I Understand

Coach Bob Knight's players at Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech "played hard." This is coachspeak for giving maximum effort; when his players did not "play hard," Coach Knight would go over the edge and there would be hell to pay. When I saw the news of Knight's resignation in the midst of Texas Tech's season, I immediately thought of empty seats in the United Spirit Arena at Texas Tech. Most of the home games of late have seen 50% attendance at best. When Knight's team won his 900th victory, Knight took the microphone at the end of the game and referred to the lack of attendance and the lack of appreciation for his team and its willingness to "play hard." The attendance pattern didn't change with Saturday's win over Oklahoma State for Victory 902. Knight thought about it over the weekend, consulted with several trusted friends (mostly coaches, former and present), and checked out of Texas Tech before noon on Monday. There has been a great deal of piling on by Knight haters and detractors. Lord knows that the man has provided that crowd with unlimited ammunition. However, as someone who checked out after 32 years in the same place (and a total of 39 years doing the same thing) in the middle of the 2003-2004 term, I think I know what Coach Knight felt on Monday when he checked out. He had enough. I had enough. To hell with phony, hypocritical farewells and retirement observances. After 42 years, Coach Knight didn't want to coach at Texas Tech anymore. After 39 years, I didn't want to teach at the Collegium Excellens anymore. I know the feeling. If this is (fair & balanced) empathy, so be it.

Click on image to enlarge/Copyright © 2001 Texas Tech University

[x www.lyricsondemand.com]
My Way

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

[instrumental]

Yes, it was my way

Copyright © 1968 P. Anka, J. Revaux, G. Thibault, C. Frankois

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