The Celebrity Death Pool 2008

[amarone]

November update: nobody died. Positions are still as follows.

Name Points Number

1 Rachm Qoch 344 8
2 Captain Lance Murdoch 308 7
3 qwest 183 5
4 MadTheSwine 153 4
5 amarone 145 4
6 WVmom 124 3
7 Sublight 123 3
8 The Vorlon 104 3
9 NurseCarmen 93 3
10 Quartz 90 2
11 Squonk 78 2
12= CowPatty 77 2
12= Long Time First Time 77 2
12= VunderBob 77 2
15 Shirley Ujest 75 2
16 kunilou 66 3
17 bowler girl 63 2
18 42fish 53 1
19= Boyo Jim 47 1
19= Earthman 47 1
19= gonzomax 47 1
19= malkavia 47 2
23 KayElCee 46 2
24 Loach 38 1
25 Fear Itself 32 1
26= 8675309 30 1
26= Anne Elk 30 1
26= Carm6773 30 1
26= cbawlmer 30 1
26= Freddy the Pig 30 1
26= GIGObuster 30 1
26= Hostile Dialect 30 1
26= imthjckaz 30 1
26= IrreverentTone 30 1
26= Lsura 30 1
26= Sean Factotum 30 1
37 snowblindfrog 29 1
38= Grits and Hard Toast 27 1
38= Hockey Monkey 27 1
40 Tuckerfan 25 1
41= anyrose 24 2
41= SpazCat 24 2
43= vivalostwages 23 2
43= Dinah Steeler 23 2
45= Dung Beetle 21 1
45= Electrical Storm 21 1
45= Ritter 21 1
48 5 time champ 20 1
49= Andrew 21 18 1
49= Mikeargo 18 1
51= Yllaria 17 1
51= a35362 17 1
51= Sattua 17 1
51= Shamozzle 17 1
51= Wargamer 17 1
56= racer72 16 1
56= An Arky 16 1
56= Baker 16 1
56= bannerrefugee 16 1
56= Dolores Reborn 16 1
56= drm 16 1
56= Paul in Saudi 16 1
56= Tristan 16 1
56= VenusProbe 16 1
56= DeVena 16 1
56= Justin Credible 16 1
56= Nutty Bunny 16 1
68= PsychoNoddy 14 1
68= Ellef 14 1
68= BiblioCat 14 1
68= Caffeine.addict 14 1
68= Christopher 14 1
68= Jeep's Phoenix 14 1
74 Only Mostly Dead 12 1
75= vraskin 11 1
75= BJMoose 11 2
77 appleciders 10 1
78 mobo85 9 1
79= amarinth 0 0
79= Annie-Xmas 0 0
79= Avarie537 0 0
79= BACI 0 0
79= BellRungBookShut-CandleSnu 0 0
79= BobLibDem 0 0
79= Borborygmi 0 0
79= carnivorousplant 0 0
79= Cazzle 0 0
79= Cluricaun 0 0
79= Darth Sensitive 0 0
79= Desert Nomad 0 0
79= DfrntBreign 0 0
79= Diomedes 0 0
79= drewbert 0 0
79= dwc1970 0 0
79= EddyTeddyFreddy 0 0
79= EJsGirl 0 0
79= El Perro Fumando 0 0
79= Eleanor of Aquitaine 0 0
79= Enfant Terrible 0 0
79= ErinPuff 0 0
79= Etherman 0 0
79= FarmerChick 0 0
79= Ferd Burfel 0 0
79= fisha 0 0
79= Fiveroptic 0 0
79= GuanoLad 0 0
79= Hal Briston 0 0
79= Happy Lendervedder 0 0
79= HeyHomie 0 0
79= Intelligently Designed 0 0
79= JohnnieEnigma 0 0
79= Juliefoolie 0 0
79= Kat 0 0
79= katie1341 0 0
79= Key Lime Guy 0 0
79= Kid_A 0 0
79= Kilvert's Pagan 0 0
79= Kuizelemartz 0 0
79= labtrash 0 0
79= ladybug 0 0
79= Little Nemo 0 0
79= Lok 0 0
79= Mahaloth 0 0
79= Mona Lott 0 0
79= Ms Macphisto 0 0
79= MsWhatsit 0 0
79= Mullinator 0 0
79= OneCentStamp 0 0
79= Paladud 0 0
79= pbbth 0 0
79= percussion 0 0
79= phungi 0 0
79= Qwisp 0 0
79= Ragiel 0 0
79= Randy Seltzer 0 0
79= Rico 0 0
79= Rilchiam 0 0
79= Rodd Hill 0 0
79= Santos L Halper 0 0
79= Secret Volcano Lair 0 0
79= Shoshana 0 0
79= Sine Nomine 0 0
79= Sir Dirx 0 0
79= Southpaw 0 0
79= Spiff 0 0
79= SpoilerVirgin/psychobunny 0 0
79= SSG Schwartz 0 0
79= Sternvogel 0 0
79= swampbear 0 0
79= tarragon918 0 0
79= Tazmanian Devil 0 0
79= Tikki 0 0
79= Tripler 0 0
79= twickster 0 0
79= Wallet 0 0
79= WF Tomba 0 0
79= Wile E 0 0
79= wolf_meister 0 0
79= yellowval 0 0
79= zamboniracer 0 0
79= zoog 0 0

[amarone]

The 2009 Celebrity Death Pool is up and running here (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10517287#post10517287).

[Spiff]

November update: nobody died.Correction: Nobody that mattered to us sickos died. ;)

[Critical Mass]

Canadian media mogul Ted Rogers (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/02/rogers-obit.html?ref=rss) age 75.

I had him penciled in for 2009. Would it have killed him to be kept on life support for another 4 weeks?

[SSG Schwartz]

Damn, I should sell insurance. :D

SSG Schwartz

[Tuckerfan]

Canadian media mogul Ted Rogers (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/02/rogers-obit.html?ref=rss) age 75.

I had him penciled in for 2009. Would it have killed him to be kept on life support for another 4 weeks?

I bet there's much rejoycing in Canada tonight.

[Johnny L.A.]

Odetta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odetta) died yesterday. :(

[Sternvogel]

Paul Benedict (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-benedict5-2008dec05,0,2329529.story), the actor best known for playing Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons, has died at the age of 70. Benedict's other roles included the Mad Painter on Sesame Street and the mayor of River City in a 2000 Broadway revival of The Music Man.

[Shirley Ujest]

I'm in 15th place!!!!111!!!

[Sternvogel]

Patriarch Alexy II (http://www.sacbee.com/830/story/1450887.html), who had headed the Russian Orthodox Church since 1990, has died at the age of 79. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Alexy helped not only to restore the church buildings which had been neglected or converted to other uses during the Communist years, but to restore the faith's prominence in Russian life as well.

[Santos L Halper]

Sci-fi's grand old man, Forrest J Ackerman, dies at 92 (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081205/ap_en_ce/obit_ackerman;_ylt=AqHpmeCfYz823puuVbpjLwis0NUE)

[Fear Itself]

Heiress Martha "Sunny" Von Bulow dies after nearly 3 decades in coma. (http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4B51MX20081206)

All those betting on Ariel Sharon, take note and despair.

[SpazCat]

All those betting on Ariel Sharon, take note and despair.
Hope springs eternal.

[gonzomax]

Does Qoch have a sniper on his payroll?

[Paul in Qatar]

Sunny von Bulow is finally at rest.

[Marley23]

Does Qoch have a sniper on his payroll?
I've concluded he's Death himself.

[gonzomax]

If he puts you on his list for 2009 ,buy insurance.

[Shirley Ujest]

Does Qoch have a sniper on his payroll?

Qoch's idea of help from above is a sniper on the roof.
























shameless plagarized from a bumper sticker I saw at cafe press.

[amarone]

If he puts you on his list for 2009 ,buy insurance. No insurance company would cover you.

[carnivorousplant]

Does Qoch have a sniper on his payroll?

My theory is a time machine or an "Early Edition" of some obscure medical journal.
It would be interesting for a loser like myself to list the same celebrities.
Sort of a "nature nurture" experiment. :)

[Andrew 21]

Beverly Garland (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081207/ap_en_tv/obit_beverly_garland_3) has died.

[SpazCat]

Beverly Garland (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081207/ap_en_tv/obit_beverly_garland_3) has died.

There goes one entry on my 2009 shortlist.

Vaya con Dios, Beverley. You'll always be my Gunslinger.

[Eliahna]

Australian radio personality Richard Marsland (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=683346), aged 32.

Marathon runner and Commonwealth Games medalist Kerryn McCann (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=683525), aged 41.

[gonzomax]

In McCanns case there is something about the article saying she had a long running battle with cancer and she was a marthoner. Somehow seems fitting.

[Eliahna]

Gallows humour has no place in the Celebrity Death Pool



:p

[amarone]

Australian radio personality Richard Marsland (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=683346), aged 32.

Marathon runner and Commonwealth Games medalist Kerryn McCann (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=683525), aged 41. Nobody had them, but McCann was on my 2009 list.

[VunderBob]

Actress Nina Foch (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-foch7-2008dec07,0,2707835.story)...

I remeber her best from The Ten Commandments.

[Santos L Halper]

Looks like nobody mentioned him yet, but Gerard Damiano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_Damiano), director of such porn films as Deep Throat and The Devil in Miss Jones died October 25 at the age of 80.

[Andrew 21]

Dennis Yost (http://pal-item.com/article/20081208/UPDATES/81208020) of The Classics IV has died.

[BiblioCat]

Jeez, it's the end of the year and they're dropping like flies.

[Sternvogel]

Jan Kemp (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3756812), the professor whose criticism of the University of Georgia's lax academic standards for athletes led to reforms not only at her employer but throughout the NCAA, has died at the age of 59. After complaining that UGA allowed athletes who had failed remedial classes to remain not only enrolled but active in varsity sports, Kemp was fired in 1982.

She sued the university, and was awarded $2.57 million (later reduced to $1.08 million). Not only was she reinstated, but all NCAA member institutions now require varsity athletes to meet standards related to grade-point averages, test scores, and the types of courses taken in high school.

[VunderBob]

Jeez, it's the end of the year and they're dropping like flies.

But not the right ones. At this rate, I won't make the Top Ten. Then I'd have to give up my spot in Hell. :rolleyes:

[amarone]

Jan Kemp (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3756812), the professor whose criticism of the University of Georgia's lax academic standards for athletes led to reforms not only at her employer but throughout the NCAA, has died at the age of 59. The scary thing is that she died of Alzheimers at 59. I didn't know it could get you that young.

[amarone]

Jeez, it's the end of the year and they're dropping like flies. Maybe it is the excitement of the season causing people to post this news. I mean the season for putting together next year's list, of course.

None of the recently reported demised have been on anyone's list. The last one that "counts" was October 31.

[SpazCat]

The scary thing is that she died of Alzheimers at 59. I didn't know it could get you that young.
Yep. My mom died of it last year at 59. She started developing it when she was 50.

See also Quasimodem's blog (http://wheretobud.blogspot.com/).

[amarone]

Yep. My mom died of it last year at 59. She started developing it when she was 50.

See also Quasimodem's blog (http://wheretobud.blogspot.com/). Bummer - I had seen Quasimodem's "I think I have Alzheimer's" thread and never opened it, never imagining that he really would.

[Santos L Halper]

Character actor Robert Prosky (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postmortem/2008/12/actor_robert_prosky_dies.html).

Hollywood screenwriter John Michael Hayes (http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/11/26/john_michael_hayes_89_screenwriter_adapted_rear_window_peyton_place_for_hollywood/).

Comedy-Script Writer Irving Brecher (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/movies/19brecher.html).

Multiple Academy Award Winning Producer John Daly (http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081031/film-and-music-entertainment.htm).

French actor (and son of Gerard Depardieu) Guillaume Depardieu (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/oct/14/obituary-guillaume-depardieu).

Shark fisherman (and inspiration for the character of Quint in the book Jaws Frank Mundus (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/19/usa).

Actor (he played young George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life) Bob Anderson (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25023421/).

Author of the French Connection and the Green Berets Robin Moore (http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/02/24/robin_moore_82_author_of_french_connection_green_berets/).

[amarone]

Multiple Academy Award Winning Producer John Daly (http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081031/film-and-music-entertainment.htm).

Fortunately Fear Itself added "PGA golfer" to his nomination of John Daly, else we would need to resolve how to handle having more than one celebrity with the same name. My view - assume the nomination is for the more famous one, albeit there will be some circumstances where that is not clear.

[Fear Itself]

Fortunately Fear Itself added "PGA golfer" to his nomination of John Daly, else we would need to resolve how to handle having more than one celebrity with the same name. Are we sure they are not one in the same? I hear that between tournaments and binges, John Daly was a multi-talented over-achiever. And no one ever saw them in the same room....

I'm just sayin'...

[amarone]

Are we sure they are not one in the same? I hear that between tournaments and binges, John Daly was a multi-talented over-achiever. And no one ever saw them in the same room....

I'm just sayin'... I am not sure there ever was any time between tournaments and binges.

[Darth Sensitive]

11 months later...

None of my people have died? Not even the dictators who aren't well liked in or outside their countries? Gah.

[Moirai]

Tell me about it... I have been posting the exact same list since 2007...

[Lok]

Tell me about it... I have been posting the exact same list since 2007...

Amateurs, I have had the same list since 2004. I have had 2 people die since I started playing, Reagan in 2004, worth a whole 7 points, and Gerald Ford, who was on my alternate list for 2007 and died before the year started. I don't know if I am going to be able to outlive my list.:eek:

[Annie-Xmas]

I have Ted Kennedy on my list. Guy gets a freaking brain tumor, but my list guarantees immortality.

Except for Peter Jennings in 2005.

[carnivorousplant]

I don't know if I am going to be able to outlive my list.

and I can't add a Doper to mine...

[amarone]

and I can't add a Doper to mine...Interesting twist on this rule: what if a celebrity is a secret Doper and that fact came out after his/her death? Maybe Diogenes the Cynic is really Dick Cheney for example. Would we have to negate all the Cheney points?

[Eliahna]

Interesting twist on this rule: what if a celebrity is a secret Doper and that fact came out after his/her death? Maybe Diogenes the Cynic is really Dick Cheney for example. Would we have to negate all the Cheney points?

Funny; I was just wondering what would happen if someone chose Weird Al

[Scoobysnax]

Bettie Page has died at 85

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_ce/obit_bettie_page

[Tuckerfan]

Interesting twist on this rule: what if a celebrity is a secret Doper and that fact came out after his/her death? Maybe Diogenes the Cynic is really Dick Cheney for example. Would we have to negate all the Cheney points?And would the method of his passing have an effect on this? I mean, being DtC or not, I could totally get behind a rule which said that if Cheney cacked in some kind of particularly ironic or spectacular manner, he's worth double points. (I do think that if Cheney dies and it turns out that not only was he a Doper, but he had a Death Pool List, he should be completely stripped of any points he'd won up until the time of his death, and those points awarded to the Dopers who had the least.)

Another thought, what if, say, Tom Cruise, was a secret Doper, knew he had a terminal illness, and put himself on his own Death Pool List? Should he get the points for himself?

[carnivorousplant]

Another thought, what if, say, Tom Cruise, was a secret Doper, knew he had a terminal illness, and put himself on his own Death Pool List? Should he get the points for himself?

I'm thinkin' and it hurts.

[Eliahna]

Another thought, what if, say, Tom Cruise, was a secret Doper, knew he had a terminal illness, and put himself on his own Death Pool List? Should he get the points for himself?

He might win, but he'd only win once.

[Sublight]

twickster picked Bettie Page for 15 points. Congratulations on your deflowering.

[twickster]

Bettie Page has died at 85

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_ce/obit_bettie_page

I had her!

I mean, I had her. :(

[twickster]

Sorry for the double post -- didn't realize there was another page.

twickster picked Bettie Page for 15 points. Congratulations on your deflowering.

About damn time, eh? Ah well, better than zero points for the year, which I had in '07.

[MadTheSwine]

Sorry for the double post -- didn't realize there was another page.


Well ,there is one less Page now.

[carnivorousplant]

I shall charge a fee this year for putting folks (http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/081211-bad-miracle-cure.html) on my list.

[Sigmagirl]

Van Johnson is reported to have died. Checking for cite.

ETA: Cite. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a1fJ9uXYuJIw&refer=us)

[amarone]

Van Johnson is reported to have died. Checking for cite.

ETA: Cite. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a1fJ9uXYuJIw&refer=us)
Another of BJMoose's nonagenarians bites the dust. A unique pick.

[Boyo Jim]

Bettie Page has died at 85

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_ce/obit_bettie_page


Damn! I had her on my 2009 list.

Would it have killed her to stay alive 20 more days?

[Shirley Ujest]

Damn! I had her on my 2009 list.

Would it have killed her to stay alive 20 more days?

No kidding. I had her down as well. GMTA.

[carnivorousplant]

Would it have killed her to stay alive 20 more days?
There is a certain morbidity in this group, myself included, previously noticed only in morticians, emergency room personnel and automobile salesmen.

[GuanoLad]

Would it have killed her to stay alive 20 more days?Well, it did.

[BJMoose]

Blazing Saddles just won't be the same without Van Johnson.



What?


Another of BJMoose's nonagenarians bites the dust. A unique pick.

[Bill Conrad] And so the moronic moose, eagerly taking multiple bows, conks his head against the microphone and knocks himself silly, collapsing to the floor in a somewhat fetid, flea-bitten heap, but with a silly grin firmly affixed to his moronic mug. [/Bill Conrad]

And with that, I break into the top fifty!

The interesting thing is, the number of people on my current list who have died this year now equals the number of people on previous lists who've died this year. No idea what it means.


. . . The last one that "counts" was October 31.
Methinks I detect a bit of snideness here. ;)


I'm in 15th place!!!!111!!!

Oh, stuff it. See if I ever put your name in lights again.

[twickster]

Damn! I had her on my 2009 list.

Would it have killed her to stay alive 20 more days?

I can't believe y'all are begrudging me my moment of glory here.

[Annie-Xmas]

There is a certain morbidity in this group, myself included, previously noticed only in morticians, emergency room personnel and automobile salesmen.

You left out insurance salespeople and ambulance chasers

ETA: And I forgot to add my own profession: REALTORS!

[Andrew 21]

Former Teamsters president Ron Carey (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_on_go_ot/obit_carey_1) has died.

[Bootis]

Hey, I've been following along this thread all year, and now that its getting to the finish, it looks like there is a slight possibility for a thrilling last second upset..
Amarone, is there any chance you can post who is left on the lists for Rachm and Captain Murdoch?

[Shirley Ujest]

I can't believe y'all are begrudging me my moment of glory here.

We aren't begrudging you any of your well deserved and macabe glory, we are pissed that our own lists are suffering so and our short list for next year dies off too farkin' early.

I think the word I am looking for is BITTER. Happy FOR you and bitter, collectively for us if anyone scores.

[Governor Quinn]

Cardinal Avery Dulles, prominent theologian and son of John Foster Dulles, has died at 90 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/13/AR2008121301911.html)

[amarone]

Hey, I've been following along this thread all year, and now that its getting to the finish, it looks like there is a slight possibility for a thrilling last second upset..
Amarone, is there any chance you can post who is left on the lists for Rachm and Captain Murdoch?


RQ:

Orlando Thomas
Steve Smith
Doku Umarov
Abu Ayyub al-Masri
Farrah Fawcett


CLM:

Farrah Fawcett
Zdravko Tolimir
Orlando Thomas
Johnny “Lam” Jones
Doku Umarov
Steve Smith


So four duplicates.

[Bootis]

Thanks- so, the only way for Rachm to be dethroned is if Johnny Jones, or Tolimir die in the next 15 days, unless Abu Ayyub al-Masri also dies. I'm seeing Captain Murdoch throwing Johnny Jones into the cart, and Johnny saying "But I'm not dead yet!"

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

Thanks- so, the only way for Rachm to be dethroned is if Johnny Jones, or Tolimir die in the next 15 days, unless Abu Ayyub al-Masri also dies. I'm seeing Captain Murdoch throwing Johnny Jones into the cart, and Johnny saying "But I'm not dead yet!"

The chloroform would keep him quiet.

[Rachm Qoch]

Actually, I find the sweet scent of chloroform quite...


... oh, you mean Johnny Jones.

[Andrew 21]

Sammy Baugh (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081218/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_obit_baugh) has died.

[Santos L Halper]

Actor Sam Bottoms (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-bottoms18-2008dec18,0,2920563.story) has died of brain cancer at 53.

[Santos L Halper]

Star Trek's Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28300175/) has died at 76.

[anyrose]

Did we know about these?
Van Johnson (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_ot/obit_van_johnson)
Beverly Garland (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-me-garland7-2008dec07,0,4991260.story)
Nina Foch (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3685382/Nina-Foch.html)
The thread search function takes too long

[Cunctator]

W Mark Felt (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24823803-23109,00.html), aka Deep Throat.

[amarone]

Did we know about these?
Van Johnson (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_ot/obit_van_johnson)
Beverly Garland (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-me-garland7-2008dec07,0,4991260.story)
Nina Foch (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3685382/Nina-Foch.html)
The thread search function takes too long Yes, No, No. But nobody had the latter two.

[amarone]

W Mark Felt (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24823803-23109,00.html), aka Deep Throat. Nobody had him in 2008, but a couple of people need to revise their 2009 list.

[GuanoLad]

I just heard Kathy Staff (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7782250.stm) died last week, aka Nora Batty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Last_of_the_Summer_Wine_characters#Nora_Batty).

[Lamar Mundane]

Dock Ellis (http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/15844/r.i.p._dock_ellis,_the_original_david_wells), who in 1974 pitched a no-hitter while under the influence of LSD, died yesterday of liver disease.

[Sublight]

Star Trek's Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28300175/) has died at 76.

Surprisingly, it doesn't appear anyone picked her. I would have thought a Trek actress would be on someone's list.

[Boyo Jim]

Surprisingly, it doesn't appear anyone picked her. I would have thought a Trek actress would be on someone's list.

Not one of the regulars -- the writers wouldn't allow a death. Bones would pass some glittery shiny noisy thing over the body, the eyes would open, and Bones would go into his, "Ah shucks, I'm only an old country doctor" routine.

[Sternvogel]

Two more from baseball:

Negro Leagues infielder Carlos Manuel Santiago (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3785783), who played for the New York Cubans in 1945 and '46, has died at the age of 82.

Pitcher Dave Smith (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-19-dave-smith-obitdec19,0,1707524.story), who saved 216 games and made two All-Star Game rosters during a career spent mostly with the Houston Astros, has passed away at the age of 53.

[Sternvogel]

Lansana Conte (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/guinea-strongman-lansana-conte-dies/1393756.aspx), who spent the past 24 years as Guinea's strongman, has died at the age of 74.

[Sublight]

Ai Iijima, former porn star, more recently author, news commentator and TV celebrity, has just passed away at age 36.

Cause as yet unknown.

Very sad.

[Sublight]

Checking through the lists, nobody picked her this year, though I know she's been a pick in past years.

[Sternvogel]

Paul Weyrich (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-weyrich19-2008dec19,0,620983.story), who coined the phrase "moral majority" and served as the first president of the Heritage Foundation, has died at the age of 66.

Ai Iijima, former porn star, more recently author, news commentator and TV celebrity, has just passed away at age 36.

Here's a link. (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/12/24/08/japanese-porn-actress-turned-aids-activist-found-dead)

[Sternvogel]

Harold Pinter (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1103ap_eu_britain_obit_pinter.html?source=mypi), the British dramatist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005, has died at the age of 78. On a personal note, I appeared in Applicant and Dialogue For Three (http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsP/pinter-harold.html) during a festival of one-act plays when I was in college.

[drewbert]

Eartha Kitt, 81 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7799852.stm) :(

[Sublight]

Eartha Kitt, 81 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7799852.stm) :(

Points for:
Swampbear
cbawlmer
Tazmanian Devil
fisha

[Sublight]

Harold Pinter (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1103ap_eu_britain_obit_pinter.html?source=mypi), the British dramatist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005, has died at the age of 78. On a personal note, I appeared in Applicant and Dialogue For Three (http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsP/pinter-harold.html) during a festival of one-act plays when I was in college.

Points for:
Paul in Saudi
vraskin
Sean Factotum (who originally had him as an alternate)

[Shirley Ujest]

From the article:

spoke four languages and sang in seven)


This I never knew. Goodnight, Eartha and thank you.

[Sternvogel]

Robert Mulligan (http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/58818.html), who directed the film To Kill a Mockingbird and won an Emmy for directing a 1959 television production of The Moon and Sixpence, has died at the age of 83. Robert was the older brother of the late actor Richard Mulligan, who appeared as Burt Campbell on Soap.

[swampbear]

I really and truly feel bad about the 19 points Eartha Kitt earned me. :( I love her. IMO, she was the best Catwoman and Santa Baby is one of my all time favorite songs.

Still.. I have more than doubled my total point scores for the past two years. Woohoo! :D

ETA:

Revised List

Fidel Castro
Dick Van Dyke
Imelda Marcos
Willie Mays
Wilford Brimley
Elizabeth Taylor
Ruth Wetheimer
Charles Manson
Yoko Ono
Walter Cronkite
Mickey Rooney
Billy Graham
Dick Clark

Alternates:
Muhammad Ali
Bob Newhart

ETA Again...

Whoops... wrong place

[anyrose]

She was a good Catwoman, no dispute, but Julie Newmar was the definitive Catwoman, the one Lee Merriweather tried to copy

[Baker]

I think it was when Newmar was Catwoman that she had B&R suspended above a pit of hungry tigers. Robin looked up at her and exclaimed "Catwoman, you are NOT a nice person!"

[Tuckerfan]

Actress Ann Savage dies. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxvozRyIHqwHOLLvMUi-i5zXU0kgD95BTTQ00)

[Annie-Xmas]

Manof LaMacha writer Dale Wassermen (http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6113018/Man-of-La-Mancha-writer-dead) dead at 94

[Seeker of Truth and Beauty]

Manof LaMacha writer Dale Wassermen (http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6113018/Man-of-La-Mancha-writer-dead) dead at 94

He also wrote the stage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

[Seeker of Truth and Beauty]

Bernie Hamilton (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-hamilton1-2009jan01,0,7951858.story), best known as Capt. Dobey in Starsky & Hutch, has died. He was also in such notable films as Scream, Blacula, Scream (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070656/).

[Mahaloth]

Will 2008's result thread be a separate thread? I really think, with the Game Room, it should be. It makes it easier to locate and navigate.

[Lok]

Unless you follow the game via subscription to the thread.

[amarone]

I know the suspense must be killing you as you all wonder who has won. I have the results ready but will allow a little longer in case of slow-breaking news of a year-end demise.

[Boyo Jim]

Donald Westlake, 75, died sometime Wednesday night. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/books/02westlake.html?_r=2&hp)

[amarone]

And here are the results.

In December, we lost:

Eartha Kitt 25-Dec 81
Harold Pinter 24-Dec 78
Van Johnson 12-Dec 95
Bettie Page 11-Dec 85

The final positions were:


Name Points Number

1 Rachm Qoch 344 8
2 Captain Lance Murdoch 308 7
3 qwest 183 5
4 MadTheSwine 153 4
5 amarone 145 4
6 WVmom 124 3
7 Sublight 123 3
8 The Vorlon 104 3
9 NurseCarmen 93 3
10 Quartz 90 2
11 Squonk 78 2
12= CowPatty 77 2
12= Long Time First Time 77 2
12= VunderBob 77 2
15 Shirley Ujest 75 2
16 kunilou 66 3
17 bowler girl 63 2
18 42fish 53 1
19 Sean Factotum 52 2
20 cbawlmer 49 2
21= Boyo Jim 47 1
21= Earthman 47 1
21= gonzomax 47 1
21= malkavia 47 2
25 Monstera deliciosa 46 2
26= Loach 38 1
26= Paul in Saudi 38 2
28 vraskin 33 2
29 Fear Itself 32 1
30= 8675309 30 1
30= Anne Elk 30 1
30= Carm6773 30 1
30= Freddy the Pig 30 1
30= GIGObuster 30 1
30= Hostile Dialect 30 1
30= imthjckaz 30 1
30= IrreverentTone 30 1
30= Lsura 30 1
39 snowblindfrog 29 1
40= Grits and Hard Toast 27 1
40= Hockey Monkey 27 1
42 Tuckerfan 25 1
43= anyrose 24 2
43= SpazCat 24 2
45= Dinah Steeler 23 2
45= vivalostwages 23 2
47= Dung Beetle 21 1
47= Electrical Storm 21 1
47= Ritter 21 1
50 5 time champ 20 1
51= fisha 19 1
51= swampbear 19 1
51= Tazmanian Devil 19 1
54= Andrew 21 18 1
54= Mikeargo 18 1
56= a35362 17 1
56= Sattua 17 1
56= Shamozzle 17 1
56= Wargamer 17 1
56= Yllaria 17 1
61= An Arky 16 1
61= Baker 16 1
61= bannerrefugee 16 1
61= BJMoose 16 3
61= DeVena 16 1
61= Dolores Reborn 16 1
61= drm 16 1
61= Justin Credible 16 1
61= Nutty Bunny 16 1
61= racer72 16 1
61= Tristan 16 1
61= VenusProbe 16 1
73 twickster 15 1
74= BiblioCat 14 1
74= Caffeine.addict 14 1
74= Christopher 14 1
74= Ellef 14 1
74= Jeep's Phoenix 14 1
74= PsychoNoddy 14 1
80 Only Mostly Dead 12 1
81 appleciders 10 1
82 mobo85 9 1
83= amarinth 0 0
83= Annie-Xmas 0 0
83= Avarie537 0 0
83= BACI 0 0
83= BellRungBookShut-CandleSnu 0 0
83= BobLibDem 0 0
83= Borborygmi 0 0
83= carnivorousplant 0 0
83= Cazzle 0 0
83= Cluricaun 0 0
83= Darth Sensitive 0 0
83= Desert Nomad 0 0
83= DfrntBreign 0 0
83= Diomedes 0 0
83= drewbert 0 0
83= dwc1970 0 0
83= EddyTeddyFreddy 0 0
83= EJsGirl 0 0
83= El Perro Fumando 0 0
83= Eleanor of Aquitaine 0 0
83= Enfant Terrible 0 0
83= ErinPuff 0 0
83= Etherman 0 0
83= FarmerChick 0 0
83= Ferd Burfel 0 0
83= Fiveroptic 0 0
83= GuanoLad 0 0
83= Hal Briston 0 0
83= Happy Lendervedder 0 0
83= HeyHomie 0 0
83= Intelligently Designed 0 0
83= JohnnieEnigma 0 0
83= Juliefoolie 0 0
83= Kat 0 0
83= katie1341 0 0
83= Key Lime Guy 0 0
83= Kid_A 0 0
83= Kilvert's Pagan 0 0
83= Kuizelemartz 0 0
83= labtrash 0 0
83= ladybug 0 0
83= Little Nemo 0 0
83= Lok 0 0
83= Mahaloth 0 0
83= Mona Lott 0 0
83= Ms Macphisto 0 0
83= MsWhatsit 0 0
83= Mullinator 0 0
83= OneCentStamp 0 0
83= Paladud 0 0
83= pbbth 0 0
83= percussion 0 0
83= phungi 0 0
83= Qwisp 0 0
83= Ragiel 0 0
83= Randy Seltzer 0 0
83= Rico 0 0
83= Rilchiam 0 0
83= Rodd Hill 0 0
83= Santos L Halper 0 0
83= Secret Volcano Lair 0 0
83= Shoshana 0 0
83= Sine Nomine 0 0
83= Sir Dirx 0 0
83= Southpaw 0 0
83= Spiff 0 0
83= SpoilerVirgin/psychobunny 0 0
83= SSG Schwartz 0 0
83= Sternvogel 0 0
83= tarragon918 0 0
83= Tikki 0 0
83= Tripler 0 0
83= Wallet 0 0
83= WF Tomba 0 0
83= Wile E 0 0
83= wolf_meister 0 0
83= yellowval 0 0
83= zamboniracer 0 0
83= zoog 0 0

So congratulations to Rachm Qoch for what I think is the fourth year in a row.

Additional awards:

Opening Kickoff
- Rachm Qoch, for Yo-sam Choi

Quantity not Quality
- Rachm Qoch, for 8 deceased

Inside Track With the Grim Reaper (redefined so it is given to the person with the most unique picks)
- Rachm Qoch, for Yo-sam Choi and Sherrill Headrick
- BJMoose, for Studs Terkel and Van Johnson

Final Hours
- Swampbear, cbawlmer, Tazmanian Devil and fisha, for Eartha Kitt

Strangely enough, the 2006 - 2009 rules do not mention a "Robbing the Cradle" award, although it was given in 2006. If we had such an award, RQ wins for the 35-year old Yo-sam Choi.

45 out of 805 celebrities died, representing 5.6% of the total and 6.4% of the votes.

[carnivorousplant]

45 out of 805 celebrities died, representing 5.6% of the total and 6.4% of the votes.

Anyone know the statistics for insurance policy survivors? :)

[Freddy the Pig]

Man, I started off so strong, scoring with Suzanne Pleshette just 19 days into the year. And then, 347 days of nothing. :(

But still, just by getting on the board, I finished in the upper half of the distribution. And I survived to play another year, which should count for something in a Death Pool.

[Happy Lendervedder]

Huh, I think this is the first year I scored a goose egg.

Ah well, here's to 2009 and many, er... deaths? That doesn't sound right...

[Duckster]

John Travolta's son has died (http://www.tmz.com/2009/01/02/john-travoltas-son-dies/) at their vacation home in the Bahamas.

He was only 16.

[phungi]

didn't I get a unique pick for Abbie Hoffman (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9755160&postcount=726)? If I recall, there was debate over whether or not I should have -2 points, since he was 102.

[amarone]

didn't I get a unique pick for Abbie Hoffman (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9755160&postcount=726)? If I recall, there was debate over whether or not I should have -2 points, since he was 102. Sorry - I changed that award to being for the person who had the most unique picks, not just everyone who had a unique pick. Given that 63% of picks in 2008 were unique (and it's even higher in 2009), sharing an award amongst them all didn't seem as meaningful as giving it to the person who had the most deceased uniquers.

[Fear Itself]

Given that 63% of picks in 2008 were unique (and it's even higher in 2009)...This is a most encouraging evolution of the game. As more people realize that me-too picks are largely a dead end, they will search out the unique picks that have just as much chance of dying as a Swayze, but the points awarded won't be diluted by everybody else on the bandwagon.

[Loach]

Science Fiction author Leo Frankowski died on Christmas at age 65. I doubt anyone had him. I read a few of his books. Very enjoyable. Even if he wrote several with that tool Dave Grossman.

http://sfwa.org/news/2008/lfrankowski.htm

[Andrew 21]

And here are the results.



The final positions were:

83= Intelligently Designed 0

Intelligently Designed picked Sammy Baugh.

[amarone]

Intelligently Designed picked Sammy Baugh. Thanks. The effect of that is to remove the equal sign from ID's position: he now has sole possession of 83rd place. All the DPVs move from 83= to 84=.

[Lok]

Intelligently Designed picked Sammy Baugh.

Thanks. The effect of that is to remove the equal sign from ID's position: he now has sole possession of 83rd place. All the DPVs move from 83= to 84=.

GEE THANKS ANDREW!!!! WAY TO HELP EVERYONE OUT BY KNOCKING US DOWN EVEN LOWER!!!! :eek:
















:D

[NurseCarmen]

Top ten! Top ten!?? damn. I think that is the worst I've ever done.
nursecarmen is done taunting those below him

Thanks again for another great year amerone

[Andrew 21]

GEE THANKS ANDREW!!!! WAY TO HELP EVERYONE OUT BY KNOCKING US DOWN EVEN LOWER!!!! :eek:
















:D

Look at the bright side: like the Detroit Lions, you're quite likely to do better in 2009.:)

[Lok]

Look at the bright side: like the Detroit Lions, you're quite likely to do better in 2009.:)
If you took the time to compare my lists from my first posted in 2002, to the one I just posted for this year, you would find only one name different. Doing better at this game is not in my blood. Or the names on my list either apparently.

[Andrew 21]

Doing better at this game is not in my blood.

You'll probably do better this year. I'll be surprised if Michael Jackson, Margaret Thatcher and Billy Graham all survive the year.

[Lok]

Oh, I won't be the list bit surprised if they all live to be 100. :D

[Dolores Reborn]

Thanks for all your hard work, amarone!

[BJMoose]

And here are the results.
* * *
Inside Track With the Grim Reaper (redefined so it is given to the person with the most unique picks)
- Rachm Qoch, for Yo-sam Choi and Sherrill Headrick
- BJMoose, for Studs Terkel and Van Johnson
* * *


Hah! And they laughed at me for my oddball approach. So there. :p

Though I never imagined I'd share anything with you-know-who.

Seriously, I'm surprised no one else had Terkel. Guess those who named him in years past finally gave up on him.

I too would like to applaud amarone for the countless hours he put into this crazy thing. (I'd extend a laurel and hearty handshake, but I think I did that shtick last year. . . .)