Sperber still known as Knight critic 3 years after firing

To those who followed the Bob Knight controversy in fall 2000, English professor Murray Sperber was known as Knight's biggest critic.\nUnbeknownst to many, Sperber, who has written several books about college sports, never actually met the former coach and admits he doesn't even follow IU basketball.\nIn fact, other than a few interview requests that Knight turned down, Sperber doesn't have any real connection to Knight.\nHowever, one television interview changed all that and ultimately caused Sperber to fear for his personal safety.\nSperber, now in his last year at IU, was asked in 2000 by CNN to do an interview on Knight, prior to the zero-tolerance policy imposed on Knight. Sperber had previously done an interview with ESPN about Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden.\n"When CNN decided to do a documentary about Bob Knight, (they) called me up and said (they) would like to ask me about Bob Knight," Sperber said. "I was aware of Knight's power and fans, but since I'd just commented on Bobby Bowden, I couldn't take a pass on Bob Knight."\nDuring the interview, Sperber made various comments about the power Knight had on IU's campus.\n"I said, 'He's the emperor of Indiana, and nothing is going to happen to Bob Knight,'" Sperber said.\nSperber also watched a clip of Knight choking former player Neil Reed and was asked what would happen if an IU faculty member took the same action.\n"I said, 'If I was a faculty member, chances are by the time I got back to my office, if they hadn't revoked my tenure, I would be suspended,'" Sperber said.\nFollowing the interview, Sperber received criticism from Knight supporters.\nAs the pressure intensified, Sperber received harassing phone calls. After his class schedule became available online, Sperber decided to take a leave of absence.\nWhen Sperber left IU, it was reported on CNN Headline News. \n"I was just sort of stunned because I'd taken several leave-of-absences over the years," Sperber said. "I think if you weren't here you couldn't believe how huge this (situation with Knight) was."\nSperber returned to IU and resumed teaching after Knight's dismissal as coach. Currently, he teaches two classes and continues to research and write about college sports. Sperber has established himself as an expert on the subject.\n"Murray Sperber offers an important perspective on the relationship between the academic mission of the University and rise of big-time athletics on campus," English Department Chairman Stephen Watt said. "Murray has studied such matters assiduously and thus provides all of us with an important reminder of what the priorities of public higher education should be."\nStudents who have had Sperber in class were sad to learn he will retire this year.\nMiriam Sheinin, who has taken two classes with Sperber and currently is an associate instructor for his L295 class, said he enjoys the learning environment Sperber creates.\n"I really enjoy the way that he allows freedom of thought and expression in class discussions," Sheinin said. "It is very easy to feel comfortable in any of Professor Sperber's classes because of the classroom setting that he creates."\nOnce retired, Sperber hasn't ruled out taking new courses or teaching a course adjunct.\n"I don't know exactly what I'll do," Sperber said. "For the first 30 years of my life, I did exactly what my parents and teachers wanted me to do. For the next 30 years, I did what IU wanted me to do. Now I sort of get to do what I want to do."\n-- Contact staff writer Matt Lahr at mjlahr@indiana.edu.