Today's athletes should follow Banks' example

Cubs Nation and the sports world lost a true gentleman and an American hero in Ernie Banks. He did everything the right way in a more innocent time for sports.

Ernie came up to the Cubs in the early '50s and played with nondescript players like Dee Fondy, Gene Baker, Handsome Ransom Jackson, Hank Sauer, Eddie Miksis, Harry Chiti, and an array of batting-practice pitchers too terrible to mention.

Banks never made much money since he worked for the Wrigley family, who made George Halas look like a free spender. Most players of that era had to supplement their incomes by taking off-season second jobs to survive, not like today's system of totally healthy, but lazy entitlement freeloaders.

Ernie was the finest ambassador for Major League Baseball. He always had time to grant interviews and patiently gave out autographs to loyal fans.

You never read about Ernie knocking out his girlfriend in an elevator, taking drugs or steroids, corking his bats, gambling on games, or acting like a spoiled prima donna.

Ernie was an ironman who treasured the game and loved the fans. He'll be missed. Today's sports' figures would do well to emulate him.

Tony Novak

Arlington Heights