Bobby Knight’s famous chair toss

Former basketball coach Bobby Knight recently claimed that the media got the story wrong when he threw a chair across the court at an Indiana game in 1985. He said, “There was a lady across the floor who reminded me of my grandmother. She said, “Coach, if you’re not going to use that chair, how about throwing it over to me?”

Of course Coach Knight wasn’t being serious. He was putting a humorous spin on a famous incident in which he lost his temper.

Don’t we all tend to put a positive spin on our words and actions so that we don’t come off looking so bad? “This isn’t gossip; I’m merely sharing a prayer request.” “I don’t have a sharp tongue; I am simply straightforward when dealing with people.” “I didn’t lose my temper with the sales clerk; she needed to be corrected.” “I wasn’t rude with the waitress; she should have gotten my order right in the first place.”

On and on it goes. We have an endless stream of excuses for our sins. Instead of trying to explain them away, God would much rather see us admit our sins. 1 John 1:9-10 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”