Knight did nothing wrong, Tech official says
Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers said today that Bob Knight “did not do anything wrong” when the basketball coach appeared to grab the chin of sophomore forward Michael Prince during Monday night’s game against Gardner-Webb. In a timeout called after Prince made a mistake on the floor, Prince walked back to the team huddle with his head down when Knight appeared to make the player look at him by grabbing his chin. It appeared on camera that Knight might have slapped Prince.
Bob Knight’s history of angry, misogynistic, juvenile, and Neanderthal behavior towards fans, referees, the press, and his own players is something that should have no place at an institution of higher learning. Of course, his teams win, which when you get right down to it, is all that administrators and fans really care about. Win games, sell tickets, and bring attention to your school, and you can get with away with a helluva lot of bad behavior. Lose, and you’re out on your butt…even if you’re the Mother Teresa of the Hardwood.
If you watch the tape of Monday night’s incident, it’s clear that Knight slapped Michael Prince. No matter how Gerald Myers tries to spin reality, BOB KNIGHT SLAPPED MICHAEL PRINCE. Why Texas Tech’s athletic director is choosing to soft-pedal Knight’s latest gaffe is both inexcusable and yet understandable. Knight’s teams win, and he puts butts in the seat, which produces revenue for Tech’s athletic department. So he slaps a player now and again. Boys will be boys, no??
“I have discussed this with Michael Prince, his parents and Coach Knight,” Myers said in a release Tuesday. “Coach Knight did not slap Michael.
“Here is what happened: Michael came off the court with his head down and Coach Knight quickly lifted Michael’s chin up and said, ‚Äö√Ñ√≤Hold your head up and don’t worry about your mistakes. Just play the game.’
“In my opinion, Coach Knight did not do anything wrong.”
And in my opinion, Coach Knight is getting a free pass because his teams win and Gerald Myers doesn’t have the cojones to do the right thing. If Michael Prince were my son, I’d have filed suit against Knight and Texas Tech before the game was over. There’s absolutely no excuse for Knight to strike a student/athlete, and if Tech cannot even protect it’s students from a Tech employee, then someone need to clean house.
Bobby Knight needs to realize that there are limits…yes, even for him. And striking one of his players cannot even BEGIN to be described as acceptable or appropriate- under any circumstances. That Tech’s athletic director is willing to blithely ignore Knight’s violent and inappropriate behavior makes me question his fitness for a leadership position.
Coach Knight needs to go…NOW. Of course, it’s not going to happen. As long as Tech keeps winning, Tech in particular, and Lubbock generally, will condone just about anything short of rape and murder. And if he wins an NCAA championship…well, not even rape and murder would likely prove an impediment to his continued employment.
Despicable, isn’t it?
