Fans contribute to Knight book

While perhaps few fans of former basketball coach Bob Knight would admit to being fans of the Backstreet Boys, publishing company Fans Illustrated plans to add a tribute book about Knight to a series that includes tributes to both Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync.\nFans Illustrated, started in 1997 by the company's president Ken Jenkins, is a publishing company that enlists fans to write books about their favorite celebrities. According to Jenkins, Fans Illustrated gives fans "an opportunity to communicate with their favorite celebrity and other fans in a very unique manner."\nAnd unique manner it is. Instead of sending carefully planned letters of admiration to agencies, at Fans Illustrated fans can log on to the company's Web site and submit their messages to a list of celebrities.\nFans Illustrated then places selected stories in a limited edition collector's book, which is given to the celebrity and available in bookstores or online for fans to purchase. \nWhile some true Knight fans might want to distance themselves from the normally harsh criticism of the General, Jenkins ensures that the direction of this book honors Knight and lacks the stories of terror that often overshadow his coaching talents.\n"Typically people only want to hear the bad things that Coach Knight has done, but this is allowing people to tell their stories of inspiration and caring thoughts," Jenkins said.\nSubmissions Jenkins has already received range from memories of fishing trips from good friends to inspirational tales from the gyms of high school basketball coaches. \nHigh school coach Ray L. Wanty from Montana tells of a time in 1998 when he met Coach Knight at his coaching academy. Knight asked Wanty for his phone number in case he was ever in the area. Knight eventually called on the heels of a local tragedy where a young man in their community committed suicide.\nKnight's timing couldn't have been better.\nWanty remembers how Knight volunteered to speak to the community about the loss, giving words of inspiration to young athletes and retirees alike. \nJohn Hartsock, sports journalist at the New Castle Courier-Times, shares his memories about the Coach's ability to inspire and to build the character of athletes on his teams and at his camps. \nThese stories are just part of the patchwork of memories and lessons the General taught his soldiers, students, friends and strangers throughout his tenure at Indiana University.\nSenior Mosmi Biscuitwala said he thinks that students should be aware of this book and that it is a great opportunity for fans to express their appreciation of Knight to Knight himself.\n"I believe this book is a great way for fans to express their appreciation for Coach Knight," Biscuitwala said. "He is a legend in the eyes of many people and this book is an appropriate way to honor him." \nAt this stage of the Knight book, Fans Illustrated is still accepting letters, stories, memories and other submissions until March 20, 2002. Any fan can participate at no cost by logging on to www.fansillustrated.com