http://www.comcast.net/data/br/2007/01/07/br-71576.jpg

USC Kicker Found Dead at Bottom of Cliff
By Associated Press

3 hours ago

LOS ANGELES - Southern California kicker Mario Danelo was found dead Saturday about 120 feet down a rocky cliff near Point Fermin lighthouse in the city's San Pedro section.

The body was reported by a passer-by at about 4:30 p.m., said Martha Garcia of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Danelo, the 21-year-old son of former NFL kicker Joe Danelo, appeared to have suffered traumatic injuries, Garcia said.

Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said investigators didn't find a surf board, scuba-diving tanks or anything else at the scene to indicate Danelo might have been down there for any recreational activities common to the area.

Humphrey said a handful of people had fallen from the cliff over the years.

"It's entirely possible that he fell," he said.

Danelo made 15 of 16 field goals this season and led the Trojans in scoring with 89 points. The junior made two field goals in the Rose Bowl on Monday to help USC beat Michigan 32-18.

Speaking on behalf of Trojans coach Pete Carroll, USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said: "We were stunned to hear about this tragedy. This is a great loss. Mario was a wonderful young man of high character.

"He was one heck of a kicker. He was a key ingredient in our success the past two years. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Trojan family go out to the Danelo family on this sad, sad day."

Reached by phone, the family declined to comment.

Danelo's death stunned many in the close-knit San Pedro community where he grew up.

"Anytime you were around him, it was nothing but smiles," Dustin Varela, a 22-year-old San Pedro resident, told the Daily Breeze. "None of this feels real. I'm trying to put it all together."

A former San Pedro High School linebacker and soccer player, Danelo made the Trojans as a walk-on in 2003. In 2005, he received a scholarship and earned the starting kicking job.

He only missed two field goals in his career, going 26-for-28, and was 127-of-134 on extra points. In 2005, he set NCAA single-season records with 83 extra points and 86 attempts.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


WTF

I just read suicide has been ruled out. Might have been an accident though.

Check the backup kicker.

I wonder how Pete Carroll feels about his little "player jumps off a building" prank from last year right about now?

http://www.dailytrojan.com/media/paper679/news/2005/11/01/Sports/Whites.Prank.Put.Scare.Into.Usc-1040509.shtml?norewrite200701080924&sourcedomain=www.dailytrojan.com

It's headline news out here in SoCal. Dude was an alright kid, and a player favorite.

But who knows what might've happened. We only get to see one side of any player, on any level, until something personal happens to him (Kobe). Up until that point, all we know are assumptions based upon his camera persona (Kobe), and possible strife with teammates (Kobe).

Still, I think Danelo's death was nothing more than an accident. He grew up there, so more than likely he'd sat at the edge of that cliff before, gazing out into the Pacific (that's an ocean to all you midwesterners out there).

Not saying they are wrong, but how do you rule out suicide that fast?

I can see a crime scene with a gun and stuff like that, but a falling accident? How can you tell if he slipped or jumped?

you can tell if he jumped off on his own or slipped by the injuries he sustained after the fall. You see, if some one kills themselves there are different injuries vs just falling. People who fall on accident would have arm injuries because they would be trying to brace themselves for a rough landing.

I see what you are saying, but what if he jumped and hit before he hit the ground (ie: sucked at committing suicide)? That would be pretty stupid because if you were going to kill yourself you'd want to die on impact (not to hit a bunch of times first), but you never know. Also, most people want you to know it was a suicide to send some sort of messege (not sure what it proves to someone else really), so you'd think a suicide person would make it look that way. You could rule out foul play by footprints and stuff probably.

Who knows. If the right people are involved, alot of times they'll just call it an accident for privacy of the family's sake.

If this kid shows up here and starts to post, I'm going to freak out.

Every scene is always treated the same, the investigators always suspect foul play then use the evidence to eliminate or put things into context. In general people who want to kill themselves leave behind evidence (there are a lot of subtle under the radar things people do) beyond the cliche suicide note and depression. So my best guess is he didn't act or leave evidence to say his life was over.

Plus methodology of the act is important, there are just ways that people don't want to die in general jumping isn't as high on the list as many think.

Although you never know. I once saw a scene where a woman killed herself using a razor. She cut her throat from ear to ear, the only pain killer she used was tylenol. No drugs or alcohol were found in system so that was insane. Everyone assumed murder, put the evidence in context clearly showed it was suicide.

Every scene is always treated the same, the investigators always suspect foul play then use the evidence to eliminate or put things into context. In general people who want to kill themselves leave behind evidence (there are a lot of subtle under the radar things people do) beyond the cliche suicide note and depression. So my best guess is he didn't act or leave evidence to say his life was over.

Plus methodology of the act is important, there are just ways that people don't want to die in general jumping isn't as high on the list as many think.

Although you never know. I once saw a scene where a woman killed herself using a razor. She cut her throat from ear to ear, the only pain killer she used was tylenol. No drugs or alcohol were found in system so that was insane. Everyone assumed murder, put the evidence in context clearly showed it was suicide.

Thank you. My lunch is now on the floor.

Kickers BA was .23. Damn boi!


He doesn't fuck around when it comes times to throw a few back.

Kickers BA was .23. Damn boi!


He doesn't fuck around when it comes times to throw a few back.

Thats not too bad. My cousin thinks he can drive with a .42. Of course we only know that because he got in an accident. "This van just pulled right out in front of me." Well, shouldnt have been driving in the far left lane of a four lane road. lol I got arrested once for minor drinking, blew a .26 and the cop said he wouldnt have known I was drunk unless he saw the beer in my hand. Even at the station he said I was acting fine. He told my parents to send me to rehab because its just not natural for someone to have a tolerence like that. They didnt send me. *sips beer*