Bob Knight just doesn't get it.

(another delayed post - but just by a couple weeks this time and not a few months - progress...)

I sat down this evening in the comfort of my living room to watch ESPN's coverage of the Jimmy V Classic, a night of college basketball from Madison Square Garden in New York City. This is an event I look forward to watching annually because of its celebration of the life and legacy of Jim Valvano and the showing of his incredible speech from the 1993 ESPY awards. If you're not familiar with the man or the speech, google him and look for the speech on YouTube before continuing to read this entry. Jimmy V is an inspirational figure and I dare not attempt to summarize his impact on the world of sports, cancer research and general humanity.

On such a night, all members of ESPN's team covering the games were wearing their best suits; all except for one. Surrounded by four commentators and analysts looking sharp and professional in their attire, effectively honoring the importance of the occasion, there sat Bob Knight, callously donning an ESPN polo and a poorly pressed pair of pants.

Bob Knight was a great coach - I honestly appreciate his passion for defense and commitment to the motion offense - and he's surprisingly entertaining and insightful as a college basketball analyst. But it seems apparent that as Knight aged, he failed to mature. I believe Knight lost his ability to effectively communicate and lead his players, which resulted in the unfortunate "incidents" that lead to the end of his tenure at Indiana. And sitting here watching Bob Knight this evening, it occurs to me that maybe he just doesn't understand how to appropriately and adequately acknowledge the stature of the moment - and maybe that's been his problem all along.

Knight's behavior and the manner in which he carries and presents himself certainly do not diminish his many remarkable achievements as a college basketball coach. However, they do make me less inclined to celebrate them.