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  #1  
Old 12-01-2007, 05:46 AM
amarone amarone is offline
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The Celebrity Death Pool 2008

Here we go for 2008. The rules are exactly as before, but please note my request at the bottom of the post that you submit your list in a specific format.

The Rules:

1. You pick 13 celebrities (that's thirteen, not ten) whom you predict will die within the calendar year 2008. If any of your celebrities dies, you score 100 points minus their age at death. Whoever has the most points at the end of the year wins the undying *snort* admiration of the SDMB.

2. All picks must be time- and date-stamped by midnight Chicago time, Dec. 31st, 2007. (That's U.S. Central time, which is six hours behind Greenwich.)

3. Valid picks are not:

a. already dead
b. a fictional character
c. non-human
d. under age 18 at death
e. a registered member of the SDMB, 'cause that would be weird
f. political prisoners, 'cause we're macabre but not THAT macabre. Please see Rule 7 regarding the likes of Saddam Hussein.

4. You can pick people who are 100 or more years old but you won't score points for them. See the "Quantity Not Quality" award, below.

5. If we are uncertain about the celebrity's age at death, we will go by the higher age (lower score).

6. Your picks must specify a name: listing "anybody from [the cast of your most hated TV show or boy band]" as a pick will be ignored.

7. Persons under sentence of death will be valid for scoring points only if they die by means other than official execution.

8. Any poster who kills or otherwise contributes to the death of any celebrity mentioned in this thread is disqualified. It's just a game, people. The only exceptions to this rule would be deaths caused by those posters serving as members of the police or armed forces of any country, in the line of duty.

9. Editing your choices: be careful! You can make changes to your list before the end of the year, but it has to be clear which names are your final choices. You may submit one or more "alternates" with your list in the event that one of your picks dies during December 2007, or submit an alternate after the death of the original pick, as long as this is posted by Dec 31, 2007. If you do not submit a name, I will submit the rest. You can have no more than 13 picks. If you pick more than 13, or if any of your picks is otherwise invalid, I may ask for clarification. Otherwise, I will submit the first 13 names on your list. Do me a favor: check twice, post once.

We have no rule about submissions having to be unique, despite claims of "copying" anyone else's list. Sharing news of celebrities in ill health and whatnot is up to individual posters.

We have no rule about valid SDMB memberships (disqualifying members who have been banned). If you submit a list and then change your username at some point, please post this news on the thread so I know who you are.

We have no rule about what constitutes "celebrity," because it makes our heads hurt to think about this.

Spelling counts! Please try to spell celebrities' names correctly.

Some celebrities have common, identical or similar names. It is helpful to be specific.

Additional awards:

The "Quantity Not Quality" Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the greatest number of celebrities who died, regardless of their actual point value.

The "Inside Track With the Grim Reaper" Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick a celebrity that no one else picked.

The "Opening Kickoff" Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the first listed celebrity to die in 2008.

The "Final Hours" Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2008.

List Format

I have a spreadsheet that will allow me to post updated standings quickly and produce various other statistics. The pain is "loading" the data into the sheet. I can do each list in a single cut and paste if you use the following format and guidelines: present a plain, unnumbered list that contains just the celebrities' most commonly used names (e.g. use "Al Gore", not "Albert Gore"), correctly spelled. So, to use my 2007 list as an example, it would be:

Garry Betty
Ronnie Biggs
Fidel Castro
Farrah Fawcett
Dan Fogelberg
Jane McGrath
Magnus Magnusson
Tammy Faye Messner
Benny Parsons
Suzanne Pleshette
Ariel Sharon
Yuri Shtern
Chuck Strahl


However, I know that many of you like to include commentary within your lists, such as:

George "the younger" Bush
Yogi Berra, baseballer/malaproper, age 81 (82 in May 2007)- because it ain't over till it's over.

That is fine - it adds to the entertainment. But if you do that, please also include the list again in plain format for me to copy & paste.


So - have at it. And many thanks to a35362 for all her hard work in running the game in recent years.
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  #2  
Old 12-01-2007, 06:06 AM
Secret Volcano Lair Secret Volcano Lair is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Fidel Castro
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Pete Doherty
Amy Winehouse
Betty Ford
Farrah Fawcett
Oral Roberts
Billy Graham
Bob Barker
Lawrence Pfohl, AKA Lex Luger (pro wrestler)
Stephen Glover, AKA Steve-O (Jackass)
Ariel Sharon
Charles Manson

I'm trying to start a game like this on another forum, but I'm getting tons of flack for it
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  #3  
Old 12-01-2007, 07:40 AM
Annie-Xmas Annie-Xmas is offline
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Since the Bush Deathpool seems to make them all immortal, I'm switching sides:

1. Eunice Kennedy Shriver
2. Robert Shriver
3. Maria Shriver Schwarzeneger
4. Timothy Shriver
5. Mark Shriver
6. Anthony Shriver
7. Jean Kennedy Smith
8. William Kennedy Smith
9. Edward Kennedy
10. Edward Kennedy Jr.
11. Kara Kennedy Allen
12. Patrick Kennedy
13. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg
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  #4  
Old 12-01-2007, 08:58 AM
Shirley Ujest Shirley Ujest is offline
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Join Date: May 1999
Dear Annie Xmas,

Every time I see one of the Bush Family on the TV, I think of you.

Now, when I see a Kennedy, I will laugh even harder.


I hope your 2007 list wins in 2008 and I hope your 2008 list wins too.
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  #5  
Old 12-01-2007, 09:35 AM
Moirai Moirai is offline
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Okay, here's my 2007 list again, unless I change my mind-

1. Shane MacGowan
2. James Garner
3. Olympia Dukakis
4. Peter O'Toole
5. Ariel Sharon
6. Clint Eastwood
7. Sparky Anderson
8. Ernie Banks
9. Kirk Douglas
10. Margaret Thatcher
11. Ruth Bader Ginsberg
12. Eunice Shriver
13. Annette Funicello

I think I'll use Stephen Hawking as my first alternate...
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  #6  
Old 12-01-2007, 10:23 AM
Annie-Xmas Annie-Xmas is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shirley Ujest
Dear Annie Xmas,

Every time I see one of the Bush Family on the TV, I think of you.

Now, when I see a Kennedy, I will laugh even harder.


I hope your 2007 list wins in 2008 and I hope your 2008 list wins too.
Thank You Shirley. Ted, Jean & Eunice are givens, and I don't really wish any of the rest any harm (well, maybe Willie the rapist). But if keeping certain people off the list makes them mortal, more power to the Deathpool.
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  #7  
Old 12-01-2007, 12:17 PM
amarone amarone is offline
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Quote:
Okay, here's my 2007 list again, unless I change my mind-

1. Shane MacGowan
2. James Garner
3. Olympia Dukakis
etc.
Please don't number them - I have to edit each line to remove the number when I put them into my spreadsheet. See the OP for the format that will make my life easiest.
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  #8  
Old 12-01-2007, 12:51 PM
Lok Lok is offline
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1. Michael Jackson (Not sure anymore )
2. Clint Eastwood (Actor)
3. Don Williams (Country singer)
4. Margaret Thatcher (Former UK PM)
5. Larry King (TV Show host)
6. Bob Barker (Game Show host)
7. Robin Williams (Comedian/Actor)
8. Dick Francis (Writer)
9. Queen Elizabeth II (Royalty)
10. Newt Gingrich (Politician)
11. Billy Graham (Actor/Evangelist)
12. George Jones (Country Singer)
13. Dan Rather (News Anchor)

Alternate: Fran Tarkenton

Yes, this is the same list I have posted since 2004. The only change was last year my alternate was Gerald Ford, the only one on my list to die. And he didn't even make it out of 2006. I am getting tempted to put some people on this years list just to keep them alive.

Michael Jackson
Clint Eastwood
Don Williams
Margaret Thatcher
Larry King
Bob Barker
Robin Williams
Dick Francis
Queen Elizabeth II
Newt Gingrich
Billy Graham
George Jones
Dan Rather
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  #9  
Old 12-01-2007, 02:31 PM
anyrose anyrose is offline
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I'm in, but I am going to think about my '08 list a little more. Besides, I have hopes for a few mid-December "departings" from my 2007 list.
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  #10  
Old 12-01-2007, 03:23 PM
Hostile Dialect Hostile Dialect is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Same here--I'll be participating for the first time ever in 2008, but I still have to flesh out my list, and Googling terminal illness patients is getting a little depressing. I'll have to pick it up again later.
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  #11  
Old 12-01-2007, 03:27 PM
Moirai Moirai is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amarone
Please don't number them - I have to edit each line to remove the number when I put them into my spreadsheet. See the OP for the format that will make my life easiest.

I'm so sorry! I just cut & pasted from last year's document without fully reading the OP!

Let me post it again, without numbers- you can ignore my first post.

Shane MacGowan
James Garner
Olympia Dukakis
Peter O'Toole
Ariel Sharon
Clint Eastwood
Sparky Anderson
Ernie Banks
Kirk Douglas
Margaret Thatcher
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Eunice Shriver
Annette Funicello

Alternate- Stephen Hawking
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  #12  
Old 12-01-2007, 03:38 PM
Annie-Xmas Annie-Xmas is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Annie-Xmas
Since the Bush Deathpool seems to make them all immortal, I'm switching sides:

Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Robert Shriver
Maria Shriver Schwarzeneger
Timothy Shriver
Mark Shriver
Anthony Shriver
Jean Kennedy Smith
William Kennedy Smith
Edward Kennedy
Edward Kennedy Jr.
Kara Kennedy Allen
Patrick Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg
sans numbers
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  #13  
Old 12-02-2007, 09:17 AM
BiblioCat BiblioCat is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2000
1. Mary Tyler Moore (diabetic actress)
2. Dan Fogleberg (80s pop singer)
3. Owen Wilson (suicidally-inclined actor)
4. Kirk Douglas (old actor)
5. Prince Phillip of Edinburgh
6. Ryan O'Neal
7. Jerry Lewis
8. Bob Barker (I figure he's got nuttin' to live for now)
9. Eunice Kennedy Shriver (sounds like she's pretty much a given)
10. Joan Kennedy
11. Jim McKay (famed sportscaster)
12. Muhammed Ali
13. Art Donovan (NFL Hall of Famer, 60s Baltimore Colt)


Alternates, in case anyone kicks off before January 1st:
1. Teri Garr
2. Lindsey Lohan
3. Queen Elizabeth



Plain version:
Mary Tyler Moore
Dan Fogleberg
Owen Wilson
Kirk Douglas
Prince Phillip of Edinburgh
Ryan O'Neal
Jerry Lewis
Bob Barker
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Joan Kennedy
Jim McKay
Muhammed Ali
Art Donovan
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  #14  
Old 12-02-2007, 04:29 PM
Happy Lendervedder Happy Lendervedder is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Britney Spears
Fidel Castro
Ariel Sharon
John Forsythe
Olivia de Havilland
Dick Cheney
Natasha Lyonne
Katie Price
Michael J. Fox
Marianne Faithfull
Russell Watson
Sylvester Stalone
Larry King


Alternates, in case one (or three) of my picks can't ring in the New Year:

Robert Mondavi
Studs Terkel
Betty Ford
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  #15  
Old 12-02-2007, 06:18 PM
WF Tomba WF Tomba is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Mikhail Gorbachev
Hank Aaron
Willie Mays
Thomas Pynchon
Raul Castro
Ariel Sharon
John Updike
Peter Orlovsky
Sophia Loren
Woody Allen
E.O. Wilson
Sean Connery
Elizabeth Taylor
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  #16  
Old 12-02-2007, 07:37 PM
swampbear swampbear is offline
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Ya know the holiday season or whatever the heck ya wanna call it does not officially begin until it's time for next year's Celebrity Death Pool choices to start showin' up.

Mine will be up in a few days as soon as I'm back home from this seemingly endless bidness trip I am in the midst of.

ETA: Thanks to amarone for steppin' in and taking over.

Last edited by swampbear; 12-02-2007 at 07:39 PM.
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  #17  
Old 12-02-2007, 09:40 PM
SSG Schwartz SSG Schwartz is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2005
After scoring only 11 points over the last 12 months, I will try to do better this year.

Fidel Castro --He's got to go sometime
Bill Cosby --entertained millions, dies and provides more entertainment
Jerry Jeff Walker --Old Outlaw singers never die, they just ride off into the sunset
Merle Haggard -- See above
Jimmy Carter -- Pres who is due
Willie Nelson --Grim Reaper, don't touch my Willie unless I can get points
Pat Robertson --just a wish on my part
"Magic" Earvin Johnson --You know why
Jerry Lee Lewis --If you crossed James Dean with a cat you would have Jerry Lee
Joe Paterno --Papa won't retire, or so he thinks
Moe Bandy --Long shot maybe
Dick Cheney --Bad aim?
Monty Hall --He's really still alive?????????????

My alternates are now

William Bruce "Axl" Rose
Andy Roony
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  #18  
Old 12-03-2007, 03:03 AM
Baker Baker is offline
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People, don't forget amarone asked for a "plain" list!
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  #19  
Old 12-03-2007, 12:26 PM
Hostile Dialect Hostile Dialect is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2003
OK, here we go:

Fidel Castro
Billy Graham
Ariel Sharon
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Doku Umarov
Ali Khamenei
Ned Vukovic
John Mahoney
US Representative Julia Carson
Paul Kraus
Farrah Fawcett
Orlando Thomas (Minnesota Vikings safety)
Arnold Palmer

Plain format:

Fidel Castro
Billy Graham
Ariel Sharon
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Doku Umarov
Ali Khamenei
Ned Vukovic
John Mahoney
Julia Carson
Paul Kraus
Farrah Fawcett
Orlando Thomas
Arnold Palmer

Here's hoping for a cherry-popper!
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  #20  
Old 12-03-2007, 06:05 PM
Cluricaun Cluricaun is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Ville Vallo
Ron Santo
Elizabeth Taylor
Tommy Lasorda
Michael J. Fox
Lindsay Lohan
Ozzy Osbourne
Lyndon Larouche
Muhammad Ali
Kirk Douglas
Brittany Spears
BB King
Tony Curtis

ETA: Alternates:

George Clinton
Clint Eastwood
Jimmy Carter
Sean Connery

Last edited by Cluricaun; 12-03-2007 at 06:09 PM.
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  #21  
Old 12-03-2007, 06:19 PM
dwc1970 dwc1970 is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2001
First, the Excel-friendly "plain list":

Bob Barker
Fidel Castro
Walter Cronkite
Tom Cruise
Richard Dawson
Hugh Downs
Fred Durst
James Hetfield
Keith Richards
Axl Rose
Abe Vigoda
Barbara Walters
Scott Weiland

And now, my comments.
  1. Bob Barker (born December 12, 1923)- The Price is Right legendary icon. St. Pete one day will call, "Bob Barker, come on up!"
  2. Fidel Castro (born August 13, 1926)- Cuban dictator. He's gotta go sooner or later.
  3. Walter Cronkite (born November 4, 1916)- long-retired CBS news anchor. I had to check Wikipedia just to see if he was still alive.
  4. Tom Cruise (born July 3, 1962)- Actor, hardcore Scientologist. His involvement in Scientology is going to do him in somehow. He's gotten loonier over the years.
  5. Richard Dawson (born November 20, 1932)- Original Family Feud host. How many people think he's going to kick off this year? Survey says…
  6. Hugh Downs (born February 14, 1921)- ABC News corespondent. I had to check Wiki for this one, too.
  7. Fred Durst (born August 20, 1970)- a.k.a. Limp Bizkit. He lives such a reckless lifestyle, something's bound to get him sooner or later.
  8. James Hetfield (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California)- Metallica vocalist. Rock stars are always on the Grim Reaper's radar, it seems.
  9. Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943)- Rolling Stones fossil. Yeah, I know, he's destined to live forever, but still…
  10. Axl Rose (born February 6, 1962)- Guns n' Roses frontman. Like a lot of rock stars, he lives his life in the fast lane a little too much.
  11. Abe Vigoda (born February 24, 1921)- Actor. Hard to believe he's still with us. Wiki again.
  12. Barbara Walters (born September 25, 1929)- She's getting up in years, too. I need to have at least one woman on my list anyway.
  13. Scott Weiland (born October 27, 1967)- Lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots. Live on the edge for too long and you'll eventually fall off.
As you can see, my list for 2008 is rock-star heavy as they tend to have a shorter longevity due to their extravagant lifestyles. Maybe this strategy will work.
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  #22  
Old 12-03-2007, 07:31 PM
Secret Volcano Lair Secret Volcano Lair is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2007
here's the "clean" version of my list, sorry for not doing this earlier

Fidel Castro
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Pete Doherty
Amy Winehouse
Betty Ford
Farrah Fawcett
Oral Roberts
Billy Graham
Bob Barker
Lawrence Pfohl
Stephen Glover
Ariel Sharon
Charles Manson
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  #23  
Old 12-03-2007, 07:45 PM
amarone amarone is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Secret Volcano Lair
here's the "clean" version of my list, sorry for not doing this earlier
Thanks.
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  #24  
Old 12-03-2007, 08:07 PM
Labtrash Labtrash is offline
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Location: Murrells Inlet, SC
Posts: 3,238
1. Dom DeLuise
2. Ashley Olsen (tried Mary Kate last year - let's see how Ashley does in 2008)
3. John Updike
4. Ben "Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard" Jones
5. Dick Tufeld (voice of the robot in “Lost in Space”)
6. Lois Chiles (actress, Bond Girl in Moonraker)
7. Mohammad Ali
8. Jim Nabors
9. Martin Landau
10. Stephen Hawking
11. Ariel Sharon
12. Nick Nolte
13. Kim Jong Il

Alternates will be Tom Bosley, then Henry Kissenger
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Last edited by Labtrash; 12-03-2007 at 08:10 PM.
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  #25  
Old 12-03-2007, 08:24 PM
MsWhatsit MsWhatsit is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 11,397
I'm in.

Laraine Newman
Garrett Morris
Keith Richards
Joe Piscopo
Louie Anderson
Roman Polanski
Lindsey Lohan
Sidney Lumet (had to check wikipedia to make sure he was still alive)
John Waters (ditto)
John Nash (double ditto)
Stephen Hawking
Paula Abdul
Bob McGrath (Bob from Sesame Street)

plain list:
Laraine Newman
Garrett Morris
Keith Richards
Joe Piscopo
Louie Anderson
Roman Polanski
Lindsey Lohan
Sidney Lumet
John Waters
John Nash
Stephen Hawking
Paula Abdul
Bob McGrath
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  #26  
Old 12-04-2007, 05:23 AM
Ellef Ellef is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2007
First timer in the Death Pool here. I never win anything, so the names on the following list are more or less guaranteed to survive 2008, but here goes:

Eric Sykes
Norman Wisdom
Humphrey Lyttelton
Pete Doherty
Nicholas “Fatty” Soames
Dawn French
Amy Winehouse
Jeremy Clarkson
Marion Jones
Patrick Moore
Baroness Thatcher
David Blaine
Norman Painting

Alternate: Clarissa Dickson Wright

Some explanations, as it's a bit Brit-oriented:

Eric Sykes – Comedy actor/writer/icon (old age)
Norman Wisdom – Comedy actor/National hero in Albania, apparently (old age)
Humphrey Lyttelton – Jazz musician/game show host/national treasure (old age)
Pete Doherty – Musician/celeb boyfriend/druggie (his luck’s got to run out some time soon)
Nicholas “Fatty” Soames – MP (autoerotic asphyxiation, found in PVC basque, fishnets, the full works)
Dawn French – Comedienne (can’t be healthy to be that size)
Amy Winehouse – Singer/walking tabloid circus (suicide – v. sad if this comes to pass)
Jeremy Clarkson – TV presenter/loudmouth (failed macho attempt to outdo Richard Hammond)
Marion Jones – disgraced sprinter (steroid use catches up with her)
Patrick Moore – TV astronomer/xylophonist (old age)
Baroness Thatcher – Former UK PM/mad granny in the Conservative Party's attic/haunting presence (massive stroke)
David Blaine – illusionist/attention seeker (botched stunt while attempting to get back into the limelight)
Norman Painting – Leading actor in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers (written out of show due to failing health, followed by RL heart attack)
Clarissa Dickson Wright – TV chef (heart attack)
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  #27  
Old 12-04-2007, 05:24 AM
Tuckerfan Tuckerfan is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Roy Scheider
Neil Armstrong
Mel Brooks
Lindsay Lohan
Raúl Castro
James Watson
Harper Lee
Elizabeth Edwards
Katie Holmes
Robert Clary
Betty White
Nichelle Nichols
Andy Griffith

Alternates: Nancy Reagan, Marget Thatcher, Peter O'Toole
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  #28  
Old 12-05-2007, 08:49 PM
Lsura Lsura is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Back in the South, y'all
Posts: 6,152
Ok, here goes:

Willard Scott (he has to go sometime, right)
Britney Spears (the meltdown is continuing. Possibly killed by her sister out of jealousy)
Hank Aaron
Barbara Bush (former first lady)
Fidel Castro
Alan Greenspan
Roger Ebert
James Earl Jones
OJ Simpson
Larry King
John Astin (Gomez Adams)
Chuck Berry
Suzanne Pleshette

Alternates

Bob Barker
Dick Clark
Sally Struthers
(I think all three of these, but especially the first two, are going to live forever. Therefore, just alternates).

Plain list

Willard Scott
Britney Spears
Hank Aaron
Barbara Bush
Fidel Castro
Alan Greenspan
Roger Ebert
James Earl Jones
OJ Simpson
Larry King
John Astin
Chuck Berry
Suzanne Pleshette

Alternates

Bob Barker Dick Clark Sally Struthers




And I may regret this, but I've found the Who's Alive and Who's Dead site to be helpful this year. It's not fancy, but I liked it.
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  #29  
Old 12-05-2007, 08:51 PM
anyrose anyrose is offline
I'm the *Cute* one. =^.^=
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: at my computer
Posts: 15,936
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lsura
And I may regret this, but I've found the Who's Alive and Who's Dead site to be helpful this year. It's not fancy, but I liked it.
That was my main source for my 2007 list, and two of my uniques kicked it.
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  #30  
Old 12-05-2007, 09:16 PM
Andrew 21 Andrew 21 is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
William F. Buckley Jr.
Fidel Castro
Elizabeth Edwards
Betty Ford
Ingemar Johansson
Jack Kevorkian
John Jay O'Connor III
Sandra Day O'Connor
Ariel Sharon
George Steinbrenner
John Paul Stevens
Elizabeth Taylor
Mike Tyson

Alternates:
Omar Abdel-Rahman
Margaret Thatcher
Tony Snow
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  #31  
Old 12-06-2007, 06:39 AM
Paul in Qatar Paul in Qatar is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 11,640
Billy Graham
Kirk Douglas
Charlton Heston
Margaret Thatcher
Elizabeth Taylor
Ronnie Biggs
Harold Pinter
Dick Cheny
Fidel Castro
Shirley Temple
Bob Barker
Ariel Sharon
Billy Graham

Alternate:
Mohammed Ali

This is last years list with new nominees to replace last year's winners. I am pleased to be able to submit this early as I will be busy over the new year.
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  #32  
Old 12-06-2007, 06:45 AM
amarone amarone is offline
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Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 4,431
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul in Saudi
Billy Graham
Kirk Douglas
Charlton Heston
Margaret Thatcher
Elizabeth Taylor
Ronnie Biggs
Harold Pinter
Dick Cheny
Fidel Castro
Shirley Temple
Bob Barker
Ariel Sharon
Billy Graham

Alternate:
Mohammed Ali

This is last years list with new nominees to replace last year's winners. I am pleased to be able to submit this early as I will be busy over the new year.
Billy Graham is in twice. I will replace one with Muhammad Ali.
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  #33  
Old 12-06-2007, 07:42 AM
Paul in Qatar Paul in Qatar is offline
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Grumble! Ali will never die. He is on everyone's list. That's what I get for hurrying.
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  #34  
Old 12-07-2007, 07:18 AM
Sean Factotum Sean Factotum is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Quote:
Originally Posted by amarone
We have no rule about what constitutes "celebrity," because it makes our heads hurt to think about this.
We've been pretty much saying that if someone's death is reported by two major news reporting agencies (CNN, New York Times, one of the reputable foreign press outlets, etc.) then they're a celebrity. Should we finally make this the rule for defining celebrity?

And thanks, a35362 for your stewardship of The Pool over the last few years. Every now and then I remember your post about when John Paul II dies, and giggle.

Last edited by Sean Factotum; 12-07-2007 at 07:20 AM. Reason: Cause I can't spell before having coffee
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  #35  
Old 12-09-2007, 07:59 AM
amarone amarone is offline
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Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 4,431
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean Factotum
We've been pretty much saying that if someone's death is reported by two major news reporting agencies (CNN, New York Times, one of the reputable foreign press outlets, etc.) then they're a celebrity. Should we finally make this the rule for defining celebrity?
I'm responding partly to bump this thread - where is everyone? I never thought this thread would go off the first page.

If we want to discuss celebrity rules, there are two other situations that have been mentioned:

  • people who are merely related to celebrities, not celebrities in their own right
  • people who are only famous because of their illness
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  #36  
Old 12-09-2007, 08:10 AM
Fear Itself Fear Itself is offline
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Location: 847 mi. from Cecil
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amarone
If we want to discuss celebrity rules, there are two other situations that have been mentioned:
  • people who are merely related to celebrities, not celebrities in their own right
  • people who are only famous because of their illness
And this is why our heads hurt. Celebrity is not self-evident, so you rule will engender more disagreements, not less.
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  #37  
Old 12-09-2007, 09:04 AM
Kilvert's Pagan Kilvert's Pagan is offline
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Join Date: May 1999
Britney Spears
Kevin Federline
J. K. Rowling
Prince Harry
Camilla Parker Bowles
Mel Brooks
Andrew Sullivan
Michael Kinsley
Mary Kate Olsen
Robert Plant
Ringo Starr
Sen. Robert Byrd
Stevie Nicks
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  #38  
Old 12-09-2007, 09:58 AM
Electrical Storm Electrical Storm is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2005
My picks for 2008:

Fidel Castro
Jerry Lewis
Bo Diddley
Oral Roberts
Vanna White
Hulk Hogan
Sean Connery
Pamela Anderson
Phil Spector
Eunice Kennedy
Kirk Douglas
Gary Busey
Billy Graham

alternate
Perez Hilton
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  #39  
Old 12-09-2007, 11:27 AM
Qwisp Qwisp is offline
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Might as well post the same list as last year. I wonder if I can get some monetary rewards from these people, seeing as I'm the reason the grim reaper leaves them alone.

Tom Petty
Andy Griffith
Carol Channing
Rob Reiner
Pat Buchanan
Ron Santo
Rip Torn
Phyllis Diller
Farrah Fawcett
Bob Barker
Jerry Stiller
Bob Newhart
Kenan Thompson
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  #40  
Old 12-09-2007, 12:33 PM
DeVena DeVena is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Fidel Castro
Ariel Sharon
Esther Williams
Betty Ford
Annette Funicello
Estelle Getty
Billy Graham
Muhammad Ali
Joe Paterno
Blake Fielder-Civil
Amy Winehouse
Britney Spears
Lindsay Lohan

Alternates:
Larry Hagman
Kevin Federline
Courtney Love
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  #41  
Old 12-09-2007, 12:35 PM
42fish 42fish is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Quote:
Originally Posted by amarone
I'm responding partly to bump this thread - where is everyone? I never thought this thread would go off the first page.
Some of us are probably going to keep re-editing our picks until the ball drops on the 31st. (Besides, it ain't easy when people on your short list like Karlheinz Stockhausen insist on leaving this vale of a tears a month too early.)
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  #42  
Old 12-09-2007, 01:06 PM
vivalostwages vivalostwages is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Lower half of CA
Posts: 12,855
1. Kirk Douglas
2. Charlton Heston
3. Mickey Rooney
4. Richard Widmark
5. Hal Holbrook
6. Tom Wilkinson
7. Judi Dench
8. Frances Sternhagen
9. Phyllida Law
10. Sumner Redstone
11. Amy Winehouse
12. Courtney Love
13. Pope Benedict
__________________
"This isn't Wall Street; this is Hell. We have a little something called 'integrity.'"
--Crowley, Supernatural
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  #43  
Old 12-09-2007, 01:14 PM
swampbear swampbear is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Leesburg, GA
Posts: 20,393
The squeeze is lookin' over my shoulder as I post this list. He says this is the ickiest and most macabre thing he's ever seen me do. Like I needed another incentive to play!

Here be my pics for 2008:

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

Alternates:
Dick Clark
Muhammad Ali
Bob Newhart


Yes, indeed, I have given up tryin' to off Courtney Love.

Last edited by swampbear; 12-09-2007 at 01:15 PM. Reason: I dunt spel two gud
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  #44  
Old 12-09-2007, 01:32 PM
Wallet Wallet is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 200
Hamid Karzai
Nestor Kirchner
Hugo Chavez
Pope Benedict XVI
Juan Carlos I
King Abdullah
Vladimir Putin
Felipe Calderon
Kim Jong-il
Ariel Sharon
Donald Rumsfeld
Fidel Castro
Dick Cheney

alt: Osama bin Laden



Same list as last year - I don't *think* anyone kicked off yet... :-)

1. Hamid Karzai (President - Afghanistan)
2. Nestor Kirchner (President - Argentina)
3. Hugo Chavez (President - Venezuela)
4. Pope Benedict XVI
5. Juan Carlos I (King - Spain)
6. King Abdullah (Saudi Arabia)
7. Vladimir Putin (President - Russia)
8. Felipe Calderon (President - Mexico)
9. Kim Jong-il (aka Kim Jong II) (North Korea)
10. Ariel Sharon (former PM - Israel)
11. Donald Rumsfeld
12. Fidel Castro
13. Dick Cheney

alt:Osama bin Laden
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  #45  
Old 12-09-2007, 01:36 PM
Hostile Dialect Hostile Dialect is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Quote:
Originally Posted by vivalostwages
1. Kirk Douglas
2. Charlton Heston
3. Mickey Rooney
4. Richard Widmark
5. Hal Holbrook
6. Tom Wilkinson
7. Judi Dench
8. Frances Sternhagen
9. Phyllida Law
10. Sumner Redstone
11. Amy Winehouse
12. Courtney Love
13. Pope Benedict
The OP requested plain lists, without numbers.
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  #46  
Old 12-09-2007, 02:35 PM
Caffeine.addict Caffeine.addict is online now
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Fidel Castro
Lindsay Lohan
Britney Spears
Amy Winehouse
Blake Fielder-Civil
Jesse Helms
Farrah Fawcett
Pervez Musharraf
Scott Weiland
Dick Clark
Courtney Love
Pope Benedict
Emile Lahoud
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  #47  
Old 12-09-2007, 02:37 PM
zamboniracer zamboniracer is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Above the Uecker seats.
Posts: 4,463
Many thanks for running this contest again. My picks

Sid Caesar
Yogi Berra
Stan Musial
Bob Feller
Ernie Banks
Mel Brooks
Ed McMahon
Elizabeth Taylor
Fidel Castro
Tim Conway
Jonathan Winters
Don Rickles
Ernest Borgnine
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  #48  
Old 12-09-2007, 03:19 PM
Sternvogel Sternvogel is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Quote:
Originally Posted by swampbear
Ruth Wertheimer
You do mean Dr. Westheimer, right?

42fish: Yeah, I begin thinking about the 2008 Death Pool a few months ago, when I saw Norman Mailer was ill. He's since died, as have such worthy candidates as Porter Wagoner, Robert Goulet, and Evel Knievel. I have to replace at least the four people who've scored points for me in 2007, and I have about a half-dozen finalists in mind right now, but the list seems to be changing every other day.
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  #49  
Old 12-09-2007, 05:19 PM
swampbear swampbear is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Leesburg, GA
Posts: 20,393
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sternvogel
You do mean Dr. Westheimer, right?

42fish: Yeah, I begin thinking about the 2008 Death Pool a few months ago, when I saw Norman Mailer was ill. He's since died, as have such worthy candidates as Porter Wagoner, Robert Goulet, and Evel Knievel. I have to replace at least the four people who've scored points for me in 2007, and I have about a half-dozen finalists in mind right now, but the list seems to be changing every other day.
Ummmmm.... yep...... Guess I need to fix that. Once again...

Here be my pics for 2008:

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

Alternates:
Dick Clark
Muhammad Ali
Bob Newhart
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  #50  
Old 12-09-2007, 09:19 PM
ErinPuff ErinPuff is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Mine are all 80+ except Elizabeth Edwards, Stephen Hawking, and Peter O'Toole.

Pierre Boulez
Dave Brubeck
Jimmy Carter
Fidel Castro
Elizabeth Edwards
Queen Elizabeth II
Stephen Hawking
Henry Kissinger
Peter O'Toole
Fred Phelps
Prince Philip
Margaret Thatcher
Elie Wiesel

Alternate: Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
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