Saturday, December 1, 2007

Coach Robert Knight And His Legendary Temper May Grab Headlines But His Molding of Men Like Quinn Buckner Should Get Top Billing Update 2-5-08














Coach Robert Montgomery Knight is unfortunately perhaps best known for his temper and his bad aim while hunting. Two people recently said Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight or his hunting companion hit them with bird shot on separate occasions last month. Mary Ann Chumley said she was struck on the foot by a stray pellet on Oct. 20. Coach Knight apologized for hunting too close to her barn, and she forgave him. James Simpson told Lubbock police he was struck on the neck and back by pellets after yelling at Knight and another for hunting too close to his home. No one was injured and no criminal charges were filed. Nevertheless, the media had a field day covering the stories.

But the legendary Coach Bob Knight has a positive side that does not usually get as much publicity. For example, Coach Knight recently spoke to a small gathering at the Texas Tech Library to help raise money for the Library. Knight praised the library and the folks who staff the facility. During his speech, he included humorous anecdotes relating to his life and basketball. He even worked in the recent "bird shot" claims with a humerus spin.

More importantly, Coach Knight has molded some athletic young minds into great men. Quinn Buckner is such a man. Quinn Buckner recently spoke at the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana 14th Annual Conference celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the organization in French Lick Indiana. LINK.
Even though his name is not Larry Bird, Quinn was still the local hero. Buckner is not only a Knight disciple, he was a member of the legendary Indiana University 1976 NCAA Championship team. (The last NCAA team to go undefeated and win the National Championship.) Quinn was also a member of the 1976 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Basketball team. As such, Buckner knows all about winning. But he told the lawyers that learning to lose in the Pros also provided a valuable education in life. (He played 10 seasons in the NBA, including time with the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers (1985-86.) In 1983-84, Buckner played for the Boston Celtics who were NBA champions.)

Buckner was the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks for a short period of time and indicated that his coaching debut was a failure because players had changed. He gave an example of trying to teach a young player the importance of passing and the player responded that he had "been playing basketball this way for 18 years and no coach was going to ever tell him how to play the game." Quinn Buckner says it was at this point in his coaching career that he realized modern players had changed to the detriment of the game.

Reflecting on what a great influence Coach Knight was on his life, he related a story about the first time Knight scolded him. Coach Knight gave Quinn a harsh lecture all the while Buckner remained silent but looked Coach Knight in the eyes with respect as his father had taught him when dealing with authority figures. As Coach Knight turned away, Coach added, "And another thing, I do not like the tone of your voice." This brought roaring laughter from the 200 plus crowd of lawyers .

While the DTCI Annual meeting in French Lick boasted some of the best speakers ever assembled for one legal seminar (i.e. Ross Kodner of Milwaukee, Margaret Ward of Baltimore, Appellate Court Judge Melissa S. May of Indianapolis, Judge Alex Sanders of Charleston, S.C. and Judge Ernest Yelton on Gaming Law) it was Quinn Buckner's banter with the lawyers and his genuine respect for Coach Knight that brought down the house.

For those wondering what Quinn Buckner is doing now days, since July of 2004, Buckner has served as Vice President of Communications for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, overseeing the Pacers Foundation, Community Relations, Public Information, Internet Marketing and Creative Services. Quinn Buckner is in his eighth season as an analyst for the Pacers’ cable television games on FSN. He remains very interested in college and pro basketball and the more importantly in todays role models for our children.

Story and photos courtesy of DTCI Treasurer and Conference Chair Scott Kyrouac ATTORNEY LINK. CONFERENCE LINK

Update 2-5-08: As of yesterday, Coach Robert Knight officially retired. "He's just tired... He's done it for 40-something years. What more can you win? What more can you do?" said Pat Knight. Knight, 67, was the winningest men's basketball coach in NCAA history, with 902 victories. Knight had 102 wins in six seasons at Army. From 1971 to 2000, he had 662 victories at Indiana. He led Indiana to three NCAA titles. His 1976 championship team went 32-0, the last perfect men's team. He coached the USA to Olympic gold in 1984 in Los Angeles. Hopefully Coach Knight will be remembered for all of his accomplishments and not for his out bursts and temper.


35 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Good to hear of Coach Knight's better side. Course I knew it all along. My Dad was an Indiana basketball fan and I was at least 12 or 13 before I learned Coach Knight was not Santa Clause.

Shell

Anonymous said...

Hey, growing up while surfing on the left coast (some say I still am not grown up, I knew coach Knight was not God. God's name is Coach Wooden of UCLA. (Sorry Ian, not a slam on your book God is a Woman, but everyone knows Coach Wooden is a man.)

Buckner sounds like a cool dude. Sure he could play basketball but could he ever hang ten? Doubt it.

Surfer Dude

Did You Stop to Think? said...

Don't be so sure about Wooden being a man... I may write a sequel to "God" explaining...

Ron said...

Quinn Buckner is one of the best players ever from the State of Illinois. He must have gotten lost driving south of Chicago and accidentally driven across the Indiana border when checking out colleges. He is one class act, even though he played at Indiana. They should hire him as head coach to replace Sampson.

Anonymous said...

Good Knight! Yup, Wooden may require some DNA testing. Can't wait for Coburn's sequel.


Rhonda

Anonymous said...

I am impressed that Ian Coburn knows his basketball. I thought all he knew about was hockey and dating.

Anonymous said...

Quite an article. Great to read about nice guys. Doesn't happen very often. Hurrah for Buckner and an o-k for Knight

Anonymous said...

Pacers suck, but Buckner is A-ok in my book.

Fran

Anonymous said...

I was there. Great Conference. Even the Purdue fans loved Buckner.

Rob

Viper said...

As a divorce lawyer, I would not attend such a conference. But I did hear that it was one of the best seminars put on this year and that Buckner was a dynamic speaker.

Maybe the Divorce Lawyers can have a Chicago convention and get him to inspire the masses.

Anonymous said...

Bob Knight is a bully, but Quinn Buckner is first class!



Greg

Anonymous said...

Captain Quinn, 76 Olympic champion!

Anonymous said...

Knight is a lot better than SamScum

Anonymous said...

Buckner is getting a little soft in the middle.

Legal Pub said...

Quinn is a great speaker and a good role model.

Anonymous said...

Quinn is the reason I became a college student. He was a good role model.

Adrian

Anonymous said...

Quinn Buckner is a great speaker. The conference was first class. Thanks to DTCI and Scott Kyrouac (Chair) as they put on a hell of a program.


I.T.

Anonymous said...

Quinn still looks like he could play... football that is!

Anonymous said...

Good seminar.


Dennis

Legal Pub said...

Update 2-5-08 As of yesterday, Coach Robert Knight officially retired. "He's just tired... He's done it for 40-something years. What more can you win? What more can you do?" said Pat Knight. Knight, 67, was the winningest men's basketball coach in NCAA history, with 902 victories. Knight had 102 wins in six seasons at Army. From 1971 to 2000, he had 662 victories at Indiana, which he led to three NCAA titles. His 1976 championship team went 32-0, the last perfect men's team. He coached the USA to Olympic gold in 1984 in Los Angeles. Hopefully Coach Knight will be remembered for his accomplishments and not his out bursts and temper.

Anonymous said...

It was time for Coach Knight to step down.

Anonymous said...

Is it time for Coach Knight to take over for Sampson at IU?

Anonymous said...

Coach Sampson should stick around, the Hoosiers are finally starting to win!

Hoosier Joe

Anonymous said...

Sampson is gone! Gone! GONE!

Ain't no doubt what kind of gone he is...

Anonymous said...

Does Legal Pub know who the next coach at IU may be?

Legal Pub said...

Looks like IU may have offered WSU coach Tony Bennett. If true, I think he will likely accept. He has had success at WSU and is the son of former Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett. But heck, what do I know about basketball?

Anonymous said...

Tom Creen will serve IU just fine!

Anonymous said...

Creen will struggle with what is left at IU!

Anonymous said...

IU wins its first real game under Tom Creen. Granted it is Northwestern State they beat. Nevertheless, a win is a win. They will be hard to find this year for IU.

Tom S.

Anonymous said...

Coach Knight's guitar hero commercial is a hoot!

Anonymous said...

Coach Knight recently turned down an invitation to appear at Indiana University's Hall of Fame event.

Anonymous said...

Indiana has struggled since the end of the Knight era. DTCI on the other hand, continues to do well in putting on great legal programs.

Anonymous said...

Well, DTCI has had, Schultz, Reeder and Kyrouac whereas Indiana Basketball has been stuck with Mike Davis, Sampson and Creen...
LOL

Anonymous said...

Knight remains a volatile controvercial figure. He has used profanity on the t.v. airwaves and drawn further ire from folks who figure he simply can't control himself.

Anonymous said...

Knight is fading into obscurity. But Quinn is still the man.