There are “Hard Knocks” and there are knockout blows.
Sports journalist Don Banks, a universally respected and beloved authority on the NFL, died in his sleep Sunday morning at age 56. He had been attending induction weekend at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. His passing rocked his friends, colleagues and readers.
He had just recently been hired as a football writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The newspaper issued a statement:
“Words can’t express the depth of sadness the Review-Journal staff feels for Don’s family and friends. Beyond a sportswriting institution, Don was a dedicated husband and father and a class act.