I was simply going to say that Larry Brooks was the best at what he did and leave it at that.  But that does not begin to do him or his career/life justice because, honestly, he was the only one who did what he did. Brooksie was the quintessential five-tool hockey writer whose talent and versatility were unparalleled. I would put him in the pantheon of greatest game story writers alongside Red Fisher and Jason Botchford and, working at The Post, he had to do it in a lot fewer words. His Sunday Slap Shots was the gold standard for an NHL notes column — pointed, informative, irreverent and poignant — which was no mean feat in the internet era where so many weekly notes columns went to die. Larry (The Post has learned…) could break news with the best of them. He was incisive and plugged in. He was also hockey media’s biggest power hitter. He was fearless. His columns and takedowns were often epic and not only could he wield the flame thrower, he could take the white hot heat, too.  But for all of that there was often a real humanity to him and his work, a lot of  warmth, understanding and empathy.  As an old-school hockey writer,  Larry Brooks was the total package.  When Larry congratulated me after I received the Elmer Ferguson Award in 2015, I must admit I was a little sheepish because he had not yet received it. I told him exactly that and, thankfully, in 2017 that situation was rectified. Back in the old days, Larry and I occasionally sparred, especially during NHL lockouts (there was no shortage of those) but in the last decade or so we became pen pals of sorts. Just two older guys sharing an age/stage of our professional lives and enjoying the setting sun. He was nothing if not kind and caring.  The love he had for his family shone brightest, beyond all else, and my deepest condolences go out to them at this time of loss. 🙏 Larry Brooks really was one of a kind. -30-