Few figures in college sports have towered over the domain
as forcefully as that of Bobby Knight over college basketball for more than 30
years. Known as “The General”, Knight retired
in 2008 as the all-time winningest coach in Division I men’s basketball history
with 902 victories (currently ranks 3rd) and is also credited with
ensuring that his players were not just athletes, but true student-athletes.
However, his legacy is forever tarnished by his reputation
as a bully and inability to control his anger sometimes both on and off the
court.
Today, February 23rd, marks the 35th
anniversary of one of his most famous blowups and in many ways the event that
foreshadowed his fall from professional grace.
Bobby Knight's chair throwing incident foreshadowed other outbursts to come.
Few figures in college sports have towered over the domain as forcefully as that of Bobby Knight over college basketball for more than 30 years. Known as “The General”, Knight is the all-time leader in coaching victories in Division I men’s basketball history with 903 and is also credited with ensuring that his players were not just athletes, but true student-athletes.
However, his legacy is forever tarnished by his reputation as a bully and inability to control his anger sometimes both on and off the court.
Today, February 23rd, marks the 25th anniversary of one of his most famous blowups and in many ways the event that foreshadowed his fall from professional grace.
During a Big Ten basketball game between Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers, Knight became frustrated with a call by the officials and received a technical foul. Irate, Knight turned to his bench, picked up a plastic chair and then flung it across the court. He received a second technical foul and ejection and was later suspended for a game and fined by the Big Ten.
Indiana ultimately lost 72-63 and Knight’s reputation for a quick temper was suddenly part of the national lexicon.
Bobby Knight Is:
All of the Above (45%, 22 Votes)
An All-Time Great Coach (35%, 17 Votes)
A Bully (14%, 7 Votes)
A Tragic Figure (4%, 2 Votes)
In Need of Therapy (2%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 49
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It would take 15 years and a number of additional incidents, but Knight was eventually fired by Indiana University for his repeated outbursts, including incidents of laying hands on players.
He completed his coaching career at Texas Tech and is, ironically considering all the years he harassed the media, now working as a basketball commentator for ESPN.
The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is one of the most underappreciated wide receivers in NFL history, despite boasting a career that spanned 16 seasons and saw him excel as one of the league’s premier deep threats. Known for his speed, route-running, and ability to make plays downfield, Harold Jackson left an indelible mark on the game during an era that was not yet pass-heavy. Standing at 5’10” and weighing 175 pounds, he defied expectations of size to become a dominant force on the field. Over the course of his illustrious career (1968–1983), Jackson totaled 10,372 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns, placing him among the top receivers of his time.
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