5 Mar 1999: Coach Bob Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers signals from the side during a Big Ten Conference game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at the United Center in Chigago, Illinois. The Fighting Illini defeated the Hoosiers 82-66. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

Donald Trump continues to receive support from exactly the kind of noteworthy sports figures you would expect — old, ornery white men. Former Indiana men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight will be the latest sports icon to publicly support the Republican Presidential frontrunner.

The Indiana Republican primary is right around the corner on May 3, and Knight’s support could strengthen Trump’s position in the Hoosier state. Based on current polls, Trump already owns a 6 percent lead over his closest competitor, Ted Cruz.

However, Knight, who was fired from Indiana after a long history of misbehavior and player mistreatment, has fallen out of favor with many Hoosiers. He compounded an already rough exit when he refused to return to Indiana when the school honored its 1976 NCAA Championship team.

If Trump could be distilled into a basketball coach, Knight is probably the closest approximation. His appearance at Wednesdays rally is surprising only in that it perpetuates Knight’s interesting post-retirement relationship with the state that he enjoyed near-royalty status in for 29 years.

No word yet if Knight will endorse Trump outright, but he joins fellow brothers in truculence Bills coach Rex Ryan and Patriots coach Bill Belicheck in at least supporting Trump.

About Ben Sieck

Ben is a recent graduate of Butler University where he served as Managing Editor and Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Butler Collegian. He currently resides in Indianapolis.

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