LOOKING BACK

 The Corbin Redhounds were very impressive as they won 21-7 over a big tough team from Clark County.

This was quite a challenge from a good 6A team. Although the ‘Hounds have only a few upper classmen on the roster, they have performed very well and provided outstanding leadership for the younger players.

Matthew Taylor and Brady Foley have played with reckless abandon as they have run around, over and through opposing players. Roman Mitchell is accepting whatever role the team has needed. Saxon Okuma has been letter perfect with his placekicking and tough on defense, I cannot overemphasize the value of Wes Tipton as his work with weights has increased his strength and with his aggressive spirit he has become a factor on defense. Josh Coppock has combined toughness with athleticism to become one of the team’s most valuable players.

•Congratulations to a former Redhound and Lady Redhound. Steve Bird and Jaree Goodin will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond next weekend.

•I ran into an old friend from the past at Friday evening’s game with Clark County. Harry Dinsmore. Harry is retired from the Clark County School system after teaching, coaching and serving in administration. Harry was a key player on some of the very best basketball teams to ever play at Lynn Camp. Harry played with Danny Norvell in the mid fifties, when Danny was one of the better players in the 13^th region.

Harry, later led the way while playing with Gary Teague, Jack Willis, Jim Goodman, Dean Hart, Richard Maloney, and a gritty young player named Nolan Ferral. Nolan’s grandson is Isaac Wilson, last year’s irreplaceable  point guard for the Corbin Redhounds. Harry and I talked at great length about Nolan and Isaac and how alike they were.

•This week’s player from the past was truly one of Corbin’s all-time greats, Max Mobley. Max passed away last week at age 83. Mobley was the big man on the boards for the 1947 Redhound team that included Curt Selvy, Dusty Yates and Bobby Sturgill and lost only two games. Max had two sons, Jimmy and Kenny who later starred on the football field for the Redhounds.

•I read recently that Bob Knight was quoted at a fund raiser in Indiana as saying “An incoming freshman only has to pass six hours in the first semester…six hours with a “D” Second semester a basketball player technically need not attend class at all to keep eligible since by the end of the semester and grade accountability the season and the NCAA Tournament is history then one and done candidates are ready for news conferences leading to the NBA June draft.

“That’s not what college basketball should be about,” Knight said accusing the NCAA of negligence “not only to what would be best for the game, but what would be best for the kids (who) play the game.”

While I agree that the current approach to college basketball is out of kilter and I feel the NCAA should adjust the system to a better solution, I have two concerns with the comments by Knight and the commentary accompanying the quotes.

Number one, I consider the source. Bob Knight is an arrogant, egotistical bully who was run out of Indiana for numerous flairs of temper tantrums that included verbal and physical abuse and was a total embarrassment to his university. I would hardly feel this is an individual from whom I would seek advice or put any value to his opinion.

Number two, at every opportunity Knight seems to abruptly attempt to toss Coach John Calipari under the bus. Not everyone is suited to acquiring a college degree. Some people are interested in carpentry; some people are interesting in life. If you are interested in playing in the NBA, and you have the God given ability to do so, under the current rules of playing college basketball at the University of Kentucky under Coach Cal has proved to be the best option.

Coach Calipari is more closely scrutinized than any coach in college basketball. How will Coach Calipari be perceived at the end of his career? One can only speculate, the guy out there throwing stones however (Bob Knight) is certainly surrounded by a glass house. Cheap shots at Calipari is certainly surrounded by a glass house, Cheap shots at Calipari seem to be the order of the day.