Bobby Knight on Trump: 'That Son of a B---- Could Play for Me!'
Knight has appeared with the businessman at two events in Indiana.
— -- Republican front-runner Donald Trump seems to have found a kindred spirit in famed, former Indiana University head coach Bobby Knight.
Knight has appeared with the businessman at two events in Indiana, praising Trump’s “preparedness.”Both have reputations for pursuing the win -- Knight boasting 900 career wins and Trump on a primary winning streak.
But both also have their share of controversies. Trump has come under fire for appearing to be xenophobic, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and for his comments on abortion. Knight was infamously fired from his coaching position after allegations of physical assault. He faced added scrutiny when he made a comparison between handling stress and rape during an NBC News interview, saying, ''I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.”
Trump and Knight have bonded recently, with Knight throwing his endorsement to the real-estate mogul.
While speaking to an Evansville, Indiana crowd, Knight defended Trump against claims that the candidate was not presidential enough, comparing him to Harry Truman, who Knight said was accused of the same thing.
“They told him that he wasn’t presidential, and Harry Truman, with what he did in dropping and having the guts to drop the bomb in 1944, saved, saved billions of American lives,” Knight said. “That’s what Harry Truman did and he became one of the three great presidents of the United States. And here’s a man who would do the same thing because he’s going to become one of the four great presidents of the United States.”
Knight also said during Trump’s Indiana visit that the candidate isn’t beholden to any party."This man is not a Republican. He's not a Democrat at heart. He's just a great American.”
In Knight’s speech before introducing Trump he exclaimed, "Let me first tell you that I was very, very selective with players during the time I was here. And I’ll tell you one thing that man that was just up here a moment ago, I will tell you, that son of a b--- could play for me!"
While introducing Knight, Trump returned the favor, praising the coach as “the best.”“You don’t get any better, tough, tough. Would you say he was tough enough, would you say?” he asked the audience.