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Bob Knight, Indiana’s Combustible Coaching Giant, Dies At Age 83

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BLOOMFIELD, Ind. – Bob Knight, the brilliant and volatile coach who won three NCAA championships at Indiana and was the scowling face of collegiate basketball for many years, has died. He was 83.

On Wednesday night, Knight’s family made the revelation on social media. He was hospitalized in April due to an illness and had been in poor health for several years.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family,” the statement said. “We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as Coach requested a private family gathering, which is being honored.”

Knight was one of the sport’s most successful and divisive coaches, concluding his career with 902 victories in 42 seasons at Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech while training some of America’s top coaches. He also coached the United States Olympic team to gold in 1984.

The Hall of Famer didn’t care what others thought of him and chose Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” to celebrate his 880th win in 2007, which was then a Division I men’s basketball record.

He was dubbed “The General,” and his fiery temper cost him his job in Indiana in 2000. He was accused of hitting a police officer in Puerto Rico, throwing a chair across the court, and wrapping his hands around a player’s neck.

His actions were widely condemned, but his supporters were numerous. There was another side to Knight: he was proud of his players’ great graduation rates, and even during a rule-breaking era, he was never accused of a serious NCAA violation.

He insisted at Indiana that his base wage not be higher than that of other academics. He used to give up his salary at Texas Tech because he didn’t believe he deserved it.

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Bob Knight, Indiana’s Combustible Coaching Giant, Dies At Age 83

On and off the court, Knight expected his players to outperform their peers. He followed NCAA standards even when he disagreed with them, never backed down from a fight, and swore to take his old-school values to the grave.

While many of his players adored him, his demeanor and antics occasionally masked his tremendous record, tactical understanding, invention, and passion for the game, leaving behind a one-of-a-kind resume.

“He changed basketball in this state, the way you compete, the way you win,” said Steve Alford, the coach of Knight’s final national championship squad in 1987. “It started in Indiana, but he changed college basketball forever.” Look at the motion offense; it was employed everywhere.”

Long admired his approach and frequently questioned his methods. Knight delighted in building his best teams with overachievers. He adhered to iron beliefs as a difficult-to-please motivator, and at 6-foot-5, he was an imposing figure for anyone who dared to cross him.

Knight retired in 2008 with four national championships (one as a player at Ohio State) and the Division I men’s win record. From Mike Krzyzewski to Isiah Thomas to Michael Jordan, he coached them all. Among others in his coaching tree wered Krzyzewski, who shattered Knight’s win record; Alford; Lawrence Frank, Keith Smart, Randy Wittman, and Mike Woodson, Indiana’s current coach.

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Bob Knight, Indiana’s Combustible Coaching Giant, Dies At Age 83

“We lost one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball today,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “He was clearly one of a kind. He hired me, coached me, mentored me, and had a significant impact on my career and life. This is a huge loss for our sport, and our family is devastated.”

Robert Montgomery Knight was born in Massillon, Ohio, on October 25, 1940. His mother was a schoolteacher, and his father worked for the railway, which Knight cited as his early influence.

Hazel Knight appeared to grasp her son’s personality. When Indiana was scheduled to play Kentucky on television, two of Knight’s high school classmates approached her in a grocery store and inquired if she was enthusiastic about the game, according to his memoir, “Knight: My Story.”

“I just hope he behaves,” said his mother.

He attended Ohio State and was a reserve on three Final Four teams (1960-62). He was a member of the 1960 championship team that included future Hall of Famers Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek.

Knight joined the Tates Locke staff at West Point after a year as a high school assistant. At 24, he took over as head coach in 1965. His teams won 102 games in six seasons, coaching the likes of Krzyzewski and Mike Silliman, and he was off to Indiana in 1971.

Knight swiftly revived the Hoosiers’ basketball tradition with a novel offense and a defense that was almost entirely man-to-man. Most opponents struggled against his early Indiana teams, which went 125-20 and won four Big Ten Conference championships in his first five seasons.

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Bob Knight, Indiana’s Combustible Coaching Giant, Dies At Age 83

Indiana won their first national championship in 23 years at the end of the run. That 32-0 club in 1975-76 ended a two-year streak in which the Hoosiers were 63-1 and won back-to-back Big Ten championships with 18-0 records. It is still the last time a major collegiate men’s team finished undefeated. In 2013, the US Basketball Writers Association named that team the greatest in college basketball history.

“One of the things he said to our 1976 team, which I was fortunate enough to be a part of, was that you may never see another team like this again,” said Quinn Buckner, chair of the Indiana Board of Trustees. “Well, I don’t know that we will ever see another coach like him again.”

Knight won his second championship in 1981, defeating Dean Smith’s North Carolina team after NCAA officials opted to play the game hours after President Ronald Reagan was shot and injured earlier that day. Smart won his third title at Indiana in 1987, when he beat Syracuse with a baseline jumper in the last seconds, one of the most iconic shots in tournament history.

Knight also appeared in Adam Sandler’s 2003 film “Anger Management” as a cameo. In 2006, he appeared on ESPN’s “Knight School,” a reality show where 16 Texas Tech students competed to walk on to his squad the following season.

Knight, who frequently yelled at reporters, joined ESPN as a guest studio commentator during the 2008 NCAA Tournament a month after leaving Tech. He expanded his job as a color commentator the following season. Knight left the network in 2015.

He returned to public prominence in 2016, campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and maintained a fairly low profile until returning to the school where he became a household name and the state where his death was revealed in retail stores Wednesday night.

“I was standing there, and he was coach Knight,” Wittman recalled Knight’s pregame speech in February 2020. “It was as if he had never left that locker room.” His comments to the players before they stepped out on the pitch were fantastic.”

Karen, his wife, and their sons Tim and Pat are survivors.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

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Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has resigned from the inter-governmental group planning the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, describing it as a “pointless talkfest” and a “dysfunctional farce.”

It is the first substantial divide for the organizers, whom the International Olympic Committee chose to host the 2032 Summer Olympics in 2021.

The so-called Leaders’ Forum, which includes officials from all three levels of government and various organizations, is intended to deliver the Olympics while leaving a legacy for Queensland. Its mandate is to collaborate with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Queensland state government to “progress the significant venues, villages, and transportation infrastructure” for the Games.

However, Schrinner claimed that the committee was meant to “place key stakeholders while the state government made all the real decisions behind closed doors.”

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

“The truth is that we’ve always wanted to be team players. On Sunday, Schrinner stated, “The state government wanted to play politics.”

He advocated for creating an independent authority, similar to the one that oversaw preparations for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the London Olympics in 2012, to bring planning “back on track.”

“We don’t need overpriced stadiums, we need better transport,” Schrinner said. “This week it became very apparent that the Intergovernmental Leaders’ Forum is a dysfunctional farce.”

According to Schrinner, sports have become “more about overpriced stadiums.”
A $2.7 billion US makeover of the existing Gabba stadium in inner-city Brisbane, which would be dismantled and rebuilt, is intended to be the centerpiece of an Olympics with sites around southeast Queensland. However, Schrinner suggested that alternative options be investigated.

He was particularly critical of the state government’s proposals for Brisbane City Council to contribute $91 million to upgrade another local stadium, the RNA Showgrounds, to host cricket and Australian Rules football while the Gabba is redeveloped.

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

A 20,000-person stadium will be built within the showgrounds for the next five years to house the Brisbane Lions AFL teams and the Brisbane Heat cricket club. Schrinner resigned in response to the state government’s request for a financial commitment from the city for a temporary cricket and AFL site.

“The state government’s game playing is jeopardizing the games and they are quickly losing the support of the people of Queensland,” Schrinner said in a statement. “It’s clear that the games have become more about overpriced stadiums rather than the promise of vital transport solutions.”

Queensland Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe expressed surprise at Schrinner’s decision to resign. If he chooses to return, a place will be reserved for him.

Queensland will have council elections in March of next year. Schrinner’s conservative Liberal National Party alliance and the opposition Australian Labor Party had previously backed the Gabba renovation.

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

The Greens’ candidate for mayor of Brisbane, Jonathan Sriranganathan, has stated that if elected, his party would oppose the demolition and rebuilding of the Gabba. He called it a “deplorable waste of money” and a “bad deal for our city.”

SOURCE – (CBC)

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Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Turns Himself In After He Was Accused Of Assaulting A Pregnant Woman

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Von Miller, a Buffalo Bills linebacker accused of abusing a pregnant lady, handed himself in Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued for him, according to Dallas police.

Miller, 34, surrendered to the Glenn Heights Police Department Thursday afternoon, hours after the warrant was issued, according to Dallas police.

Von was escorted to the DeSoto Police Department jail and quickly posted $5,000 bond before being released, according to Glenn Heights Police Chief Nick Bristow, according to CNN affiliate WFAA.

Dallas police responded to a “major disturbance call” around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the police department. According to police, a preliminary investigation showed that Miller and the victim had a verbal altercation and that Miller reportedly assaulted her.

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Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Turns Himself In After He Was Accused Of Assaulting A Pregnant Woman

According to authorities, Von fled the scene before officers arrived, and the woman was treated for minor injuries but not hospitalized.

“This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller,” the Bills stated in a statement. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point.”

CNN has reached out to Miller for comment.

When reached by CNN, an NFL spokeswoman stated that the league is aware of the situation and has communicated with the Bills, but declined to comment further.

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Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Turns Himself In After He Was Accused Of Assaulting A Pregnant Woman

Von was born in DeSoto, Texas. He has two Super Bowl rings, one with the Denver Broncos and one with the Los Angeles Rams, and he was awarded the Super Bowl 50 MVP.

Von is the host of the Bleacher Report podcast “The Voncast.” Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is the parent company of both Bleacher Report and CNN. When asked about the arrest warrant, WBD remained silent.

Von is a prominent figure in football, known for his exceptional skills as a linebacker. He played a significant role in the Denver Broncos’ defense for many seasons, contributing to their success.

With his agility and strength, Miller has garnered recognition as one of the top players in the NFL. His impact on the field has earned him numerous accolades, making him a key player to watch during football season.

SOURCE – (CNN)

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Stanley Cup Champion Corey Perry Waived By Chicago Blackhawks For ‘Unacceptable’ Conduct

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Following an internal inquiry, the Chicago Blackhawks waived veteran forward Corey Perry on Tuesday.

The National Hockey League (NHL) organization said that Perry “engaged in conduct that is unacceptable” and that he was “in violation both of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”

The Blackhawks did not provide any information on the alleged behavior.

CNN has contacted Perry for comment.

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The NHLPA, according to a representative, is “reviewing the matter.”

In the summer, Chicago signed the 38-year-old to a one-year contract to help guide an inexperienced, young roster. He appeared in 16 games and scored four goals while assisting on five others.

Perry hasn’t played since an unexpected healthy scratch against the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 22. After the game in Columbus, head coach Luke Richardson told reporters that it was an “organizational decision” not to play Perry, the team’s third-leading scorer with nine points.

‘Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said on Saturday that the right winger was “away from the team” and would be for the “foreseeable future.”

The Blackhawks announced: “In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately.”

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Perry has appeared in 1,273 NHL games and scored 421 goals. In 2007, he won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks.

Corey is a professional ice hockey right winger known for his scoring ability and physical play. He has played for several teams in the NHL, including the Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, and Montreal Canadiens.

Corey is recognized for his skill in front of the net and has a reputation for being a tenacious competitor. He has achieved significant success in his career, including winning the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and earning numerous accolades for his on-ice performance.

SOURCE – (CNN)

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