a season on the brink

[mighty peace warrior]

i just finished reading this book about Bobby Knight, and it is excellent. I am not in anyway a Knight fan or an Indiana one but it was a good book. He is an interesting cat.

for those of you not familiar with the book it follows him with unlimited access, during the 85-86 season. that was one year after one of his worst ever seasons and one before he one the National Championship for a third time.

[BF_in_Indiana]

It's a good book but a total betrayal by John Feinstein. Knight gave him some paramaters to follow and he broke almost all of them. I don't think the two have spoken since the book came out.

I also think that book was the beginning of a long end for Knight at Indiana.

[CoachC.]

I've read two books on Knight. (I'm a fan).

The first is a double book. The first half is called, "Oh What a Knight!" and has stories written from a lot of people praising Bobby for everything he has done.
The other side is called, "Knightmares," which is a bunch of bad stories about Knight written by other people.

The second book (which I highly recommend) is Knight's auto-biography called, "My Story." Whether you like him or not, you will get a GREAT understanding for this man and what he stands for. It's a bit long, but well worth the read.

He also address the Feinstein book in that book -- and what BF said is right.

[BF_in_Indiana]

"My Story" is a very good book. I own it in hardback form. It's a good look at the man and his values.

There isn't a better person to teach values and respect in America than Bob Knight. Unfortunately for him and Indiana University I think he became a microcosm of his own ego towards the end. As I said, a lot of his troubles came about following the release of that book. Incidents like the "whip" at the '92 NCAA tournmanet became "news" because of that book. Eventually the University (especially if you aren't winning anymore) grows tired of the public outbursts and embarrassment. That's what finally broke the camels back.

[mighty peace warrior]

i may read my story next... i guess i dont see the big issue wiht feinstein's book.

the book didnt cause him to grab neil reeds neck, or make a tacky joke like teh whip one. bob knight did a lot of stupid ****, stuff a "teacher" should not do. he has a lot of positive qualities though and my impression of him is actually better now from reading it. when that book was written i was in High School and thought he was total psycopath

[BF_in_Indiana]

The whip thing wasn't an issue. The media made it an issue. The players BOUGHT him a whip and he was playing around with it at practice. His players were clearly having a good time with it on the video (even the black ones). It made for a whole lot of nothing but as I said, the book brought his temper into the spotlight and the media eye a little bit more than it was.

[CoachC.]

.... i guess i dont see the big issue wiht feinstein's book.

Well, according to Knight, he gave Feinstein "unlimited access" so he could write his book. But he said to him, I don't want the word "****" anywhere in there," and Feinstein agreed.

Then, the first chapter alone (correct me if I'm wrong) attributes that word being used by Knight a ton of times, and repeats it throughout the book.

That's just one of the examples he used.

[mighty peace warrior]

Well, according to Knight, he gave Feinstein "unlimited access" so he could write his book. But he said to him, I don't want the word "****" anywhere in there," and Feinstein agreed.

Then, the first chapter alone (correct me if I'm wrong) attributes that word being used by Knight a ton of times, and repeats it throughout the book.

That's just one of the examples he used.
it wouldnt have been a very honest book if he had left out knights potty mouth

[mighty peace warrior]

The whip thing wasn't an issue. The media made it an issue. The players BOUGHT him a whip and he was playing around with it at practice. His players were clearly having a good time with it on the video (even the black ones). It made for a whole lot of nothing but as I said, the book brought his temper into the spotlight and the media eye a little bit more than it was.
it was an issue because it was a stupid decision. just because a bunch of 19 and 20 year old kids thought it was funny doesnt mean it was smart.

i dont think he got fired for the whip, he made a series of bad decisions. just the stupid stuff he had done in the book and before hand was enough for them to fire him.

[BF_in_Indiana]

it wouldnt have been a very honest book if he had left out knights potty mouth

If he didn't like the paramaters he was given to work with he didn't have to write the book. Yes?

[BF_in_Indiana]

it was an issue because it was a stupid decision. just because a bunch of 19 and 20 year old kids thought it was funny doesnt mean it was smart.

i dont think he got fired for the whip, he made a series of bad decisions. just the stupid stuff he had done in the book and before hand was enough for them to fire him.

What's so stupid about messing around with your team? So they think he's a taskmaster. Just because some stupid idiot with a camera shares it with the media who then try to label him a racist doesn't mean it was "stupid" on his part to have a good time with his team.

He got fired for other reasons, but issues (in this case something that shouldn't have been an issue) like this ended up being his downfall.

[mighty peace warrior]

swing a whip around black players? you dont know what is stupid about that?

i am not saying he was doing it racially but it was a bad decision on his part to go along with it..specificaly since he knew people outside the team were watching.

[mighty peace warrior]

If he didn't like the paramaters he was given to work with he didn't have to write the book. Yes?
doesnt change the real topic, which is the coach. Knight can be pissed at the guy, i could care less. Its still a good book, and probably paints a more true picture of the man than the one he wrote about himself.