Statuesque, Part Deux

So they're going to erect some statuary in Assembly Hall honoring Indiana University's rich basketball legacy, and you-know-who will not be among them.

Some people think this is classless on the part of IU, ignoring Robert Montgomery Knight like that.

Other people actually conversant with the facts know IU is simply honoring Knight's request that they not include him in the display, on account of he's still miffed at the school even though no one but Knight cares anymore.

And so one sculpture will depict Everett Dean, a member of the basketball Hall of Fame and Indiana's first All-American player and first iconic coach. Another will honor Branch McCracken and the late Bill Garrett, who broke the Big Ten color barrier.

A third will include six players from IU's undefeated 1975-76 national championship team, a fourth will feature Steve Alford, Keith Smart and the 1987 title team, and a fifth will feature Isiah Thomas, star of the 1981 IU national champs.

Knight, of course, coached those last three teams. And, frankly, I think he deserves his own sculpture whether he wants it or not -- if only so IU could return his extended middle finger with one of its own.

And so the question becomes, what signature IU basketball moment would it portray?

Knight with one granite arm extended and one eye closed, aiming a starter's pistol at reporter Russ Brown?

Knight in mid-fling, with a marble chair in bas relief?

Knight in mid-fling again, this time with a marble flower vase in bas relief?

Personally, I'd go with bookend images of Knight grabbing Jim Wisman by his limestone jersey and Knight with his hand around the late Neil Reed's limestone throat. Or maybe Knight and NCAA Tournament moderator Rance Pugmire in profile, commemorating the time Knight publicly humiliated Pugmire over a simple honest mistake.

So much stone. So many choices.