Don't invite Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight and ESPN-ABC announcer Dick Vitale to the same movie set - for a while, anyway.
The New York Daily News reported in today's editions that Knight shoved Vitale, knocking him to the floor in an episode on the set of "Blue Chips," a movie about college basketball.The incident reportedly occurred Friday when Vitale entered the wardrobe room at Frankfort, Ind., High School, where scenes for the movie were being shot. Knight was seated with his back to the door and didn't see Vitale, who snuck up behind the coach.
Vitale then grabbed Knight in a bear hug, saying, "Hey, big fella, how are you doing?" Knight, surprised, turned on Vitale and shoved the broadcaster, knocking him to the floor.
"I slipped to the floor," Vitale said. "I was just playing. I was surprised when he pushed me, but it's not a big deal. I just wanted to surprise him."
Knight apparently had been having a bad day before the incident, Rob Harris, the movie's publicist, said this morning from his office in Frankfort.
"Bobby was having some personal problems, I don't know if it was family or business or what," Harris said. "There was some tension that he came in with, and Vitale just caught him at the wrong moment."
The two did not speak after the incident but Vitale apparently wants to put it behind him. "As far as I'm concerned, the incident is over," he said. "It's done. It's no big deal."