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Greencastle, Indiana ~ Saturday, July 5, 2008
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Don't Worry Hoosier Fans...Character's On The Way!
Posted Thursday, February 21, 2008, at 7:01 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
I guess maybe I coulda told ya Kelvin Sampson might have a short stay in Monroe County. After all, he brings his song and dance from Norman, home of the same hallowed halls that produced the messianic Barry Switzer, countless inquirys into pesky, naughty little things like rapes by athletes, cocaine smorgassboards, academic anemia, graduation rates in the single digits in some programs, etc. But hey, they won a bunch, and did produce a role model everyone can be proud of, Brian Bosworth. Before I get you too upset. it is widely rumored that Dan Dakich will fill in for our good buddy on an interim basis. Yeah, I know that Dakich held Jordan to 13 pts in the 1984 NCAA Tournament, but I also know that he averaged less than 4.0 ppg throughout his stellar career at IU. Defensive specialist? Whatever you say. There's also that incredible tenure of his at Bowling Green where he made the NCAA Tournament in the powerful MAC Conference how many times? I think the answer might be zero. To summarize, let me give you a little personal experience that you might find amusing. I'm a huge IU fan, always have been. I was in Bloominton in the early/mid 80s and had plenty of opportunities to interact with IU players under the General's watchful eye...those same players who Knight was credited for molding into outstanding young men. Well, let me tell you...every time I encountered them, they were pompous jerks. Not once did any of them take a second to say hi or chat with any of my friends or I. Until once. As I remember, it was early spring and two girls who I lived close to just north of 10th Street invited me to go with them to a party at the Pointe on Lake Monroe. To make a long story short, the evening wore on and I think drinking may have been involved. One of my friends had hooked up with none other than Dan Dakich. We decided to drive back into Bloomington, and our future mentor of IU Basketball was being a tad bit too aggressive with my friend. She had enough and, for the most part, informed the coach he would not be riding the rest of the way home with us. So, we pushed him out of the car in the middle of the country and went our merry way home. I guess he made it back somehow; he was at commencement That being said, good thing we're getting that crazy guy who made too many phone calls outta there. GO IU! Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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Ha. Big shoes to fill. IU's intimidating proverbial canvas of Big Ten basketball supremacy is literally splattered with the blood of men who possessed immense character and integrity. Sadly, that blood was only spilled when a group of scholarly passersby was struck by a barrage of flying chairs.
I miss Bobby Knight. (Havent watched an IU game since he left...)
That said, any school that would proudly associate itself with Kinsey says all I need to know about it. (Neither my kids nor my money will go to IU.)
This may be the best thing I have read on the banner-blogging. Insightful and possibly inciteful. I am sure you will get lots of feedback on this story!
Are you a member of the loud whispering underground BBB group? "Bring Bobby Back"
I, too, miss Bobby Knight, even though he is a jerk and all, he was an effective jerk. And he was an educator, not just a jock.
I saw his boys interact with some young students and they were not a bit pompous, instead, very gracious to them, not to mention clean cut.
He made IU bb something to watch. I would love to see him win 1000 plus games back home again in Indiana.
Yeegads, I can't believe I feel that way or am admitting it.
ML: I know what you mean about Kinsey, their dark little, not so secret "jewel".
Keith, you bring up a good point about Sampson and the whole atmosphere at Oklahoma. I was disappointed when IU hired Sampson but was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. The shame and probable loss of his job are because of his own actions even after being given an incredible opportunity here at IU.
I do think we can give previous players a break over behaviors. We were all young once and all have made our share of stupid and wrong choices and things we would prefer not be out there for the public. I would prefer IU only use Dakich as an interim and conduct a nation-wide search to hire the best coach to lead IU forward with integrity as well as winning on the court. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt as to growing up and maturing and not hold some past dumb choice against him. Go IU!
I suppose we should all be given a break on our college behavior. (God knows I'd like one.)
But with that said, that's a funny story. Who knew the man who could shut down Jordan could be shut down by an unwilling co-ed?
Ther is something to be said about a man who broke the very rules the NCAA put into place because of something that same man did!
I agree that we should all catch a break on how we behaved in college. We were young, stupid know-it-alls who've gone on to become old and certain to find out how little we really ever know.
As for Coach Knight: he has character and I think his major sin is that he is too primary colored in an age where we seem to like our heroes more in pastel and shades of gray. You get no gray with Bob Knight. Like many others I've talked to, IU Basketball lost some if its luster for me when he was fired.
As for Sampson: wasn't in favor hiring him (but no one asked me) and am only sorry to see him go because of the utter chaos he is leaving behind. (Anyone else thing AD Greenspan ought to go too?)
Just like it's not enough to be a good athlete, it's not enough to be a good coach. You gotta be a good person, too. Sampson doesn't have enough of those redeeming qualities to save him on a personal level in my eyes.
I do hope he gets his day before NCAA and Miles Brand. I think they deserve each other.
You don't have to be an all star to be a good college coach. Some of the best coaches were ones who were students of the game and knew how to motivate young players.
I know this takes us back a few comments, but the Kinsey reference got me thinking about something. Perhaps Dakich was studying under Kinsey and the backseat episode was merely trying to gain real-world experience.
Bobby Knight is speaking at "Little Nashville" in April....
As I admitted my ignorance for college basketball previously, I dont know most coaches from another. (I think all the ones I knew, maybe with the exception of Coach K, are retired or worse...)
However, what happened to Steve Alford? Wasnt he doing a pretty decent job at Iowa?
As much as I would love to relive the glory days of IU basketball under The General - I dont think it would be the same if he came back.
Plus that would never happen unless you sacked IUs president and most of the other people in power there... there is too much bad blood from the parting.