Maybe I missed this awhile back, but the TAMPA TRIBUNE notes today that Jon Gruden was a ball boy for the 1975-76 IU basketball team that went undefeated, and was of course coached by Bob Knight.

Gruden was 12 at the time, and was recently reunited with Knight at a cancer benefit hosted by Dick Vitale in Sarasota. I’m not so sure that Tampa fans will be thrilled to hear that Knight is still a major influence on Gruden. Nor the platitudes from Gruden about what a wonderful human Knight is on and off-the-court. But it is a cool coincidence and worth noting.

The cancer benefit brought together all the college basketball greats, and raised $1M in one evening. One of the big reasons for that haul was Vitale’s auction item up for bid: A 50-person catered dinner at this home in Sarasota (asking price $100K!).

Pat Riley came through with the bid, but smartly said that he wanted no part of dining at Vitale’s abode. Instead, they’d head to a restaurant.

Wonder which one?