to try to draw him into confrontations knowing he will probably get the worst end of it because of the past (i.e. the student at Indiana right before he left).
— Frank Baldwin, Cincinnati

Texas Tech SHOULD DO NOTHING ... Knight was off campus. The Chancellor probably encouraged an outburst knowing Knight's history...Knight is just an excitable guy ... leave him alone. His own pressure and demons will catch up with him. Let him do what he does best COACH.
— Patricia, Chicago

Any school that hires Bobby Knight should know what they are going to get: a winning basketball program and an emotionally immature man. With Knight, you don't get the good without the bad. Many teams will accept his flaws to achieve his successes. But, he may find from now on, once he builds a program that, hopefully, someone else can take over, his welcome may well wear out.
— L.A. Huston, Kaysville, Utah

I think the whole thing is overrated leave BOBBY alone he's only human, I just believe the tirades seemed to dominate the teacher and coach that Knight was just as any highlight of Knight is most likely to show him yelling at someone.
— Willie Benson, Chapel Hill, N.C.

How can you and I have any intelligent comments or responses without knowing all the facts and details. Coach Knight would be criticized if he chose mayo over mustard.
— Frank Hamilton, Greensburg

Put him on probation with the stipulation that other similar (unacceptable) behavior results in his immediate dismissal. In other words, the same thing that happens to everyone who has a job in America.
— Max, Seattle

Coach Knight is simply a man who commands respect. I admire him for that. I doesn't brown-nose just to keep his job. He is a Strong man. And he turns his players into strong men. The Media never prints the good that he does both for his team and the rest of the Universities he has coached at. I would send my son to play for coach Knight any day.
— J.T. Johnson Jr., Columbia, Mo.

Nothing! They hired the guy knowing he had a history of anger management problems. Who at Texas Tech thought their rose smelled any better than Indiana's when they were courting him to move to Lubbock? Bob Knight, is what he is, a great coach with an attitude problem.
— Patrick Moneymaker, Dallas

Sadly, as long as produces winning teams, there will always be some school that turns a blind eye to the baggage he brings and the trouble he causes. Nice to see the integrity in that decision, like saying it's not how you get there but that you get there. He is a disgrace to himself.
— Matt, Portland

I think Texas Tech and Indiana University should coordinate a group therapy session with Bob Knight and everybody that he has belittled over his career. Mr. Knight would have to sit and listen with a big piece of tape over his mouth so he could not respond. Invite his wife and kids to sit in and listen to everybody tell their experiences with Bob Knight (good and bad). Tough love.
— Pat Powell, Marshall, Texas

Send him to the NFL, put him in charge of the 2005 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
— Len Abeita, Houston

Well, first of all we should forgive him. The problem is not Knight, the problem is with our society that has lost its moral foundation. We raise our kids not to respect anybody, we want them to be aggressive, and when they are not aggressive we considered them weak! Woe unto us all, woe unto us for we have lost our values!
— Ike Ikonne, Carrollton, Texas

Don't tell Bob how to coach his team. He is the man. Quit giving him all the hits until you know what really was said and by whom.
— M.R. Stallons, Linton, Ind.

Indiana, The NCAA and Texas Tech have given coach Knight more than enough opportunity to deal with his "short fuse." Would the same behavior from a coach with lesser credentials be tolerated as much as it has from coach Knight? Probably not. Looking at coach Knight's actions; recruiting concerns such as the allegations against the Colorado football program and the problems with NCAA coaches in recent years — the NCAA must step up and regain control of college athletics.
— Allen Az-Buki, Tempe, Ariz.

Being a U.T. Longhorn fan, I was amused when Knight first went to Lubbock ... I figured he was a perfect fit. Now my sarcasm is gone, and I'm embarrassed he's in the Big 12. Given his history, Bob Knight shouldn't have been given a chance at another school ... he's had too many 'second' chances already.
— Eric Austin, Austin, Texas

Bob Knight makes Pete Rose look like an angel.
— Augie Karcher, Winona, Minn.

The question should be "Do you really care what Texas Tech does about Bobby Knight?" The Bobby Knight saga is simply boring. Most schools wouldn't let him coach for free, and most parents wouldn't let their kids play for him if it was the only scholarship available. Just look at your poll. Throwing emotional tantrums is Little Bobby's way of squeezing out a little more attention for himself, as all insecure children do. The difference is, most children grow up and become less self-absorbed.
— James Capezio, Yelm, Wash.

Bob Knight has been a victim of the press. Reporters have conducted a vendetta against him because he will not kow tow to them. Most of his players graduate and have great respect for him. There are other coaches who graduate next to no one but get a pass from the media.
— Richard Murphy, Raynham, Mass.

Nothing. Here is a man that returned his last year's salary. I see a man who lives by a standard. I'm a college grad and even I did not have the privilege of going through my college career without some pompous college professor belittling me. Bob Knight proves his worthiness by his consistent graduation rate and his dedication and loyalty to his employer. Leave this crazy man alone and let him enjoy his profession.
— Ron Stone, Harvest, Ala.