Updated: High school football player dies from injuries
(UPDATED: Thursday, 2:34 p.m.)
Above: Vinnie Rodriguez, a sophomore running back at Boron High School, died Wednesday due to head injuries suffered in a game played five days earlier. (Los Angeles Times)
By Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
The Bobcats voted unanimously to proceed with Friday's road game against Lake Isabella Kern Valley after the death of Rodriguez, 16, a sophomore running back and safety who succumbed Tuesday night to head injuries suffered last Friday during a game against California School for the Deaf Riverside.
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Vinnie Rodriguez, a sophomore running back and safety at Boron High, died Tuesday night at Loma Linda Medical Center from head injuries suffered last Friday during the Bobcats' game against Riverside California School for the Deaf, reports Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times.
Bolch goes on to report:
Rodriguez had been in critical condition and in intensive care since sustaining the injuries while making a tackle. He appeared to stabilize before taking a turn for the worse Tuesday night.
The Bobcats had voted to play Friday's game against Lake Isabella Kern Valley after Rodriguez was injured, but those plans are now up in the air, Boron Principal Paul Kostopoulos said. Boron will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser Thursday evening in the school cafeteria to help defray Rodriguez's medical costs.
Boron Coach Todd Fink described Rodriguez as a 5-foot-5, 135-pound whirlwind who embodied the spirit of the Bobcats, a small-school team that packs a wallop.
"I guarantee anyone who's been hit by him is not going to believe he's 5-5, 135," Fink said Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier this week, Boron students affixed pink and orange ribbons to a fence at the school forming a heart alongside Rodriguez's jersey number and first initial. Below lay a bouquet of flowers, a candle, an angel figurine and a book of prayers and promises.
Standing near the tribute Tuesday, senior Laynah Fealy described Rodriguez as "hyper" and "light-hearted," though there was nothing fluffy about his play.
It's a sad day in high school football.
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
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To everyone, football players in 2008, and friend. I'm Joshua from school for the deaf in riverside. I'm the player who actually got hit and beaten bad by Vinnie's amazing tackle and right after i sudden he got seizure. At first i felt guilty for what i have done but i realized i learned his history about had the seizure. i'm typing this to send a love one and he's in piece of my heart that i'll never forget. R.I.P. Vinnie
Joshua
Since Vinnie has past away boron football and the town itself has not been the same......
i love vinnie so much he was my brother.he was always the for me.i miss him alot.rip vinnie.
Vinnie is and forever will be thee best that Boron has seen..I miss you lots bruh..i got some hot cheetos and a rocktar 4 you!! "Skittles!!" LoL I Love You!!
EVEN THOUGH ITS BEEN AWHILE WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU WE LOVE YOU
I,m not sure if any one will read this it's a year tomorrow and it still feels like it was yesterday i would like to thank everyone for the nice comments vinnie left us a superstar just like the way he like to live he now hes a superstar up there shining the night with that personality and smile
I"m not sure if any body will read this but its been a year i would like thank all the nice comments said tomorrow will be exactly 1 year and it seem like it was just yesterday words cant put what were feeling
I"m not sure if any body will read this but its been a year i would like thank all the nice comments said tomorrow will be exactly 1 year and it seem like it was just yesterday words cant put what were feeling
I"m not sure if any body will read this but its been a year i would like thank all the nice comments said tomorrow will be exactly 1 year and it seem like it was just yesterday words cant put what were feeling
Vinnie i love you bro,,,, i miss you you were my friend but also my brother all the homies miss you every day it seems like yesterday we were gettin girls and smokin dat goood ... now i just know how short life is gene came back to cali now and we Always poor some out for you bro i was reading some of the other comments and its funny how people claimed to be your bestfriend lol mykeal and sidney and yasmine deserve to say they know you but im not sure bout the rest i love you dogg ill see you when i get up there and im taking care of your bro too dont worry bout him.. love you V...
GoNe BuT nEvEr...forgotten
Vinnie we all miss u here in boron and i feels like the town is quiet and doesn't want to let u go .. we love u and ur gf wont move on cuz she loved u can cant find anyone like u
I want to be among the student in the High school,i am seriously willing to be a registered student of the school. I will make grow the school with my skills and talent.
Thank you
I want to be among the student in the High school,i am seriously willing to be a registered student of the school. I will make grow the school with my skills and talent.
Thank you
its still pretty hard to believe that your gone from our life:(
its still pretty hard to believe that your gone from our life:(
its still pretty hard to believe that your gone from our life:(
i miss him Vinnie i love u v2
vinnie always used to talk to me about stuff he has never told anyone befor e and he would always adn he was my brother
love you my brother , love sara johnson
he was my bff we used to hangout all the time and we always talked on the phone he was like a brother to me!! i miss him more than anyone♥
love you vinnie
Vinnie rodriguez was a good friend he always come over to my house and we would talk about stuff and h ewas like a brother to when i found otu what happend i was so mad a my self becausu ei wasn't there when i could have been the and grandma mary is like my grandma and i want vinnie to know that i love him and miss him a lot and so does every one else
Love yasmine mohon vinie i love you V 2 your always in my heart our #2 hero save a spot up there for me k love ya
i miss you soo much words cant express!!!!
love ya
save me a spot up there♥
ill bring your phone! [calculTOR]
[INSIDE JOKE]
LOVE YOU!!♥
vinnie was a good friend although i didnt know him like that he hung out with my brother cody. i miss very much and i cant wait to see him in heven☺ i nkow he doesnt want us to cry but i did anyway i love you vinnie!
p.s.
save me a spot up there!
ill bring the calculator
[inside joke]
vinnie was a good friend although i didnt know him like that he hung out with my brother cody. i miss very much and i cant wait to see him in heven☺ i nkow he doesnt want us to cry but i did anyway i love you vinnie!
p.s.
save me a spot up there!
ill bring the calculator
[inside joke]
Ive knew vinnie, very well and i miss him so much and i know he is in my heart for ever. i love you vinnie and there's so many things we talked about.
and i love you thanx for all the good times we had i know when i come to heaven it will fun too.
R.I.P
vinnie,
Vinnie Anthony Rodriguez was my best friend!
I met him when he very first moved to boron, and he was my closest friend from that day on! he was at my house all the time and we shared everyting!!! He new me better than anyone i talk to!!! He was an amazing person, friend and althlete! He touched so many peoples lives its unreal! Vinnie will never be forgotten! He is now watching over us and we need to live our lives to the fullest....FOR VINNIE! He really hated to see people cry...so we need to be strong, not only for his family and friends but for him as well!!!
---Vinnie,
i love you and your forever in my heart!
p.s. save me a spot up there!
oh yeah..."DRAGON UP!"
(insider)
Vinnie Anthony Rodriguez was my best friend!
I met him when he very first moved to boron, and he was my closest friend from that day on! he was at my house all the time and we shared everyting!!! He new me better than anyone i talk to!!! He was an amazing person, friend and althlete! He touched so many peoples lives its unreal! Vinnie will never be forgotten! He is now watching over us and we need to live our lives to the fullest....FOR VINNIE! He really hated to see people cry...so we need to be strong, not only for his family and friends but for him as well!!!
---Vinnie,
i love you and your forever in my heart!
p.s. save me a spot up there!
oh yeah..."DRAGON UP!"
(insider)
I knew Vinnie personally. He was my sisters best friend, and hung out with my friends and i regularly. Vinnie was and will always be remembered as an amazing person. He was a great friend to so many of us and this is an absolute tragedy that we are dealing with. He will forever be in our hearts, and we will cherish every memory he left us with. I love you always vinnie!
i am one of his finends thats went to school with him.
he was a nice guy.
this was a hard thing to go though but we are making it.
i love you vinnie!
love cheri
This is a sad story. It makes you put life in perspective and not to take anything for granted.
Michael #74
It is truly a tragic thing, you have cause to feel the way you do. No words say enough.
I'm from Boron. I'm a freshman and I have 4th period English with Vinnie. He was our class clown. The whole town is torn up about this. I just want everyone to keep praying for his family please.
This is so sad!! My prayers go out to the family and teammates. I know it's going to be a hard season to continue without him. May God Bless you all.
This puts everything in perspective. It's just a game and no touchdown can ever replace life. To the parents of the fallen kid are hearts are with you. To all the kids playing this sport be careful and remember it's just a game.
May God with his family during this time of grief.
Heart wrenching...
This is a Football player parents nightmare... My thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones...