Off-Topic Forum

This creeped me out: I was watching CNN the day after he died hoping to see something about him amongst the clusterfuck of MJ footage, and all I saw was his infomercial for iCan life insurance. Obviously this insurance didn't help him much. I'm going to miss him a lot.

Sorry about necroposting but I don't know if this deserves its own thread
 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgD7fmgR6M4BDoANnCi4eq6xwo9QD99U9ND02
 Autopsy: Cocaine contributed to Billy Mays' death

By MITCH STACY (AP) – 17 minutes ago

TAMPA, Fla. — An autopsy report shows that cocaine use contributed to the heart disease that suddenly killed TV pitchman Billy Mays in June, officials announced Friday.

The Hillsborough County medical examiner's office previously determined that the bearded, boisterous TV spokesman had a heart attack in his sleep. His wife found him unresponsive in bed in their Tampa condo June 28.

Mays was a pop-culture fixture with his energetic commercials pitching gadgets and cleaning products like Orange Glo and OxiClean.

While heart disease was the primary cause of death, a report released Friday by the medical examiner listed cocaine as a "contributory cause of death."

The medical examiner "concluded that cocaine use caused or contributed to the development of his heart disease, and thereby contributed to his death," the office said in a press release.

The office said Mays last used cocaine in the few days before his death but was not under the influence of the drug when he died. Hillsborough County spokeswoman Lori Hudson said nothing in the toxicology report indicated the frequency of Mays' cocaine use.

Cocaine can raise the arterial blood pressure, directly cause thickening of the left wall of the ventricle and accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, the release said.

The toxicology tests also showed therapeutic amounts of painkillers hydrocodone, oxycodone and tramadol, as well as anti-anxiety drugs alprazolam and diazepam. Mays had suffered hip problems and was scheduled for hip-replacement surgery the day after he was found dead.

The McKees Rocks, Pa., native developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "As Seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.

He got his start on TV on the Home Shopping Network and then branched out into commercials and infomercials. He developed such a strong following that he became the subject of a reality TV series, Discovery Channel's "Pitchmen."

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
 
Doesn't change the fact that he was a great man, but as Rick James would say Cocaine is one hell of a drug.

@c1337us: Billy Mays in a way represents the American dream. He was a college drop out and every man. He was aware of himself, and overall was a family man and cool guy. He kicked back beers, and even made fun of himself with the ESPN commericials. He showed with a voice; you could sell anything.

@CoolDrMoney: Living the lavish lifestyle makes you do some crazy things. He chose to do coke, and he paid for it. Doesn't tarnish his legacy as Infomercial king and overall good man. Drugs don't turn you into a bad person , but Cocaine is one hell of a drug
 
 

@RHCPfan24 said:

" It saddens me to hear these news, but I will reserve judgment until more info is released. If cocaine really was involved, I don't know if I will view as a bad person per se but someone who didn't properly protect his life. "

This