Michael David Coombs aka MDC

[TOKenBoiler]

For those of you who started out on the original IndyStar forums and have posted here and/or at oldgoldfreepress, you know the moniker MDC. Sadly, MDC passed away in his sleep this past Saturday evening. You can read his obituary here: http://tinyurl.com/oorgaqa

MDC was a fiercely loyal Purdue fan. But, always a gentleman first. I will miss him. Godspeed, Mike.

 

[BoilerinLouisville]

I remember him, his posts were always so well thought out; and you could tell his passion ran deep.

Prayers!

 

[mathboy]

What a shame. I always enjoyed his posts. RIP.

 

[GemstateBoiler]

For those of you who started out on the original IndyStar forums and have posted here and/or at oldgoldfreepress, you know the moniker MDC. Sadly, MDC passed away in his sleep this past Saturday evening. You can read his obituary here: http://tinyurl.com/oorgaqa

MDC was a fiercely loyal Purdue fan. But, always a gentleman first. I will miss him. Godspeed, Mike.

MBA from Krannert and Eli Lilly Director of Finance. He was a true distinguished Boilermaker who earned his keep in statute and leadership. Sad loss for the Purdue family of success stories. RIP Mr. MDC.

 

[SpamMan58]

For those of you who started out on the original IndyStar forums and have posted here and/or at oldgoldfreepress, you know the moniker MDC. Sadly, MDC passed away in his sleep this past Saturday evening. You can read his obituary here: http://tinyurl.com/oorgaqa

MDC was a fiercely loyal Purdue fan. But, always a gentleman first. I will miss him. Godspeed, Mike.

Wow....sad news. I always read his posts. They were filled with wisdom and insight. He was many times the voice of reason among hysterics.

 

[paintball1979]

Was a fellow poster with MDC from the early days. Remember meeting him when all the posters got together at the Castleton Square area resturant. Seemed like a great guy. Changed my poster name a couple times since then. It saddens me that he will not be a part of what could be a great basketball season at Purdue and that he would have enjoyed so much.

 

[DrEss]

Sad news indeed. RIP MDC

 

[PU pit bull]

RIP fellow Boilermaker......

 

[BoilerDaddy]

For those of you who started out on the original IndyStar forums and have posted here and/or at oldgoldfreepress, you know the moniker MDC. Sadly, MDC passed away in his sleep this past Saturday evening. You can read his obituary here: http://tinyurl.com/oorgaqa

MDC was a fiercely loyal Purdue fan. But, always a gentleman first. I will miss him. Godspeed, Mike.

I was a long time lurker on that board. I remember always enjoying his summaries after each game. RIP.

 

[tjreese]

Thanks Ken. You were an early poster but I remember when it was Db, Mike and myself and about 3 or 4 IU fans
I'm not aware of any health issues Mike had. Like others saud, Mike was a good guy and we're all a bit better for having met and shared thoughts with Mike. RIP Mike...now Robin has another Boiler member from years ago...

 

[gleap1969]

Never was part of the IndyStar group and never met MDC in person but knew him from OGFP and here. What is sad is he passed so young. And I say that being four years younger. He and his posts are missed already.

 

[thenagemj02]

I used to post on the OldGoldFreePress board and he was one of the few posters that most everyone showed respect towards. I think the PA pointed him out at one of the Purdue games I went to several years back. That was my one time seeing him in person.

This is sad news. I hope he felt fulfilled with his life. Maybe the Boilers can win a championship or two for him.

RIP MDC

 

[walstib816]

Sad day indeed. I remember arguing with many of the early posters about GK but after we all had lunch somewhere in Castleton I came to really like and respect Mike. His kindness kept the "Comet" in check for the most part. He will be missed and THX for letting us know KB.

 

[TOKenBoiler]

I used to post on the OldGoldFreePress board and he was one of the few posters that most everyone showed respect towards. I think the PA pointed him out at one of the Purdue games I went to several years back. That was my one time seeing him in person.

This is sad news. I hope he felt fulfilled with his life. Maybe the Boilers can win a championship or two for him.

RIP MDC

Mike and his wife, Linda, endowed The Coombs Scholarship for Athletics in 2007 through the JPC. I know they were introduced at halftime of a football game I attended. It's possible they were also introduced during a basketball game for that reason, too.

 

[purdue4sure]

I used to post on the OldGoldFreePress board and he was one of the few posters that most everyone showed respect towards. I think the PA pointed him out at one of the Purdue games I went to several years back. That was my one time seeing him in person.

This is sad news. I hope he felt fulfilled with his life. Maybe the Boilers can win a championship or two for him.

RIP MDC

This. He was always the voice of reason and wisdom on the OGFP and IndyStar boards. MDC was a true gentleman and an All-American Boiler fan.

 

[David4Boilers]

Mike Coombs became my father in law in 2006 and it's been an awesome ride ever since. All of your observations have been spot on. Fiercely loyal, passionate and a burning desire to see Purdue succeed. His #1 love has always been basketball. For years Mike loved writing BB game recaps on OGFP. He loved engaging other Purdue fans and discussing the state of Boiler Basketball.
What most people don't know is Mike's passion for his family was second to none. Mike always had my back, and was a true example of how a gentlemen should handle himself. I benefited from just being around him. Mike loved supporting his grandson (Jack) swim. We spent many swim meets together discussing Purdue basketball and football.
Purdue athletics has lost a great ambassador and our family has lost our spiritual leader. Mike cannot be replaced. He will missed at tailgate parties and I will especially miss our post game discussions. As most of you already know, Mike always had a unique way of seeing things and breaking a game down.
RIP Mike, you will be missed by many.
Dave Franzman

 

[DG10]

Mike Coombs became my father in law in 2006 and it's been an awesome ride ever since. All of your observations have been spot on. Fiercely loyal, passionate and a burning desire to see Purdue succeed. His #1 love has always been basketball. For years Mike loved writing BB game recaps on OGFP. He loved engaging other Purdue fans and discussing the state of Boiler Basketball.
What most people don't know is Mike's passion for his family was second to none. Mike always had my back, and was a true example of how a gentlemen should handle himself. I benefited from just being around him. Mike loved supporting his grandson (Jack) swim. We spent many swim meets together discussing Purdue basketball and football.
Purdue athletics has lost a great ambassador and our family has lost our spiritual leader. Mike cannot be replaced. He will missed at tailgate parties and I will especially miss our post game discussions. As most of you already know, Mike always had a unique way of seeing things and breaking a game down.
RIP Mike, you will be missed by many.
Dave Franzman

Thanks for sharing Dave...nothing you shared will come as a surprise to anyone I am sure, but nice nonetheless to hear the first hand account. While you mentioned having benefited just from being around him, I think that is a sentiment felt by all that interacted with him on the message boards or were fortunate enough to do so in person...he was a true gentleman, a voice of reason and a great Purdue fan...my (and I am sure so many others on the respective Purdue forums) thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[GemstateBoiler]

Mike Coombs became my father in law in 2006 and it's been an awesome ride ever since. All of your observations have been spot on. Fiercely loyal, passionate and a burning desire to see Purdue succeed. His #1 love has always been basketball. For years Mike loved writing BB game recaps on OGFP. He loved engaging other Purdue fans and discussing the state of Boiler Basketball.
What most people don't know is Mike's passion for his family was second to none. Mike always had my back, and was a true example of how a gentlemen should handle himself. I benefited from just being around him. Mike loved supporting his grandson (Jack) swim. We spent many swim meets together discussing Purdue basketball and football.
Purdue athletics has lost a great ambassador and our family has lost our spiritual leader. Mike cannot be replaced. He will missed at tailgate parties and I will especially miss our post game discussions. As most of you already know, Mike always had a unique way of seeing things and breaking a game down.
RIP Mike, you will be missed by many.
Dave Franzman

David,
The love you express for your father-in-law is so apparent and moving . I'm sorry for your family's loss as I know it's hard. Remember though, when he's looking down on you and the family from the heavens, he is smiling and comforted knowing he did well.

GSB

 

[Heller]

I posted with him for years with guys who no longer post here or anywhere but OGFP. He was one of the core fans on the old Indy Star forums where things were like the old west. As I said on the premie board, his loss makes me sad.

 

[Bigohh]

Mike Coombs became my father in law in 2006 and it's been an awesome ride ever since. All of your observations have been spot on. Fiercely loyal, passionate and a burning desire to see Purdue succeed. His #1 love has always been basketball. For years Mike loved writing BB game recaps on OGFP. He loved engaging other Purdue fans and discussing the state of Boiler Basketball.
What most people don't know is Mike's passion for his family was second to none. Mike always had my back, and was a true example of how a gentlemen should handle himself. I benefited from just being around him. Mike loved supporting his grandson (Jack) swim. We spent many swim meets together discussing Purdue basketball and football.
Purdue athletics has lost a great ambassador and our family has lost our spiritual leader. Mike cannot be replaced. He will missed at tailgate parties and I will especially miss our post game discussions. As most of you already know, Mike always had a unique way of seeing things and breaking a game down.
RIP Mike, you will be missed by many.
Dave Franzman

 

[Bigohh]

Dave,
I remember him posting about watching his grandson swim. He will indeed be missed and was a fine person. Had he been ill or did he just not wake up?
We used to talk at halftime during Purdue b-ball games and I sat with him and Linda several times at the coaches dinner on the football field.

 

[TOKenBoiler]

Mike Coombs became my father in law in 2006 and it's been an awesome ride ever since. All of your observations have been spot on. Fiercely loyal, passionate and a burning desire to see Purdue succeed. His #1 love has always been basketball. For years Mike loved writing BB game recaps on OGFP. He loved engaging other Purdue fans and discussing the state of Boiler Basketball.
What most people don't know is Mike's passion for his family was second to none. Mike always had my back, and was a true example of how a gentlemen should handle himself. I benefited from just being around him. Mike loved supporting his grandson (Jack) swim. We spent many swim meets together discussing Purdue basketball and football.
Purdue athletics has lost a great ambassador and our family has lost our spiritual leader. Mike cannot be replaced. He will missed at tailgate parties and I will especially miss our post game discussions. As most of you already know, Mike always had a unique way of seeing things and breaking a game down.
RIP Mike, you will be missed by many.
Dave Franzman

Dave, my sincere condolences to you and your family. And thanks for sharing your father-in-law with Boiler Nation. Navigating to a Purdue forum without the prospect of seeing a new post from MDC and being able to exchange thoughts with him is still hard for me to accept. I don't know that anyone will ever fill the void he left.
My birthday is the same as his, which I just learned, so I'll raise a glass in his memory on September 29th as long as I'm able.

 

[BigOBoiler]

Mike Coombs became my father in law in 2006 and it's been an awesome ride ever since. All of your observations have been spot on. Fiercely loyal, passionate and a burning desire to see Purdue succeed. His #1 love has always been basketball. For years Mike loved writing BB game recaps on OGFP. He loved engaging other Purdue fans and discussing the state of Boiler Basketball.
What most people don't know is Mike's passion for his family was second to none. Mike always had my back, and was a true example of how a gentlemen should handle himself. I benefited from just being around him. Mike loved supporting his grandson (Jack) swim. We spent many swim meets together discussing Purdue basketball and football.
Purdue athletics has lost a great ambassador and our family has lost our spiritual leader. Mike cannot be replaced. He will missed at tailgate parties and I will especially miss our post game discussions. As most of you already know, Mike always had a unique way of seeing things and breaking a game down.
RIP Mike, you will be missed by many.
Dave Franzman

Dave,
I have been a reader of this board and OGFP for many years but have never posted. I decided to post for the first time today to let you know how much I respected Mike's opinions and wisdom. Like many others have said, I would always look for his posts first when pulling up the board. My condolences to you and your family, but remember how much Mike helped the many of us that live out of state retain our ties to, and passion for, Purdue sports

 

[thenagemj02]

Mike and his wife, Linda, endowed The Coombs Scholarship for Athletics in 2007 through the JPC. I know they were introduced at halftime of a football game I attended. It's possible they were also introduced during a basketball game for that reason, too.

I think that was probably what I witnessed at Mackey. The timeline seems correct from your information. I think it was halftime of the Michigan game in the '06-'07 season.

 

[Bill4411]

MDC was a great guy and enjoyed meeting him for an early Purdue board get together. Mike had to endure the wrath of probably one of the most notorious posters of the early years. He handled with great ablom as the poster "Romeo" was completely out of control at various times. I think Romeo went after Mike because he probably felt Mike was the most illustrious posters we had (Romeo was a big Bob Knight fan) and Mike probably was. R.I.P. Mike.

 

[tjreese]

MDC was a great guy and enjoyed meeting him for an early Purdue board get together. Mike had to endure the wrath of probably one of the most notorious posters of the early years. He handled with great ablom as the poster "Romeo" was completely out of control at various times. I think Romeo went after Mike because he probably felt Mike was the most illustrious posters we had (Romeo was a big Bob Knight fan) and Mike probably was. R.I.P. Mike.

whoa....I loved reading Romeo. He was so far out it was funny...

 

[Bill4411]

MDC was a great guy and enjoyed meeting him for an early Purdue board get together. Mike had to endure the wrath of probably one of the most notorious posters of the early years. He handled with great ablom as the poster "Romeo" was completely out of control at various times. I think Romeo went after Mike because he probably felt Mike was the most illustrious posters we had (Romeo was a big Bob Knight fan) and Mike probably was. R.I.P. Mike.

whoa....I loved reading Romeo. He was so far out it was funny...

Dan Romeo had a great fantasy world filed with Playboy playmates and Penthouse centerfolds-he was pretty crazy but he sure could write quite a tale.

 

[TOKenBoiler]

Dan Romeo had a great fantasy world filed with Playboy playmates and Penthouse centerfolds-he was pretty crazy but he sure could write quite a tale.

I have always wondered if Gojko and Don Romeo weren't alter egos.

 

[Bill4411]

I have always wondered if Gojko and Don Romeo weren't alter egos.

I really don't think so. I think Dan Romeo's i.p. address was traced to a large law firm in downtown Indianapolis. I can't remember which one it was now. Goyko was an attorney but he was from northern Indiana and btw when Dan Romeo's i.p. address was revealed that more or less was the end of Dan Romeo's posting. I doubt that his employer liked him spending that much time on the computer while at work although I'm sure they must have enjoyed all the Penthouse pets and Playboy playmates Dan was said to be cavorting with.

 

[Gold&Black]

Gojko was a lawyer from up near Rensalear someplace. I know he used El Diablo as an alter ego.

 

[Bill4411]

Gojko was a lawyer from up near Rensalear someplace. I know he used El Diablo as an alter ego.

At one time I used to save some of the Dan Romeo posts but I'm afraid I may have finally thrown them away. I wish I had some to share.

 

[tjreese]

Gojko was a lawyer from up near Rensalear someplace. I know he used El Diablo as an alter ego.

to have that kind of memory and only a few posts???? what was your old moniker?

 

[Bob Sienicki]

I was mostly a lurker back in the old Star forum days, but I remember Romeo and Gojko. Gojko stuck around longer and migrated to Mike Pegram's board. For what it's worth, whenever I posted on Peegs back in those days, Gojko was actually pretty nice to me. But then, I didn't start to get acrimonious until Mike McClure (destewart) and I started getting into it - mostly on the OGFP women's board. Mike seems to be pretty mellow these days, mostly because I think he vents on the political boards where I've seen him pop up on occasion. And now, I pretty much resort to lurking these days. I've grown tired of the bickering and am happy to let anyone argue for their delusions and ignorance. I no longer feel compelled to display mine! lol

But Mike Coombs was what I consider to be the epitome of a Purdue fan. Opinionated, but introspective. He would grant points well made, but had a great deal of wisdom and common sense, which is sorely missing today, IMHO.

 

[tjreese]

I was mostly a lurker back in the old Star forum days, but I remember Romeo and Gojko. Gojko stuck around longer and migrated to Mike Pegram's board. For what it's worth, whenever I posted on Peegs back in those days, Gojko was actually pretty nice to me. But then, I didn't start to get acrimonious until Mike McClure (destewart) and I started getting into it - mostly on the OGFP women's board. Mike seems to be pretty mellow these days, mostly because I think he vents on the political boards where I've seen him pop up on occasion. And now, I pretty much resort to lurking these days. I've grown tired of the bickering and am happy to let anyone argue for their delusions and ignorance. I no longer feel compelled to display mine! lol

But Mike Coombs was what I consider to be the epitome of a Purdue fan. Opinionated, but introspective. He would grant points well made, but had a great deal of wisdom and common sense, which is sorely missing today, IMHO.

so bob...was that in reference to what I wrote above?

 

[Bob Sienicki]

so bob...was that in reference to what I wrote above?

No, not really. Just reminiscing after all the chatter about Romeo and Gojko. Actually, I always suspected Gojko had several alter egos. He was an odd one. Very secretive, but soooo outspoken and judgmental. In some ways, I kind of miss the old Peegs & Mr./Ms. Hoops days. But not too much! lol

 

[tjreese]

No, not really. Just reminiscing after all the chatter about Romeo and Gojko. Actually, I always suspected Gojko had several alter egos. He was an odd one. Very secretive, but soooo outspoken and judgmental. In some ways, I kind of miss the old Peegs & Mr./Ms. Hoops days. But not too much! lol

I still keep in touch with Gojko. He can't stand Crean adn wished they would have hired Tony Bennett. Had a son that graduated from Purdue Calumet I believe. Probably prefers Purdue basketball to IU basketball at this time. Gojko is upfront..maybe had one moniker for Peegs for a while. Peegs is not near what it was when basketball could get discussed instead of kool-aid drinking

 

[Gold&Black]

to have that kind of memory and only a few posts???? what was your old moniker?

I think I was Checkmate on the Star forum. I mostly lurk here and occasionally post on the "other" forum using that name.

 

[tjreese]

I think I was Checkmate on the Star forum. I mostly lurk here and occasionally post on the "other" forum using that name.

I recall Checkmate

 

[purdue4sure]

I recall Checkmate

Me, too. One of the regulars.

 

[thenagemj02]

I was just a grade school kid and almost never posted when I first started reading the Purdue basketball forum on Indy Star (around 1995-1996).

I remember there was an IU fan that went by "Bob H." I also recall some IU fan (it might have been that guy that posted as Don Romeo) making up a recruit and really talking him up. They said that the recruit's name was Matt Gage and that he was an athletic 6'9 power forward from Alaska. They were acting like this guy was the next college superstar and that IU was gonna get him, haha. Nowadays, with so many more websites (specifically recruiting sites like this one) to verify these things, no one would ever believe something like that. I think he had some people buying into "Matt Gage" for a little while, though.