Coach Bob Knight auctions big items

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A rare opportunity is under way. Former Indiana University coach Bob Knight is selling some of his personal memorabilia to the highest bidder. For collectors, it's a chance of a lifetime.

IU and Bob Knight memorabilia are big sellers at Collectors Den at Circle Centre Mall in Indianapolis.

"We have the ‘Watford for the win’ as we call it, in Assembly Hall to beat Kentucky last year," says store manager Thomas Gebauer.

Gebauer says love him or hate him, Knight's memorabilia is a big draw.

"So when you get to the actual stuff from Bob Knight himself, I mean there's nothing greater in a token, a symbol of those moments," he says.

Knight is now selling personal items from those big moments online at Steiner Sports Memorabilia . On the auction block are all three of his NCAA championship rings, including the 1976 undefeated season — so noted on the ring. There's the 1981 and 1987 championship rings, each with Coach Knight's name on it. There's his Hall of Fame ring and a medal he got for coaching the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal basketball team.

"The rings especially are going to be a big one — any kind of big moments. Yeah, it's unique, very unique," says Gebauer.

Right now, each item has one bid of $5,000. It will cost $2,500 to increase it. Gebauer says Coach Knight's memorabilia touches emotions in collectors.

“Those rings, those are specifically from those times. I mean, it brings up a lot of emotions just thinking about where you were when you saw these kind of moments happen," he says.

The items may be emotional for collectors but not so much for Knight. He told the Associated Press, he was talking with his friend and former Boston Celtics great John Havlicek when the idea came up.

"As we talked we decided the money could be very useful to put our grandchildren through college," Knight said. "I don't put anything up in the house. If you came into the house you would think I was a mailman. And I don't even wear rings."

Plenty of other items will be available over the next couple of months that are expected to start at lower prices. The auction ends on Dec. 5.

Knight told the AP he will keep items baseball hall of famer and close friend Ted Williams gave him.

"He was very special to me, so I will never part with those things,” Knight said.

To bid on the items, visit the Steiner Sports Memorabilia website .