Bobby Knight Discusses Ice Skating. What?

In a recent ESPN Radio broadcast “Mike and Mike in the mornings”, the guest speaker was the ever energetic, hard-nosed basketball coach and sports analyst Bobby Knight. This coach is a legend known worldwide for his charismatic coaching and winning seasons in the realm of college games. With the NCAA March Madness happening, Bobby was on air to give opinions on this years’ college teams and to predict the endless possible outcomes.

As the interview started all seemed normal. There was small talk, the exchange of stats and players and team records. Then interview turned weird. Mr. Knight got distracted.

"Now, before we go into any more basketball, I've got to tell you about the best athletes in the country, and they aren't American, they're Russian," Knight said. "They're Russian ice skaters. I went to see them last night at the Riviera with (wife) Karen, and the title of the show is Ice. This was the most incredible athletic scene for an hour and 20 minutes that I've ever seen. Unbelievable."

When Bobby Knight finished stating this, the ESPN hosts were thrown for a loop. They were literally stunned momentarily. After an awkward moment they were able to get the show back on track. And just as they thought that all was well, retired coach Knight again interjected.

"Don't forget the Russian ice skaters," Knight said. "I'm telling you, these guys, it must be 40 people, men and women, and they are the most athletic people. ... There's a girl that gets 11 hoops going at one time from head to toe while she's skating. ... I've never seen a group of athletes like this."

It struck me as a bit odd initially, but I enjoyed the laugh, as did many others. Hats off to coach Knight for speaking his mind and challenging all competitors to become true elite athletes. Ice skaters.