Columnist's word a veiled threat

Nick Bowton's thinly veiled public threat against the young man who was accosted by Coach Bob Knight underscores everything that is wrong with the ex-Coach's supporters ("Time to get out of here," Sept. 11). While Bowton waxed eloquent, and then some, on the supposed possible shortcomings of student Kent Harvey, he failed to explain why Coach Knight, considering his track record of violence and abuse, deserves anyone's loyalty. \nA concept that seems to have escaped Bowton and most of the rest of the angry mob of Knight supporters at IU is the rule of law. In short, the idea is that we should follow good rules (such as those that prohibit assault) even when those rules get our heroes in trouble. Understanding and obeying the rule of law, for Bowton's information, is a good measure of moral development. \nIf Bowton needs to learn more about that subject, as I suggest he does, he should look not to Coach Knight but to President Brand. His courageous, albeit delayed, decision to fire Knight is the kind of choice, informed by law and right, not by violence and intimidation, that is the mark of a real man, and not a petty tyrant.