A Breath of Fresh Air

Category:  Sports News


Mike Krzyzewski coached his 902nd victory today (11/12).  This win ties him with his college basketball coach, Bob Knight, for the most in NCAA men's Division I basketball history.


In 36-plus years of coaching there has never been a scandal or a violation.  The worst thing that he's ever done was cuss out a Duke student newspaper reporter who, in Krzyzewski's opinion, was unfair to his team (not to him personally, mind you; rather to one of his players). 


He's been married to the same woman for 42 years and there's never been a hint or a whisper or any type of Rick Pitino-like infidelity.  


He is a graduate of West Point, where he played and had his first coaching job, meaning that he went into the Army in an era (the late 60s/early 70s) when other men his age were running away from military service.


He prays before games.


Most of the sports headlines over the past two weeks have been filled with stomach-turning news of the rape of young boys and subsequent cover-up by people who were considered pillars of their community.  That's why the 902nd "W" with Coach K on the sidelines is a breath of fresh air.  Whether you like Duke or hate them (and, as with many successful sports teams, there is no middle ground on which to walk), you cannot help but be thankful that this success has gone to a man above reproach.  There won't be any "tarnished legacy" when Mike Krzyzewski finally calls it a career.


We need more coaches like Mike Krzyzewski.  More importantly, we need more men like him.