I havent been particularly emotional about the passing of a public figure that I can remember. I was sad, and it was tragic about Chris Farley, and sad and confused over Robin Williams.

But the public person who I didnt know, who's passing impacted me the most was LaVell Edwards. He was deeply involved with MANY memorable events in my life - events that I shared with my dad, my grandpa's, my brother, even my grandma who was a BYU fan. While the years have dimmed the recollection of nearly every individual game result (with few exceptions like the win vs Utah) that he coached, the number of great experiences those games produced were incredible for me....and the post-game shows when he would actually get on the radio and answer questions from callers and do so with trademark humor, a bit tongue cheek, and respect where just awesome....there was a lot of time spent in a truck with my dad listening to those. So I never knew him, nor even met him, personally. But when I think of the passing of a public figure that impacted me it was LaVell because of who he was and what he did that impacted my life over and over for years.

Kobe's death is sad for me but its not particularly emotional (although certainly I know a lot of people have similar great memories from watching Laker games where he played as I did with LaVell and BYU games)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUR2fHNYO3M