# Bobby Knight gets canned (or, "Hoosier Daddy?") **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 10, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709 "2000-09-10T23:10:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/1 "2000-09-10T23:10:23Z")
In case you haven’t heard the [news](http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000910/ts/ncaab_knight_dc_5.html), Bobby Knight will have to throw chairs around the unemployment office now that Indiana University has fired him. I’m torn over this one. One side of me says that he is a jerk who’s had it coming, and that the university warned him that the next time he so much as looked at someone cross-eyed, he was history. The other, more cynical side of me, notes that Bobby Knight has been showing his ass for as long as I’ve been following college basketball (which, in Kentucky, actually begins in the womb) and this didn’t become an issue until he had a good string of less-than-spectacular seasons. I also can’t get around the coincidence that the student allegedly “roughed up” by Knight is the son of a radio talk show host and one of Knight’s biggest critics. I also don’t think that this is a great move PR-wise for the University. They claim that Knight generates so much negative press that it reflects badly on the University as a whole. But people watch basketball for entertainment, and Knight is entertaining. A better argument might be that Knight’s attitude turns away good recruits for the team, but most would say that Knight’s style of play is not conducive to the modern superstar anyway. So who is blowing smoke up whose ass here? Was Indiana in the right? If you were a college out there in need of a coach, would you hire Bobby? Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/2 "2000-09-10T23:12:15Z")
Note: the rest of the subject was supposed to read (or, “Hoosier Daddy?”), in a bit of wit foiled by the technology. Don’t know what happened there. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![JonF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JonF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonF)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/3 "2000-09-10T23:16:15Z")
Knight should have been fired years ago. His conduct has been inexcusable since the dawn of time. Indiana University should be ashamed that hey didn’t do this long ago. Screw entertainment and the importance of basketball in the midwest. Inexcusable conduct is inexcusable. ---
**Author:** ![JonF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JonF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonF)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/4 "2000-09-10T23:26:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t know what happened there. IIRC, you previewed your post and submitted from the preview screen. If you had submitted without previewing, or gone back from the preview screen to the original composition screen and submitted from there, the quoted portion would have remained. ---
**Author:** ![needspeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c2a13f/32.png) [@needspeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needspeed)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2000, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/5 "2000-09-10T23:28:34Z")
Knight should have been gonzo way back. Great coach/shitty person. Indiana wussed out back when he choked that kid. How many fifteenth chances do you give a guy, though? He’s a heart attack waiting to happen. * * * [http://www.angelfire.com/indie/brainingdamage](http://www.angelfire.com/indie/brainingdamage) come for the fish, stay for the fun ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2000, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/6 "2000-09-10T23:42:36Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] I fixed the title, in case anyone wonders what DoctorJ was talking about. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/7 "2000-09-11T02:13:53Z")
From what I’ve heard, that specific incident with the 19 year old had little to do with it. In the past month, he’s grabbed a player by the neck during practice (which they’ve shown footage of on the news again and again today) and “treated in an unacceptable manner” a female IU employee. I gotta agree with your cynical side- I can’t believe the university didn’t know about choking incidents in the past and the throing chairs on court should’ve been grounds for a “shape up or ship out” warning. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/8 "2000-09-11T02:27:17Z")
I’m no fan of Bobby Knight, but the guys was definitely baited into this one. That doesn’t excuse it, but it’s a fairly cheesy way to end the guy’s career at Indiana. Unfortunately for Knight, he comes from an era where “disciplining” players by shouting, grabbing, etc., was acceptable. Today’s kids ARE coddled, but that doesn’t mean they should be abused. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/9 "2000-09-11T02:48:19Z")
Personaly, after reading the Reuters story on his firing, I think Knight was set up. BUT I don’t think his firing was wrong, just late…It sounded like they had more reason to fire him than just the arm grabbing…He has been a real putz to the administration and others at Indiana. When I heard about his “zero tolerance probation” I couldn’t believe it. They shoulda just canned his butt then, instead of making themselves look stupid with that. ---
**Author:** ![Bassguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@Bassguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bassguy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/10 "2000-09-11T03:56:02Z")
Just a quick aside. I play in a band called “Hoosier Daddy,” which we always thought was fairly comical. Guess we have to come up with a new name. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/11 "2000-09-11T04:29:30Z")
Baited? Set up? There’s footage of him forcibly grabbing a player by the neck and pushing him. I can’t see how that’s a set up. ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/12 "2000-09-11T05:14:35Z")
\*\* Mojo, \*\* I think the term set up has more to do with WHO was kind of egging him on. It was Bobby’s most vociferous critic’s son calling him ‘Hey KNIGHT!’. I think the kid probably WAS being provocative, but that’s beside the point. Bobby has continued off course as far as his temper is concerned, and he doesn’t seem to take the warnings seriously. It’s amazing that anyone would hire him, and yet, don’t you just know, SOMEONE will? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/13 "2000-09-11T06:44:31Z")
The final event which everyone assumes precipitated Knight’s ouster wasn’t what sealed Knight’s fate. Knight was supposed to start mending his ways with various IU officials (including the Athletic Director). Knight hadn’t. The President had told him that he would have to be fired if he didn’t shape up immediately. Knight didn’t and the president of IU justifiably canned him. I think you must have some sort of screwed up family background if you were a kid who wanted to play for someone like Knight. If I had a son, I wouldn’t want him to play for anyone remotely like Knight. He doesn’t act the way normal human beings should. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/14 "2000-09-11T10:33:17Z")
I don’t think he should have been fired for this, 'cause it was an obvious set-up. I think he should have been fired years ago for being a violent, all-around jerk and a bad example to the students of IU. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/15 "2000-09-11T13:57:41Z")
What if he were a professional coach? Is the fact that he was coaching college kids the determining factor? Knight was definitely old school. From what I understand, Vince Lombardi was the same way. Maybe I am wrong on this point. Knight was a dictator, but never cheated or got Indiana put on probation. He was adamant about making sure his players attended class, studied, and if all possible, graduate. A trait that is becoming increasing rare these days. I also think most of his former (and current?) players have good things to say about what they learned under Knight. As far as the recent “Hey Knight” incident goes, if one were to list the top 25 egregious things Knight has done, this would be number 32 on the list. If IU was going to fire the guy, they should have done it before this. They were just looking for an excuse. Now, I’m just playing a bit of devil’s advocate here for debate purposes. I personally don’t like Knight, and am not sorry to see him go. I’ll shed no tears over the guy. His press conferences were never boring, though. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/16 "2000-09-11T14:10:42Z")
I don’t give a flying rat’s patoot about Knight, but just wanted to thank Doctor J for giving me a Rocky & Bullwinkle flashback with the title of this thread. Waste Flick Lives! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/17 "2000-09-11T15:48:24Z")
Like I said in the other thread on this one, I think it was past time to can his butt. This was just the final blow. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/18 "2000-09-11T16:20:47Z")
His graduation rates were among the highest in the country. That’s probably because the players wanted to get away from the asshole. Yeah, Indiana U has been chickenshit about firing him. If they would’ve had any balls, he would’ve been fired decades ago. I don’t think he’s simply an abusive prick. I think he’s nuts. Really, really nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Needs2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5e925/32.png) [@Needs2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Needs2know)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/19 "2000-09-11T16:28:15Z")
I think Indiana had been proud of Bobby Knight as their coach for many years. His antics were always laughed off. That is until he became unable to bring in a winning team. If you thought Knight was an asshole then there isn’t any reason for not thinking Indiana was more concerned with winning than with the behavior of their staff. Which is pretty obvious. They’ve gotten rid of the man now because he hasn’t been bringing them glory like in the old days. His behavior never bothered them before. I can’t honestly believe that Indiana is concerned about being “politically correct” in this instance. They just want to win. Needs2know ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709/20 "2000-09-11T16:51:36Z")
Well, like **Saint Zero** , I’ve posted to the other thread (in IMHO). I totally agree with what \*_Rysdad_ said in this one: > [@](#): > > I don’t think he’s simply an abusive prick. I think he’s nuts. Now, I wouldn’t use the term “nuts,” but I think (and have thought for a long time) that there is something wrong with Knight. As I said in the other thread, I’ve known people with anger-control problems. Last year I was playing pool with a guy one minute, the next minute he threw a chair through the window. Fortunately he’s had treatment for his problems, and he’s going to be OK. The same can’t be said for Knight–as long as he won’t admit his problems, he’s not going to get any better, and he’s going to hurt (hopefully not physically) people around him. Just as bad, though, are the people who have been standing up for him all this time, especially IU and his fans. Defending someone’s anger-control problems are like defending an alcoholic. A friend of mine who beat alcoholism told me that you have to hit rock bottom sometimes before you realize you need help. As long as his fans and IU were telling him that he was the greatest coach of all, why did he ever need to change? He wasn’t losing anything by behaving the way he did. I think it’s all a shame–Knight is, demonstratably, a technically gifted coach, really sharp on basketball tactics. But I think almost everyone here is right so far in saying that he should have gone a long, long time ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobby-knight-gets-canned-or-hoosier-daddy/32709.md?page=2)