Gallo was an absolute icon here in New York. The last two old newsmen left are now Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill. Ironically, Breslin just returned to the Daily News this past Sunday for a special weekly column. I guess he couldn't stand retirement.

Like them or not (I have a love/hate thing with both Hamill and Breslin), these guys were the epitome of the grizzled, hard drinking reporters of yesteryear.

R.I.P. Bill.