Beloved Chicago sportscaster Daryl Hawks was on assignment, covering Game Six between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks when he was found dead in his Atlanta hotel room. The hotel staff found him there when he failed to answer his wake-up call. The 38 year-old’s cause of death has not yet been determined, but the police say they have no reason as of yet to suspect foul play. Further information about what conditions may have caused the death won’t be available for at least two weeks, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner.

Hawks leaves behind a wife and three children, the oldest of whom released a public statement.

“On behalf of the family, I would like to thank everyone for keeping us in your prayers. My family isn’t just grieving the loss of a well loved sportscaster. He was a father, son, role model and my hero that loved life and his family even more. He is leaving behind a beautiful mother, a lovely wife and 3 children who will miss him more than words can describe right now. Thank you again for all of the support in our time of need and please remember my father as the loving, caring compassionate man he was.” – Daryl Hawks, Jr.

I do not know much at all about Mr. Hawks, but I know that one of the most important roles a man can have in life is the role of a father. Hawks certainly seems to have done a fine job in that role to have his eldest son release such a statement and show such poise in the wake of his death.

Here is a video that his colleagues and friends at NBC Chicago made reminiscing over the type of professional and person he was. Our hearts go out to the Hawks family. But the question remains—what happened?

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