Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Sparks fly in the sports world...
Everyone has probably heard by now about the recent incident where Coach Bob Knight struck a player on the chin during a game. I wanted to see it for myself, so I looked it up on You Tube. You can find anything on youtube by the way. It really comes in handy. So after watching the video I've formed my own opinion about it. When is it ever acceptable to force another person's face up with a blow? Is it okay in the business world, in the classroom, in the home? I don't think so. Coaching is not somehow removed from the basic "rules" of acceptable interaction, so this was out of line. Sometimes emotion overcomes common sense, and we've all made errors in judgement. However, Bob Knight has a well documented history of errors in judgement. In my opinion, he doesn't deserve to have a coaching job- no matter how wonderful his record may be. The cost outweighs the benefit. College age young adults need more than a winning record, they need a role model. Many disagree with this view, which is made obvious by how many come to his defense regarding his "teaching techniques." People expect a coach to be rough, agressive, physical, or at least find it acceptable. I think people need to step back and remember this is a sports game, and focus on the fun and character building aspect. Athletics is not a win-at-all-costs endeavor that some people make it out to be.
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5 comments:
Okay, I'll be the first (and maybe only) to disagree. I watched the video & I honestly didn't think he overstepped his coaching boundaries. While I do not know how forceful the jab to his chin was, it didn't appear in the video to look harmful or painful. Coaches demand respect from their players & players know this before joining a team. I'm sure Coach Knight could have chosen a less controversial method for getting his player's attention, but regardless, I think the media is making way too much out of this incident.
While I don't think we should expect coaches (especially at the collegiate level) not to drive and challenge their players to be better and smarter althletes (this is where the passion and intensity comes into play), I do think it would have been prudent for Knight to have shown his "enthusiasm" at the time in another way. Players are playing sports because it's fun but also because they want to win and be the best - competition will always be at the heart of sports. But look at all the outstanding coaches in all ranges of sports, both collegiate and professional, that seem to be able to inspire a team to greatness without invoking controversy.
I agree with what Rachel said. Coach Knight came to Tech knowing he was under the microscope and yet he still can't control the temper. Yelling and screaming to me is not the way to motivate. I would have stuck out gymnastics longer if I wasn't screamed at all the time. It needs to be fun as well as hard work -with better ways to inspire other than screaming, cussing and physically touching the players in anger. That is my soap box from experience in quitting a sport b/c it was more demeaning than fun.
I see this a little differently. I would never agree that physical contact or innapropriate language should be a part of an athletic program. However, these kids signed up and came on board knowing that Bobby Knight would be their coach and the type of program he ran. They would have understood that he runs his basketball program like a boot camp. He expects perfection out of his players. Even the parents were fine with what had occured. I would not tolerate that with Todd's coach, though.
Interesting comments. I was at Texas Tech when they began courting Knight and witnessed a large movement among the faculty and community members who tried to stop his being hired. I'm sure that now all of them are thinking "we told you so!". I also lived in Indiana for 3 years after living in Lubbock, so I know that a lot of people are just die hard fans of the man, no matter what he does. My opinion? In a nutshell, its a game. I think people on both sides of the conversation have good points, but I take a pretty apathetic stance on the whole thing.
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