"Mike Penner, a longtime Los Angeles Times sportswriter who made headlines in 2007 when he announced that he was transsexual, has died. He was 52.
Penner was pronounced dead Friday evening at Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, a Los Angeles County coroner's official said.
The cause of death has not been determined but was believed to be suicide.
'Mike was a first-rate journalist, a valued member of our staff for 25 years, and we will miss him,' Times Editor Russ Stanton said. 'He respected our readers a great deal, enough to share with them his very personal journey. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.'
A versatile member of The Times' sports staff, Penner covered the Olympics, the Angels, World Cup soccer, tennis, sports media and a variety of other assignments."
Indeed, Penner was certainly "versatile," particularly in his choice of clothing. Penner will no doubt go down in history as the most famous cross dresser in the sports world this side of Dennis Rodman. But I doubt Penner ever shagged Carmen Elektra. Although there is a good chance "Christina Daniels" gave Eddie Murphy a good rim job back in the day.
There is speculation that Penner's death was a suicide. Regardless, Penner's game of life ended in sudden death overtime.
So R.I.P. Mike Penner. This world may have been harsh for you, but at least you can now join "fellow" trannsexual Bea Arthur in that great big cabaret in the sky. Oh... our fact checker here at Are We Too Soon has just informed me that Bea Arthur was actually a woman. Bloody hell. :-)
- JJ Ramone
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