Referees' Knightmare
Refs want Knight to prove or retract gambling comments
Posted: Thursday January 07, 1999 09:19 AM
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Bobby Knight has surprised everyone and said something to upset Big Ten referees AP |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- College basketball referees angered by Indiana coach Bob Knight's suggestion that some officials bet on games are demanding he either prove his accusation or take it back.
"He either needs to come forward with specific names and games, or he needs to retract his comments. This is outrageous," said Hank Nichols, the national coordinator for men's basketball officials.
Knight brought up the issue of referees betting on games in an interview last month with ESPN analyst and former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps.
"You and I have always thought this," Knight told Phelps. "The most susceptible guy in any gambling scheme is an official, without any question. I mean, if we only knew the truth about games that were controlled by officials having gambling interests, I think it would be amazing."
Knight would not comment further about the issue when contacted by a reporter.
Nichols said he has received numerous calls from officials throughout the country. He described them as irate and incredulous.
"I've spent 25 years as a college basketball official and I don't know one official who ever gambled on a game," Nichols said. "And all the people I've talked to don't know anyone either."
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