Yoi! I'm sad?

Myron Cope died today. He was old, that's what old people do. They die. Yet I'm sad. I am surprisingly sad. I didn't love him. He was fine. I didn't not like him. He was just Myron Cope. Crazy, unintelligible, passionate, loyal, funny, remarkable, inventor of the "Terrible Towel", he was many things. Why am I sad?
Part of me is sad for the simple fact that he became like a grandfather to Steelers fans. You know, that crazy old man that you don't quite get but you love him. As he got older you got more nervous anytime he talked for fear of him saying something just ridiculous. You cared about his stories about the old times but not enough to really listen. You felt bad about that but not enough to listen more the next time. Now, he's gone.
Another part of me is sad because he represents something that is missing in today's world. The strong man. Now, he could barely lift three pirogi to his mouth in his prime let alone as he got older but I mean strong in different way. He was old school, he was who he was. You didn't like it? Pound salt. He called any woman he worked with "girlie" no matter what their age. Sexist? Sure. Did he do with it with mal-intent? No. He drank. Too much? Sometimes. Did he hide it or go to therapy? No. He was old school. I heard today that he could dance. At weddings he would dance every dance with either his wife or any other woman there. The women would line up to dance with him. Why? Because he was old school and knew how to lead a woman (even if he only came up to their shoulders). Very few younger people know that he was originally a sports writer, a very accomplished sports writer. Only after years of writing did he begin to do broadcasting. He wrote nothing like he spoke. They were two different mediums to him. Why? Because he was old school.
Lastly, I wonder if I'm sad because it's another bit of my youth, slipping away (well, gone). It's in the back of your head when you get older..."when will I be old?". This doesn't help. Now, I don't really care, at least I think I don't. But maybe it is why I'm sad. Maybe.
If you read this and have thought, "huh, I didn't ever really think about that crazy old Myron Cope before...what a shame." Then seek out and listen to Beano Cook. He is a grumpy old man who knows everything about football (especially college) and (because he is old school) politics, history and life. Further, if you have that old man in your life, listen to him for just a few minutes, he may just say something remarkable. He may offend you or go off in a rant about walnuts or something, but he may just teach you something.