04/18/24
May 17, 2006
Tragic Turn: Kyle Ambrogi's suicide was appalling to everyone who knew him. He was a running back on the Penn football team, a senior finance major with a 3.5 GPA in the prestigious Wharton business school and perhaps most impressive, the kid everyone else turned to for advice when feeling down.
It seems like a bad decision that he did it at his mother's home. But I wouldn't exactly call him a jerk.
posted by STUNNER at 12:07 AM on May 18, 2006
This sounds very much like the plot of a movie from the early 80's I once saw... Spooky. I'd be curious to know his medical history. Specifically if he'd had any new medication, or vaccines. Something must have happened to trigger such a change. I've been diagnosed with depression, but it was more of a gradual thing, not like someone flipping a switch. Very sad story.
posted by Drood at 01:31 AM on May 18, 2006
Sometimes the most depressed are also the best at hiding it, and that's speaking from personal experience. In the athletic, high-powered environment he was in, being open about his own feelings and failings is not exactly encouraged. I think it as an awful rush to judgement to call this poor guy a 'jerk.'
posted by insomnyuk at 03:10 AM on May 18, 2006
I have a few select words to describe GoBirds for calling the kid a jerk, but i'lll leave them to the imagination. This is a classic example of bi-polar disorder. He scored two touchdowns on Saturday. his brother scored a touchdown. He was on top of the world. Problem with manic-depression is your lows equal your highs. As high as he was Saturday and Sunday, he was equally low on Monday.
posted by SummersEve at 06:08 AM on May 18, 2006
Sad story. If he was bipolar, wouldn't the large number of people who loved him have stories to tell about his manic episodes? All this has is a descent into depression, lifted only at the end when he could have been reacting to a decision to kill himself. The story says he changed right around the time he was prescribed anti-depressants, but it's not clear on whether he got over his dislike of medication and took them. From personal experience, I find that shrinks prescribe medication ridiculously quick, sometimes when non-medical therapy hasn't been given a chance to work, so I've been suspicious of them ever since.
posted by rcade at 09:15 AM on May 18, 2006
I'm suspicious of any behaviour modification drugs - they seem based on something so untenable, like mood and attitude. However, I also believe that people with bi-polar disorder are suffering needlessly from a clinical illness. From what I understand, it isn't very difficult to diagnose that illness; and it is treatable. It's the ADD, Ritalin, Focus drugs that I don't trust as much.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:06 AM on May 18, 2006
I apologize for trying to sound like such an expert in my previous post. I should have said "this seems like a classic example..." rather than "this is." I just watched the video of his mom. She does make it sound like it was more of a depression spiral than bipolar. Do they overlap or are they seperate? The local stories around the time of his funeral talked to teammates who spoke a lot of his ups and downs. A general theme was how he couldn't stop smiling the night of the Bucknell game, mainly because of his brother also scoring. From what i understand anti-depressant drugs are brutal if you stop cold turkey and can really cause some dark moods.
posted by SummersEve at 11:19 AM on May 18, 2006
Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich - yes, richer than a king - And admirably schooled in every grace; In fine we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. Richard Cory By Edwin Arlington Robinson There has been far too much suicide and and attempted suicide by people I know for me to be suprised anymore. But I can tell you never let teenagers take P*x*l. Fight your doctor and find something else.
posted by ?! at 12:24 PM on May 18, 2006
The article doesn't mention a note - Was there one left behind? I would think someone so calculating and thorough and quick to help others solve their own problems would have wanted to answer some of the questions that linger in the wake of such a tragedy - especially since his attitude in the last few days seemed to imply that he knew the end was near and was at peace with the decision. Some other random thoughts: His mother's attitude is incredible. I don't hold him harmful for doing it in his mothers house - it's probably where he felt most comfortable - selfish as that may be. I think the first red flag may have been when he told his best friend he had a stratagy for fighting everyone in his class, despite having never been in a fight... I don't believe in shrinks, and agree with whomever said they are too quick to medicate. I don't understand suicide at all. I do think it's a selfish act but I don't necessarily blame or fault the person who does it. I do however fault people who are quick to call them asshole.
posted by MW12 at 03:01 PM on May 18, 2006
I was prescribed anti-depressants a few years ago. Took one dose and they sent me for a complete loop. The violent nausea lasted two weeks! I'll take my chances with depression. MW12: You don't understand suicide? I envy you:(
posted by Drood at 03:14 PM on May 18, 2006
Bet old Tom Cruise could have helped him.
posted by GoBirds at 03:39 PM on May 18, 2006
Drood, I'm sorry to hear that.
posted by MW12 at 06:33 PM on May 18, 2006
Tragic. I lost a friend once to suicide in 8th grade. Horrible deal.
posted by T$PORT4lawschool at 10:38 PM on May 18, 2006
Terribly moving. All the warning signs I have heard about were present it seems. Everyone just missed them. Awful thing, and to do it where his mother would find his corpse. What a jerk. Sad stuff.