Comments on: Mike Flanagan died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound

By: rwjk

rwjk — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:49:31 +0000

it’s a shame you haven’t committed suicide yet since you suck

By: florida727

florida727 — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:24:58 +0000

I had a very close friend of mine kill himself with a handgun. It leaves a lasting impression on those left behind. As others have said, it’s a shame this couldn’t have been avoided, or that friends/family couldn’t see it coming and intervene. My friend was being berated by his so-called girlfriend on the phone when he pulled the trigger. He had millions stolen from him by his business partner and all she could do was tell him what a loser he was. The human psyche is a pretty fragile thing. Prayers go out to the Flanagan family and the Orioles too.

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:24:35 +0000

I’m all about freedom of speech and the Constitution, but I think even Thomas Jefferson would be okay if that comment was deleted.

By: stairwayto7

stairwayto7 — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:35:34 +0000

Probably mad because Orioles still suck!

By: SmackSaw

SmackSaw — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:06:14 +0000

That is awful. First Irabu and now Flanny. I will never understand suicides.

By: joecool16280

joecool16280 — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:18:57 +0000

Sorry about your loss.

By: APBA Guy

APBA Guy — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:14:08 +0000

My uncle killed himself rather than face terminal cancer, which has a logic to it, though I don’t subscribe to that logic myself. We don’t know, and maybe never will what drove Flanagan to choose this result. But as Hair says above, the main impact makes it more difficult on family, as indeed my Uncle’s death was on my Aunt and cousins. So say an extra prayer for the survivors in the immediate family. It is truly harder for them now.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:56:18 +0000

Understood, but my point is that there is no undo button or fix after suicide.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:34:42 +0000

Much of depression, or various forms of schizophrenia which are amenable to suicide, is really biochemical. It’s not usuallly something that admits of logical analysis or thoughtful self-intervention, and while we can medicate it, there’s still so much about it that we don’t medically understand. And of course we don’t know what else was going on in his life. I seriously doubt if caring about the Orioles figured significantly in it, though.

By: halladaysbiceps

halladaysbiceps — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:34:00 +0000

Well said, Hair.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:26:45 +0000

That really sucks—especially for his family and friends. As I and others have said before, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It’s so sad that he didn’t feel that the problems he no doubt battled with could have been solved any other way.

I hope that anybody out there see that suicide is not the answer. Its main impact makes it that much more difficult on family and friends. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Flanagan and Orioles families.

By: halladaysbiceps

halladaysbiceps — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:15:32 +0000

I’m shocked that it was suicide. Seemed like a happy guy from what I saw in the media throughout the years. I watched him growing up and he was a pretty good pitcher. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Baseball lost a good guy.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:11:22 +0000

Sad indeed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his Wife and Children.

By: Panda Claus

Panda Claus — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:10:38 +0000

So caring too much about something (as Flanagan did about the Orioles) can kill you. Utterly a waste of a wonderful life. Such a shame this couldn’t be avoided.

By: vikesfansteve

vikesfansteve — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:09:47 +0000

Great player & analyst. Guy must have had some demons. Sad.