If McCain did it, my guess is they would enjoy the laugh. But the maverick McCain is new to the national press. Knight is not. If McCain were to get the nomination he would find his relations with the press to be as stormy as Knight's. Critics in the press indict this winningest of coaches for occasional outbursts of anger.
Some athletes grow indignant.
Well, in a free society those athletes can go elsewhere. In later life many do well while most of the prima donnas have a rough time. The team I watched in practice this week seems to have a particularly close relation with Knight. His friend and admirer, the writer Michael Ledeen, sees a special chemistry between this team and the coach. They do not have enormous talent, but they are stupendously coached and very smart.