For most of my formative years (say 5-15) growing up in Chicago, there was pretty much only one number that appeared on any T-shirt or jersey that I owned…#14. That was the number of the truest idol and hero I ever had in sports, Ernie Banks. For me, Ernie epitomized everything great about sports, and even though my beloved Chicago Cubs never won a title, my loyalty never waivered as much as anything…because of Ernie Banks.

With Ernie’s passing last week at the age of 83, I lost a true friend…not because we were really close buddies, but because he treated all his fans like friends…a phenomena that disappeared from sports many years ago. I was fortunate, later in life, to be able to share a little time with Ernie Banks, primarily because of his love for golf. In fact, a round of golf with Ernie on Kapalua’s Village Course is still one of my most memorable.

Several years back, I had the unique opportunity to sit in the bleachers at Wrigley with Ernie and reminisce about days gone by and our mutual love for Chicago and the Cubs. It was the last time I saw him.

RIP Ernie Banks…and tomorrow, “let’s play two!”

Read more and watch my 2012 interview with Ernie Banks at http://www.globalgolfadventure.com/guest/Team-Chicago.