Bobby Knight refused to call the Kentucky Wildcats by their name on ESPN segments over the weekend. The former Indiana coach, instead, said “that team from the SEC,” when asked who was most likely to be upset this weekend.
The topic is gaining widespread media attention, being featured in an article on USA Today.
Many are saying that it’s one thing to cheer for a team you used to coach, but it’s something else to openly disrespect the opposition, especially when you’re not a coach, you’re an ESPN sports analyst.
But the famed coach is no stranger to garnering media attention for his erratic behavior:
Knight does not hide his hatred of the the Wildcats or Coach Calipari.
Even after hearing Knight’s criticism, John Calipari has nothing but respect for the coach.
In a speech in Wabash, Indiana, he claims that Kentucky players don’t even go to class. At the time, Kentucky had the second highest GPA in the SEC.
The rules of non-bias in sports commentary seem to not apply to Bobby Knight. He has played by his own rules since he was a coach. When throwing chairs and choking players becomes the norm, you can’t really expect common courtesy to enter into the picture.
On Sportscenter, Bob Knight is asked which #1 seed is most susceptible to an upset and he says, “the team playing from the SEC” #turdhead
Matt Jones at Kentucky Sports radio was one of the first to cover the story.
I reached out this morning to an ESPN Spokesman who said the network has no comment on Bob Knight’s refusal to mention Kentucky on air
A Spokesman at ESPN issued a rare “no comment” to Knight’s refusal to utter the name of the team he hates.
What happens to Bob Knight if he says the word “Kentucky”? Does his lower jaw fall off? Snakes spring from his hair? My God, does he smile?
Former CBS Sports Pres. Neal Pilson w/PF on Bobby Knight/UK controversy,’If you’re going to use him, you have to let him be Bob Knight.’
If Bobby Knight were to write about the Kentucky-Indiana rematch, it would look something like this…http://usat.ly/GCFJWT
Bobby Knight Still Won’t Talk About Kentucky, Not Even When You Try Him on His Cell Phone http://t.co/wd57pP7T