By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

UPDATED, Tuesday 12:22 a.m.

MEMPHIS - The sad and tragic news of the death of Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan’s son, Keith, is reveberating throughout the sports media fraternity.

Details of the apparent suicide are beginning to emerge, including this Reuters report.

An email circulated on Monday afternoon by a member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association indicates that Ryan’s son, who was 37, was in the Middle East on assignment when he passed away. (According to the Globe story, Keith was “an attache for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency,” which is part of the US Department of Homeland Security. Shots had previously suggested in error that Keith worked for the FBI.) According to the email from the PBWA member (and also the Globe story), funeral arangements have not yet been announced.

As regular readers know, Shots is one of Ryan’s biggest fans and over the years we have developed a bond, mostly fed by our mutual love of college basketball. When I received news of this tragedy on my way home from Memphis, my heart dropped and I was overcome by emotion on the rental car shuttle. From what I’m hearing from Phoenix, it was a common reaction from anyone who knows Ryan.

Words always fall short at times like these, but hopefully there will be some comfort for Bob, his wife Elaine, daughter Jessica, daughter-in-law Kate and their entire family in knowing how much support, thoughts and prayers are being conveyed to them. There had already been an outpouring of support on the Globe’s message board (but the original thread appears to have been removed) and we’d urge you to share your condolences there or through another forum (or our own Comments Section below) that Bob will be able to access.

We also need to comment on how eloquently Bob speaks of his son in the Globe story linked above. It’s just an unfathomable tragedy and Bob has shown strength, courage and dignity beyond comprehension in speaking with Globe writer Bryan Marquard.

Stay strong, my friend and know that so very many are with you and here for you.