Have our kids become a bunch of wimps who need to be coddled? Is there room for the Bobby Knights, of the world, in todays basketball?

It used to be the successful basketball coaches were the ones who screamed and ranted the most. But these days, they are having much less success. Parents won’t tolerate the berating of their children. Even more so, kids won’t tolerate it. It used to be sports was one of the only games in town. I recall, as a young boy, playing street or pond hockey from sun up, until sun down. Back in the day, we didn’t have as many things to amuse us. Now, kids have Nintendo, cable TV and the Internet to entertain them.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are, unfortunately, still too many basketball coaches who haven’t changed, and think the best way to coach is by yelling. Thankfully, there are a lot less of them.

Today’s successful basketball coach pushes his or her players, but treats them with respect. They understand it is better to have your players willing to do whatever it takes to please you, because they like and respect you, than because they fear you.