You don’t read our site to find out about three-time NCAA Championship Coach Bobby Knight retiring from Texas Tech U. with more Ws (902) than any Mens D1 architect ever. But let me share my story . . .
You may, or may not, know that Knight was arrested for assaulting a police officer in my homeland of Puerto Rico during the ‘79 Pan Am Games. The dispute? Use of a practice gym for the USA National team he was directing. The former Indiana U. front man actually amassed a long line of physical and verbal abuses against players, fans, and media in his career, leading him to be fired, after 29 seasons, from IU in 2000. Many of his defenders would note he graduated a high percentage of his student-athletes and was never fined for recruiting violations. But isn’t that the very least a college coach should do?
From ‘84-’88, I attended D3 Wesleyan U. Our coach, Herb Kenny, was a close friend of Bobby Knight’s and even sat alongside him on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Mr. Kenny was not fond of me. I was cut from Varsity three years in a row. In ‘87, between Junior and Senior year, I played pro in Puerto Rico. I came back to campus and tried out for the fourth time. This is what Coach told me, “You are one of the top ten players in this school. You’ve made the team, but I’m telling you today that you will not get any playing time. So you can opt to quit right now.” Huh? I was determined to prove to this man that I deserved burn. Early in the season, sure enough I was on the bench during a close match with Merchant Marine. Cheering for my teammates before a time-out huddle, Herb Kenny yelled out, “Shut up!” and swung his fist backwards. It landed on my chest. It did not hurt physically, but emotionally it drove me nuts. The whole team witnessed it. The next practice, Coach apologized for his actions–not directly to me–but to the team.
I could go on and on about that season, how I was the only Senior he didn’t start during the season’s last home game, etc. but my point is that Bob Knight and Herb Kenny’s physical abuse has no place in college sports. None. Nor does this behavior belong in the streets, where a swing or a choke elevates into much harsh results. How many tournament games have I witnessed in my whole life where a player, even refs, have left bloodied up? Too many. And I’ve heard of worse where dudes been shot cold blood. And over what . . . a game? Basketball? Winning? I don’t like to think of these events, but it’s true. Let’s get it all in perspective. We play for the love. Keep it that way.
Mr. Bobby Knight, congrats on a successful coaching career, and I hope that you have a conscience about the wrongdoings you’ve done, and that the people you’ve hurt forgive you. Everyone deserves another chance. For real. And if you can, help out your man Isiah cuz the Knicks really need it.
And to Mr. Herb Kenny, thank you. You never realized it, but by denying me an enjoyable college basketball experience, you only gave me more energy to never let go of my passion for the game. I stand here as the most successful and world-reknowned player you ever coached. I forgive you and hope that you are well. I mean that.
That’s me shooting a jumper for the JV squad against Navy Prep in ‘85. Does anyone remember the Converse Star Tech? They came out right before the Weapons.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Steve Kluback says:
Front page hog.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Dan the Man says:
Sounds like Herb Kenny was a carbon copy of Bobby Knightmare ! John Wooden said he has the utmost respect for Bobby Knight. He just differs and disagrees with his methods. He has called Bobby Knight “one of the outstanding teachers” the game has had. It has been said that Knight was an excellent teacher of the mechanical parts of the game but was never able to teach the most important part, that joy, passion, and love of the game matter most.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
Great post again B.
First-I dig the shorts.
Second-I’ve always wondered about temper and various interactions regarding people. How can someone who takes a job that’s predicated on teaching, informing, instructing, and inspiring be so horrible at teaching themselves control? I actually got to see the last 10 minutes of the game against Oklahoma State. I saw a couple of careless turnovers by TT, which obviously led to Knight ripping into his players. I observed that curiously, none of his players looked him in the eye as he relentlessly went off on his tirade. I read a story two weeks ago about Rick Majerus who would lay into players calling them lousy excuses…He’d take it further by grabbing his players in the privates. I’m sure y’all have heard the story of him whipping it out when he yelled at his players one time. I’m generally a very laid back person, but I do have a competitive side. Yet in my 18 years of living, I have never seen fighting, screaming, or incessant yelling to solve very many problems…Especially when you’re trying to teach young people how to be better ballplayers AND more importantly better human beings.
Third-Bob Knight visited my Dad at his home on a recruiting trip…My pops has a picture of himself, Bob, and my grandpa, along with a letter (generic I assume) talkiing about how much he enjoyed the visit. I guess they recanted on their scholarship offer though. I’m not sure if he would’ve wanted to play for them anyways. I guess that’s the closest association I have with Knight himself haha.
Bob, you need to keep making posts like this about your past hooping experiences! They’re awesome!
February 8th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Saku 39 says:
Why did Coach Kenny have a problem with you?
February 8th, 2008 at 1:32 am
JosephVecsey says:
Hey, Bob. You read my mind. You’ll know what I’m talking about soon. Good blog. You are correct about everything you said. Sad thing is there’s a lot of Bobby Knights out there along with similar coaches who do the same damage to players and their confidence…And Bob, you know I’ve had the privledge to be around a lot coaches, NBA, college, my own coaches, friend’s of mine coaches, or if I was just observing coaches that have nothing to do with me. But in all my encounters I have came to the conclusion that ninety percent of all coaches right now are horrible. They either have horrible methods or don’t know the game. Or both.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:31 am
love life says:
well ****
sounds like YOU
have done PRETTY OKAY
in the long run…?!?!?!?
them STAR_TECHS?
i had em..not a bad shoe..had mine in ORANGE!!
them SHORTS?
eeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww..looks like ya LIL BOBBITO
was NOT THAT COMFORTABLE at all!!
hahahaha
hahahaha
big ups
always!!
February 8th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Josh de Babylon says:
I agree with Mr. Ripley…Bob, these perspective pieces ARE awesome (this one reminds me of something from your Bugged Soup transcripts, and b’ that “I am Puerto Rican…an open” poem was like sancocho for the soul for this nuyorican when I read it as a teenager).
I was a freshman in college about to take my first journalism class in 2000 when Bob Knight’s career ended at IU.
All Intro-writing courses were full and myself and a dozen other freshmen were placed in an advanced sports writing class. Coach Knights firing was our first mock assignment.
I still remember comparing the leads on the different New York papers trying to figure out how to write a full news story for the first time. The headlines read like “You’re poached coach”& “Finally a bully gets what he deserves,” and it was hard then and its hard now to deal with the irony of how one can try teaching respect and manners to young men by not showing them their due.
Anyway that’s my closest association
…thanks for sharing your story, I really enjoyed reading it.
P.S. Yes, “Vault” on 134th did have your hiking pack and my size! - Plus I mentioned that I came there on your suggestion and they showed extra love on the price saying “cause you’re a friend of Bob’s.” Thank You.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
thanks for all the love, mi gente.
saku–i never figured out why coach kenny didn’t dig me. in my 4 years there, i never once missed a pre-season workout, never cheated on sprints when he wasn’t looking, played everyday whether we had a game or not, was the first to practice adn last to leave. ask any of my classmates then. yes, i might’ve had a lean to get fancy on fastbreaks, but wouldn’t turn the ball over. my jumper was mean. my teammates voted me captain on JV sophomore year. I don’t know bro. still can’t figure it out to this day, but in spanish we say ’siempre p’alante, nunca p’atras’ which means always forward, never backwards. word .
February 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Ray Garcia says:
Bob,
Mr Knight really sets an very bad example for all sports regardsless if whether he team ever wins or the players ever graduate. His job is to create winning players within the sportmanship of the game using the best leadership example he can provide. He fells very short on the leadership example and has done a huge dis-service to the game, his players, and all that allowed him to continue without corrective action.
Mr. Kenny is an example of the product of bad guidance from Mr Knight.
Notice I did not refer to either as coach since I consider coaching an honorable profession when it provides the lasting leadership need to help guide other through the process of acquiring life skills. The true measure of leadership is whether the people they lead emerge better from the experience than before it and a few are inspired to lead others. Coaching is a profession in the service of others, the game, the fans, the school, the organization. It is not a self absorbed profession that should display any out of control anger.
I am all for tough love at the appropriate time and place and to do it by example. Physical, verbal, emotional, or psychological, abuse is simple a sign of a troubled person that has not gain the character to be effective in other ways.
I doubt that Mr Kenny know that be not allowing you to contribute to the team completely that he was motivating you in excel in other ways. That you did on your own and would have done regardless of the inappropriate and lack of leadership from someone in a coaching position.
I completely agree with on the impact of poor sportmanship has on the game. I stopped playing ball years ago just not to have to deal with bad attitudes or people who’s only display of any life motivation was to get into fights over a game.
Street ball is raw and really the best form of the game in my opinion, but it comes at a price, unfortunately it has an ugly side as well. College ball is probably no better as demonstrated by the tolerance for people like McKnight and Kenny. Its the staff and the players and the ref’s that tolerate bad attitudes and behavior that really have a negative impact on the great game of basketball.
I am really glad you posted this on your blog and got it out. The game has many great examples of sportsmanship so maybe your next posting could be of someone you think is the model to follow. I think people can use this kind of advice.
While I know you’ll continue playing for years maybe you should consider coaching as your next move. It is the only way to make that kinds of changes that are needed.
Ray
February 8th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
CCB says:
Solid writing Bobbito. Very detailed and profound. I am going to link to this on my message board. I actually have a PG up at Idaho State who decided to red shirt this year because the coach snatched him by the jersey and left scars on his chest. The athletic department did a half way investigation and didn’t charge the coach. I actually had the biggest problem telling the kid not to press charges. I thought it might be best to part ways without any drama. I don’t mind putting it out there like this because I think what all players, past and present need to realize is that the game of hoops is spiritual. It’s like finding the perfect break beat, kissing the person you love without worrying about sexing them, it’s like lacing up a new pair of kicks in the summer, as a kid, and honestly thinking that you are running a little bit faster. Hoops provides opportunities and often coaches kill dreams instead of creating dreams. Your article just like everything you do is honest and conveys a lot more than just insight into Knight and his clones.
Dope article, important stuff.
Chris
www.marquiathletics.com
www.centercourtbasketball.com
February 9th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Bill Garcia says:
Bob,
Your display of emotional maturity about this situation is comforting. I witnessed the anger and violence about the game at “the Goat” (NYC) back in the day but also in my suburban neighborhood gym recently. During a phase growing up as a teenager in NY, it was hard for me to draw a distinction between my life on and off the court. I was either playing basketball at all hours of the day and night and in any kind of weather, thinking about moves that were made on the court or going through the motions of the rest of my life (school, etc.) thinking all the while where and when was I going to play ball next. So for many disenfranchised urban youth back then in the early 70’s, as I’m sure it is today, they may not have much going on in their lives or value much else in their life besides the pleasure of playing ball in their local Y or Boys & Girls Club with their friends. Where I’m going with these thoughts is that as we do better for ourselves, individually and as a community, look back at those behind you and pull some of those disenfranchised kids out of their environment to show them a better life, free of violence and full of hope.
Basketball, or any other collegiate sport for that matter, can be a vehicle for advancement in one’s life, but because so few make it to the top, academic performance and staying the course through school as well as character and career development must be in place to round out one’s experiences and improve one’s prospects for a good life. I am so proud of you for not letting that bad experience, during your senior year in college, hold you back from fulfilling your dreams.
With love,
Your brother,
Bill
February 10th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Saku 39 says:
Thanks for the response Bobbito - sometimes you can’t change the way people think.
I have similar sentiments about Coach Knight. Although he ran clean programs and his players graduated (very important in college coaching), it is unfortunate that his antics overshadowed his accomplishments.
That said, I still think there are plenty of great college coaches who teach, win, and develop their players (Coach K, Boeheim, Izzo, and I say JT3 in a few years). Yes, there are some Coach Knights but they are the exception not the rule.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:18 am
LC says:
hey mr. garcia -
i respect your feelings towards coach knight, however, I think I have one of the coolest stories to share about Coach Knight. I was running a pre-conference bball event down @ Texas Tech in the fall of 2006. The previous night, the Red Raiders had a difficult time getting ahead of Gardner-Webb (yep, that team that beat Kentucky earlier this year), but finally squeaked out a win. This was the same game where Coach Knight “slapped Michael Prince’s chin” and there was a whole fiasco surrounding that incident (to be honest, no one in the arena even knew it happened til it was ALL OVER sportscenter later that night). Anyway, the next day at shootarounds, Coach Knight sat down the players from Gardner-Webb and gave them a 15-minute pep talk. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in sports. He spoke to them about how proud he was of their tenacity and determination the night before, how impressed he was with their play. He defended his actions with Michael Prince, just saying that he wanted to be looked at when he was speaking to one of his players. My point is, besides the Gardner-Webb team and coaching staff, and a select other few who were lucky enough to be in the gym that day, it was the most moving and inspirational moment I’ve ever seen in sports. Coach Knight has a tremendous amount of respect for the players who play the game, and I was lucky enough to see it first hand. Just wanted to share that.
p.s… please dont hate me because i always make you read that corny sponsor stuff @ elite 24!!! still, i got nothin but love for ya! take care
February 11th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Dan the Man says:
Bobbito: Speaking of your homeland, Hector Valle (former L.A. Dodger)led the way for your countrymen to play catcher in the major leagues. Read his inspiring story.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:16 am
ILYD says:
“Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Thank you, Bobbito, for consistenly injecting emotional intelligence into your articles. In this thirsty world, your thoughts and actions are a tall glass of ice cold H2O.
From the inner cities to the suburbs, this article belongs on the bulletin board of every rec center, gym, and playground.