New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden weighed in on the Bob Knight-John Calipari episode of last week.
In a column published Monday, Rhoden suggested that Calipari and Knight are more alike than different. Each got away with transgressions that might have had more severe consequences for other coaches. Why? Because Calipari and Knight won games.
Authorities looked the other way when Knight was involved in an altercation with a Puerto Rican policeman in 1979, dumped a LSU fan in a garbage can in 1981, threw a chair in a game and got caught putting a hand on the throat of player Neil Reed.
Two of Calipari’s programs — Massachusetts and Memphis — had to vacate Final Four appearances because of rule violations.
“Knight wonders why Calipari is still coaching,” Rhoden wrote. “He is because Kentucky wants championship banners.
“Why was Knight allowed to keep going? Because Indiana wanted championship banners.
“Let’s stop the moralizing. Knight and Calipari: first cousins of the NCAA cloth.”
3 comments ↓
YOU FORGOT TO MENTION BOBBY KNIGHT NEEDS TO TAKE AIMING HIS SHOTGUN LESSONS. KNIGHT AND HIS HUNTING BUDDY SPRAYED A HOUSE WITH SHOTGUN SHELLS SHOT EVEN WENT IN THE OWNERS SWIMMING POOL ITS ON YOUTUBE. WATCH IT!!
the difference in Calipari and Knight is; Knight was found guilty of his TRANSGRESSIONS…where as Calipari was exonerated….Please quit “skewing” the facts to make a point in your article……
As a principle of historiography (the way historical events and eras are researched, thought about, and written), an honest portrayal in comparing two people (and events and eras) would include salient points about how two people (and events and eras) DIFFER, not only how they are similar!
Bobby Knight and John Calipari DIFFER perhaps more than they are alike. For example, Calipari has not had any infractions while at Kentucky (albeit a short time), while Knight had many WHILE he coached at Indiana– BIG difference!
Second, the infractions under Calipari did not occur by his instigation–he has never been implicated–BIG difference!
It is extremely easy to make historical comparisons. MUCH harder to make them (historiographically) relevant.
Shame on columnist Jerry Tipton for not making valid comparisons by pointing out the obvious and RELEVANT differences between Knight and Calipari and thus correcting the NYT columnist. Tipton had the chance to amend the NYT columnist’s account and point out the specious argument. Opportunity lost.
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