Monday, April 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
As I recall, it was our own Hank Greenspun, the founder of the SUN, who gave Jimmy the Greek his start in journalism.
I remember sitting in those delightful "temporary" SUN offices on Commerce Street (in fact, my entire career as sports editor of the SUN was spent in that sweat bowl) in late summer of '64 (that's 1964) when Hank came in and introduced me to our newest columnist. Jimmy had just lost his gaming license and was looking for a new profession.
His oddsmaking talents were definitely better than his writing and typing skills. After pecking out a column for three hours, one key at a time, he would hand it to me for a few finishing touches -- which usually meant a total rewrite. I could never convince Jimmy that Pittsburgh required an "h" on the end. ("If it doesn't make any sound, why do we need it?") And by the Greek's way of thinking, if "Los" was good enough for Los Angeles, it was certainly good enough for "Los Vegas."
During my years at the Hilton, whenever Jimmy came in to visit, he always seemed more comfortable down with the regular guys making the bets, swapping stories and checking out the ponies in the next race than hanging with the brass.
In a column I once did on Jimmy, I wrote that if the Greek were to make a line on the sun coming up tomorrow morning in the West, I would definitely haul on down to Del Mar for a ringside seat.
I'd wager the Greek is with St. Peter right now, taking the action.
He will be missed.
Bruce Banke
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