I know #BobbyKnight was a significantly flawed character, but for those of us who grew up in rural #Indiana where the chances of you going out and doing something remarkable in the world were very slim, he was someone who blatently looked and spoke like us and achieved a whole lot while doing it. He was an inspiration and a role model to many to push yourself to do the right thing and be better beyond your excuses. His life didn't always reflect that, but he was and remains an absolute legend.
My father was at IU when Bobby Knight was the coach. Many of the people I worked with early in my career had taken courses with him and every one would pretty much say the same thing about him - he was often crass, rude, and colorful, but in the end they learned a lot from him and were glad they stuck it out. That he had a way of being people to confront their own perspectives and perceived limitations. They eventually appreciated his unorthodox pedagogy.
@peterdrake A quote from an interview the day after he was fired.