By Madhuri Dey
Los Angeles, Nov. 29, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Mike Penner, a sports journalist who was associated with the Los Angeles Times Sports, passed away on Nov. 27, Friday. He was 52 years old at the time of death. He was found dead in his apartment in Los Angeles, according to some of his colleagues. The coroner’s office has not yet performed an autopsy and has hence been unable to release an official cause of his death. However, it is widely believed in his professional circle that he had committed suicide.

Penner had been with the newspaper for over 25 years. He used to cover the Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the Olympics, tennis, World Cup Soccer and a variety of other sports. Known for his sharp wit and versatility, he had never settled into a particular comfort zone and had worked variously as a columnist and a reporter. He had also worked as the beat writer of the Los Angeles Angels for the Los Angeles Times Sports.

Mike had shocked the world when he had decided to take a short break in order to undergo a sex change operation. When he had returned, he had adopted the name Christine Daniels, triggering some scandalized and some supportive reactions from colleagues and readers. Recently, however, he had gone back to using his original name.

Mike Penner’s death has come as a great shock to his colleagues and all that who knew him. His editor commented that he was a great, kind and gentle man, whose death is an irrevocable loss for the newspaper. His talent is acclaimed by his colleagues, who say that he was one of the best writers the newspaper has ever had.