Pete Newell

Pete, the genius Basketball coach and teacher who died on Nov. 17 at 93, was the most lovable man I've ever met. In 1959 his University of California, Berkeley, team beat my West Virginia squad by a single point in the national championship game. The following year, I had the honor of playing for Pete in the Olympics. We won gold, and I realized how special he was. He just had a way of lifting everyone around him.

Pete later started his legendary camp for big men, which helped many great pro and collegiate players, like Bill Walton and Shaquille O'Neal, truly learn the game. He would share his knowledge with absolutely anyone.

I was supposed to see Pete the day he died. But five minutes before I arrived, he passed away. I missed my chance to say goodbye. I went over to the wheelchair where he was resting and said some final words. It was the most surreal experience of my life. I'm not a very demonstrative guy, but I couldn't control my emotions that day. I lost a father figure. Basketball lost a dear friend.

West, a Hall of Fame basketball player, led the L.A. Lakers to four titles as general manager