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Bob Knight to auction off title rings, gold medal

Bob Knight, Archie Griffin

Bob Knight, right, a member of Ohio State’s 1960 national championship basketball team, stands at halfcourt with Archie Griffin after being honored during half time of Ohio State’s NCAA college basketball game against Lamar on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

AP

In one of the more eye-raising events of the day, Bob Knight is selling all three of his national championships rings from his time at Indiana, as well as his gold medal from the 1984 Olympics, various trophies, jackets and other memorabilia.

It all started when Knight contacted Steiner Sports, a company that evaluates and auctions off sports items, and requested they visit his house in Lubbock, Texas home (he still lives there?) and inspect some items for auction.

Turns out Knight just had no use for the stuff anymore.

“I’ve got stuff I didn’t even know I had,” Knight said. “I don’t put anything up in the house. If you came into the house you would think I was a mailman. And I don’t even wear rings.”

Before everyone reaches for the “money problems” theory, it sounds like Knight’s financial situation isn’t a problem, as Stephen Costello, executive vice president of Steiner Sports, told the Indy Star.

Asked about Knight’s motives, Costello said, “I guarantee there are no financial problems.”

Steiner’s CEO, Brandon Steiner said Knight told the company he wanted to give some of the proceeds to his grandchildren and charities.

Sounds pretty cut and dry here. Knight -- while he may go down as one of the greatest hypocrites in sports history, and definitely a Top 5 all-time coach -- has never been in the news for any sort of money issue. He lives a private life, made his money and invests it, for all intents and purposes, honestly and well.

He may be controversial, but sounds like Knight just wants to clear some clutter. Even if that clutter happens to include three title rings and a gold medal that are worth more than my life.

When you reach a certain age, as Knight has at 71, material possessions mean less and less. He has the memories of the glory days of his great Hoosiers teams, his gold medal team in Los Angeles in ’84 and the memories of awards and accomplishments from his days at Army and Texas Tech before and after. He just has no need for them anymore.

If you want to own a piece of college basketball history, you can check out the auction on the Steiner Sports website. The auction ends Dec. 5.

That being said, what do you think the going rate would be for one of those title rings?

David Harten is the editor of The Backboard Chronicles. You can follow him on Twitter at @David_Harten.