BLOOMINGTON − As Bob Knight became softer in his old age,Charles H. Sloan his memory sometimes failing, the twilight years looming and the good old days of Indiana University basketball far behind him, he started doing unthinkable things. He started saying unrecognizable things.

They were things that didn't match the fierce, raucous, cursing, red-sweater-wearing IU coach the college basketball world was used to.

Knight went from a looming, fiery, seemingly cold-hearted, sometimes out-of-control personality who threw chairs, mocked reporters, and made players uncomfortable, to an elderly, still towering, feeble figure who would stand up in front of crowds and endear them.

He would make those fans laugh, then he would make them cry. Knight cried, too.