Woodyknowssport's Blog

NCAA ‘Sip

Bob Knight: Horrible listen

First of all, let me preface this with Bob Montgomery Knight was/is a great X’s and O’s basketball mind.  His three titles at Indiana University is a monument to that (…although the second was because of the greatest six foot guard in NBA history Isaiah Thomas).  Nevertheless, I would have never sent my son or 4^th cousin to a team that he coached, ever!  This commentary however is about the abomination that he levies on every telecast he is assigned to.

Being an avid follower of NCAA basketball and especially the ACC, (…being that it is consistently the best conference on a year to year basis…like SEC in football) I sat in my Lazy boy with a cool drink to take in the Coaches against Cancer tournament this past week.  Before the championship game, the “B” bracket of the tournament took place, California vs. Ohio State.  Although Cali’ was destroyed by the Orangemen in the previous bracket, I was enthused about the prospect of a more competitive game against the Buckeyes.  As I tuned in, I unfortunately heard the unmistakably horrid voice of Mr. Bob Knight, of whom I had given a pass to last year for his commentary because in essence he’s a beginner in the profession.  After this day his pass would become a ‘fail’.

Number one his timing is terrible, I know his is not used to people talking when he does (…if they did in his past he usually reverted to the choke hold to get their attention), but he must realize that he is the analyst not the entire show. 

Number two; maybe he should take a Zig Ziglar class or something to learn how to inflect some emotion in his voice.  Instead, he sounds like Bill Belechick on provac!   He’s as entertaining as seals and flat beach balls, maybe less. 

Number three and the most aggravating, he is constantly ripping the officials on every game.  He did this last year and the American publics I believe were patience with him because we assumed that this was ‘post-coaching syndrome’.  As I listen to the telecast he is still be raiding NCAA basketball officials who have the toughest calls to make out of all officiating in college with baseballs umpires a close second.  Without doubt, basketball officials have more judgment calls and influence on games than any other officiating.  What does he think?  They pull guys out of the stands with no training or experience to referee games.  Or is it that he is trying to bury the ones who gave him flack all those years for putting up with his profane tirades, chair throwing and deathly looks.  I am aware that all college coaches have mandatory rules clinics that involve referees every offseason…but obviously coaches have biases and in this case a large axe to grind.  I believe Knight should be confined to the studio in Bristol, CT for ESPN before a brawl ensues the next time he disagrees with a call…because that’s the only time he gets excited.

Finally, his coaching style like his commentary was just as irritating, very similar to the Princeton offense.  Pass for a half then backdoor…I only give him credit for two championships because Isaiah won one by himself going through the Tarheels with James Worthy.  Just like he was bitter that popular opinion was that Dean Smith was the better coach between the two (…the only reason he kept coaching when obviously it was over for him…passing Coach Smiths win total) now his bitterness has moved to the referees.  Gimme a break!!!…don’t say that he literally might!!!