Off topic, but I lost my childhood hero; and a man I have always admired as an athlete and as a person--Ernie Banks died at 83. Growing up in a suburb of Chicago and my Dad a Cub fanatic, I was seven when Ernie came to the Cubs and I loved watching him for his 19 years with the Cubs--and loving his sunny disposition and great attitude about life. Mr. Wrigley was approached by the general manager of the Cubs in Ernie`s last years with a proposed deal for Ernie that would bring four players to the Cubs--and Mr. Wrigley said "Are you nuts? I`m not the owner who will let Ernie Banks leave the Cubs---the fans would want to hang me!" Even fans of opposing teams that I`ve met and talked with was always rooting for Ernie. However, in everything I`m reading today about his death, his wife and friends said he was ready to go and was content with his life ---and of course, his statue outside Wrigley field will be there for everyone .
