I got misty eyed reading that. No joke.
About Banks... there was a poster on this board, (back in the beginning), who claimed to be his brother. To my knowledge none of us admins ever confirmed that... but perhaps one of the other Admins did and I just never heard about it.
I remember him posting something like this, "He's going to make you guys believers"... now I doubt I'm going where you think I'm going... I didn't know if it was his brother, but that was exactly what a brother "would" say. He posted very few times, and eventually faded away. Disappointment? Yeah, probably, but if it WAS his brother.... I doubt he lost any pride in him.
So many young men don't make it in the NFL. I suppose I allowed that 'non-confirmed' event go to my head but whatever... I have always thought of Banks fondly... not NFL material, there are many, but it's not because they didn't try.. and it's also not because they weren't gifted. An 'almost' NFL player, any position, puts the rest of us to shame. - JamesJM