The former Indiana, Army and Texas Tech basketball coach, asked by TMZ in an ambush interview why Trump is special, responded: “Because he’s tough, he’s smart, and he’s going to be as good a president as we’ve ever had and maybe the best.”
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Knight, in fact, is in Washington to witness the start of Trump’s presidency.
It makes sense he would be a fan of Trump and that he campaigned with him in Indiana, if you connect these dots:
— Trump attended military school in New York state and was a three-sport athlete (football, baseball, soccer).
— Knight, 76, began his coaching career at West Point in the ’60s and was later nicknamed “The General” for his love of the military and his autocratic style.
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— Trump has named two retired generals (James Mattis, John Kelly) to Cabinet positions — and a host of people with strong military ties to other positions.
— Trump once owned a pro football team named the Generals (OK, that’s irrelevant, but amusing).
— Trump himself acts like an autocrat.
Trump didn’t play basketball in high school, but Knight figures Trump’s tenacity would have helped him become a contributor to his team.
“He sure as hell could play defense and he’d be able to win because of what a great defensive player he’d be,” Knight told TMZ.
