Report: Father of Magic G Nelson found dead

Sep 3, 2007 - 2:40 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Floyd "Pete" Nelson, the father of Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson, was found dead in the Delaware River, according to a report on the web site of Philadelphia's FOX News affiliate. He was 57.

The report said that the body of a black male was found floating in the river on Saturday but was not identified as Floyd Nelson until a co-worker confirmed it one day later.

"He's a man's man, a man amongst men," another man who knew him said in the report.

Nelson had been missing since noon Thursday, according to the report. He took a break from painting a boat at Hayes Tug and Launch in Chester, Pennsylvania - his employer in the Philadelphia suburb - and never returned.

He was found around 1:30 Saturday by boaters on the New Jersey shore of the Delaware River across from Foxpoint State Park, exactly 10 miles from where he disappeared, the report said.

The report also published several theories by local authorities, who speculated that Floyd Nelson either bumped his head when he fell off the boat, had a heart attack or got stuck in the bottom of the river and drowned.

The story described Floyd Nelson as a family man, who even wrote a book about his son's basketball career entitled "Jameer."

A three-year NBA veteran, Jameer Nelson is a basketball legend in the Philadelphia area, starring at Chester High School before helping St. Joseph's flirt with an undefeated season in 2004.

Jameer Nelson arrived with other family members Saturday but declined comment in the report. Authorities believe that Floyd Nelson died accidentally and foul play was not suspected, the report said.