KNIGHT My Story

Like George Patton, another great leader of men, Bobby Knight has suffered for his passion, perfectionism, and theatricality. Knight was basketball coach at Indiana University for 29 years, until he was fired in 2000. Part apologia, part "J'accuse!"--this memoir is short on literary merit, but long on personal history and mischievous humor. In one episode Knight invents Ivan Renko, an East European basketball recruit, in order to expose the dishonesty of sportswriters. Said writers live up to Knight's expectation by weighing in on the skills of this particular phantasm. Robert Silver's swarthy, middle-aged voice perfectly evokes Knight's blunt low-rent style. The ladies of the Teacup Society may "tsk!", but this reader admires the honesty and hardscrabble compassion of this true original. J.W. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]