BOB KNIGHT (Wikipedia).

Walter Goggins – best known now for his role in Walmart TV commercials – was earlier cast in the “Justified” TV series as the charismatic criminal Boyd Crowder.

His character had a great mantra … ABC, which stood for “Always Be Cool.”

Good advice in general, especially for athletic coaches. The consequences of getting too hot can be embarrassing or downright painful.

We’re on this topic because the news comes to us that the coach of one of our local high school flag football teams was suspended for one game – a playoff game – for drawing two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

Now, the king of all emotional coaches was Bob Knight. He was recognized not just for his coaching successes: he had 902 coaching wins, mostly with Indiana.

But just as present was his reputation as a hot-head which was almost as well-known as his successes. It’s been reported that he once hit a police officer in Puerto Rico, tossed a chair across a basketball court and – allegedly wrapped his hands around a player’s neck.

Even Indiana University, to which he brought much glory, had to “tie the can” to Knight after a series of “regrettable” incidents in 2000.

Now, I’m not trying to draw a parallel between the flag football coach and Knight. What I’m getting at is that people will put up with tantrums for a while but, eventually folks will expect you to grow up and act like an adult.

Or …. more to the point … the smart play in any sport is to “always be cool.”