How does Bob Knight as a dinner host sound?
It sounds like a pretty good tool to motivate students to read, the fiery Indiana University basketball coach figures.Sixth-, seventh- and eight-graders in the Indianapolis Public Schools can earn posters, totes, T-shirts or caps from the "KnightReader" program simply by reading books.
If they read 20 books or more by April 1, college basketball's Final Four weekend, the students earn a trip to Assembly Hall in Bloomington for dinner with Knight and the Hoosiers basketball team.
Words of the four-letter variety may appear to be Knight's specialty, but his support for libraries has also been consistent, though not as well known.
"There isn't anything that will ever be more important in the lives of you youngsters than reading," the coach told dozens of students at the program's tipoff Thursday night at Shortridge Middle School. "Reading is the source of everything you will ever know.
"It isn't easy being a kid today," Knight said. "You've got people wanting you to do all kinds of things you shouldn't. . . . You've got to know the difference between what is good for you and what isn't."