Bobby Knight Admits to Shoving Former Assistant Coach

story:



Lawsuit settled, with Knight paying $25,000

ESPN.com news services


INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Knight will pay $25,000 to a former assistant coach after signing an agreement in which he admitted to shoving Ron Felling in anger, Felling's attorney said Tuesday.

William Potter, Felling's attorney, said Knight agreed to the conditions Friday after coming to Indianapolis for a mediation hearing.

"I think it was clear when we walked out that we had called his bluff,'' Potter told The Associated Press. "It harkens back to the playground, and when we called his bluff, he backed out.''

A phone message left at the office of Knight's attorney, Russell Yates in Denver, was not immediately returned. A Texas Tech spokeswoman said neither Bob or Pat Knight were available and referred all questions about the case to Yates.

Both parties told the court they regret the incident and that they had resolved the matter on a personal level.

This was a suit between Felling and Knight and not Indiana University.

CNN/SI, which first reported Felling's intent to sue, previously aired a report in which Felling claimed Knight fired him after overhearing a telephone call in which the assistant said Knight took the fun out of winning.

That report said Knight later struck Felling in the chest with two closed fists during a fight at Assembly Hall.


Knight also has agreed to cooperate with Felling in a lawsuit against Indiana, Potter said. The suit, citing battery by Knight, alleges that the university was negligent in supervising its former coach.

"Mr. Knight has a history of violent behavior and confrontation; yet, Indiana University has not properly supervised him by appropriate disciplinary action," the claim states.


University spokesman Bill Stephan said he was unaware of the details of the settlement. A message left at the Baker and Daniels law firm in Indianapolis, which is representing the university against Felling, was not returned.


"That lawsuit was in federal court and ours is in state court, so we really don't feel it's appropriate to comment on that,'' Stephan said.


Felling, 60, was fired Dec. 1, 1999, after claiming Knight overheard a conversation between him and Dan Dakich. Both were Indiana assistant coaches at the time.


Felling said Knight called him into the basketball office and then berated him in front of other assistants. When Felling attempted to leave, Felling said Knight shoved him into a television.


Potter said Knight referred to it as "inadvertent brushing.''


Depositions were gathered from Knight, his son, Pat, Steve Downing and Felling last week, Potter said. Pat Knight also was an assistant at Indiana at the time, while Downing worked in the university's athletic department.


Downing, one of Knight's former players, and both Knights have since gone to Texas Tech. Dakich is now the head coach at Bowling Green.


Potters said Pat Knight testified he believed Felling had been disloyal to his father.


Also deposed in the case were Mike Davis, who succeeded Bob Knight as the Indiana coach, and John Treloar, one of Davis' assistants. Both also were Knight's assistants when the incident occurred, and Potter said both confirmed Felling's accusations.


Felling was seeking $1 million in damages and has since retired to his home in Arkansas.


Potter said Knight refused to settle the case as recently as Friday afternoon. But after he walked out of a meeting, U.S. District Judge Tim Baker said Knight agreed to pay the $25,000. Potter said he refused the deal until Knight agreed to sign the admission.


"When it was clear we weren't going to settle, he had to put something out,'' Potter said. "When the chips were down, they folded. To my knowledge, this is the first time he's admitted to shoving someone in his career.''


Potter said Felling is relieved that the case is over.


"All he ever wanted was an admission,'' Potter said. "You never get an apology from Bob Knight, even if you catch him on videotape.''


Knight was fired from Indiana on Sept. 10, 2000, for what the school called a pattern of misconduct after he grabbed the arm of a freshman student and lectured him on manners. Knight also was accused of choking former player Neil Reed during a 1997 practice, which was caught on videotape.


At Indiana, Knight was 661-240 and won three national titles in 29 seasons with the Hoosiers.


Knight's Red Raiders went 23-9 and lost to Southern Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year, his first in Lubbock, Texas.



Actual link:


I have to say this: I respect and admire Bobby Knight for his knowledge of the game, but this guy is a complete *******. He has no class whatsoever. I find it hilarious that he is now suing Indiana University for negligence! I guess he will never get over the fact that Myles Brand grew a nutsack and fired his ass. That lawsuit should be laughed out of court.

 

Yea, I misread that. I agree completely about that old "it's not for the money..."