Transcription: Chair toss brings no action from IU
By Ken Chiteseter
No action will be taken against IU basketball coach Bob Knight for a chair-tossing incident in the Purdue game, IU President John Ryan said Tuesday.
Knight was ejected from Saturday’s game when he hurled a hair across the Assembly Hall court five minutes into the game. Purdue won 72-63, dropping the Hoosiers to 6-8 in the Big Ten and 14-10 overall.
Addressing a Rotary Club luncheon in Indianapolis, Ryan made no mention of Knight. But afterward, speaking with reporters, he said, “The key thing is to recognize that that particular incident is wrong – and we’ve done that; the coach has done that. And that it can’t be allowed and it cant be repeated. And the coach has acknowledged that. As far as I’m concerned, the main issue’s been addressed.”
The office of the Big Ten is reviewing the incident and is expected to release its findings later this week.
Ryan said he has no plans for disciplinary measures against Knight.
“I think I’m satisfied on the basis of what coach Knight has said about this incident; that there’s not going to be a recurrence,” Ryan said.
Knight released an official apology on Sunday. Action open to Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke includes the possibility of Knight’s suspension.
Knight’s chair throwing and the ejection from Saturday’s game have brought reaction from across the country.
“I just hope the (IU) administration and (Wayne) Duke and the Big Ten understand that coach Knight made a tremendous sacrifice in coaching the Olympics in L.A.,” said NBC-TV commentator and former Marquette coach Al McGuire.
Moral Majority Leader Jerry Falwell said Tuesday night at a news conference in Indianapolis that all people in positions of leadership have an obligation to the public. Personality or character quirks which are minor to public figures could be major to others, he said during the film clip on WTHR-TV.
Late-night talk show host Johnny Carson mentioned Knight during his monologue Tuesday night. “I see basketball coach Bob Knight I here tonight,” Carson said. He then said he hoped he wouldn’t be hit by any flying chairs.
