Celebrity Death Pool 2018

The Game Room
161

I was abroad last year and unable to post a list. I haven’t been following as much as I usually do, but I am thrilled with the addition of a themed list.

I think I would have gotten about 4 scores this year. I hope to do better this year.

Here is my main list:

Johnny Ruffo, 29, Actor
Liam Miller, 36, Soccer Player
Devin Lima, 40, Pop Star
Stefan Karl Stefansson, 41, Actor
Jordon Cooper, 47, Canadian columnist, blogger
Jo Dee Messina, 47, Country Music singer
Fiona Richardson, 50, Australian politician
Leah Bracknell, 54, Actress
John Andretti, 54, NASCAR Driver
William “Refrigerator” Perry, 55, Huge Former NFL player
Mark Gastineau, 61, J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets! Lineman
Tom Alter, 67, Bollywood Actor
John McCain, 81, US Senator, Good man

Alternates:

Stephen Hillenburg, 55, Creator of SpongeBob SquarePants
Terry Jones, 74, I hope it doesn’t happen

Clean list:

Johnny Ruffo
Liam Miller
Devin Lima
Stefan Karl Stefansson
Jordon Cooper
Jo Dee Messina
Fiona Richardson
Leah Bracknell
John Andretti
Refrigerator Perry
Mark Gastineau
Tom Alter
John McCain

Alternates:
Stephen Hillenburg
Terry Jones

162

It is almost 9:00 PM in Chicago, we all have just about 3 hours to submit our lists or the last corrections.

163

Since I was so successful last year

Boris Spassky
Pelé
Ali Khamenei
Ralph Steadman
Alberto Fujimori
Aung San Suu Kyi
Vangelis
Grace Mugabe
Thijs van Leer
Dalai Lama
Akihito
Ginger Baker
Russell Coutts

at keeping these people alive, I guess I will recycle them.

164

Gale Sayers
Dwight Clark
John Andretti
Holly Cain
Stella Stevens
Eddie Olczyk
Aaron Carter
Kathleen Blanco
John Aniston
Olivia Newton John
Jo Dee Messina
John McCain
Paul Gascoigne

Alternates:
Tom Brokaw
Tim Curry
Jonathan Rhys Meyers

165

Alter already died, in September

166

I tend to go high risk/high reward (i.e., young-ish folks that will give a decent amount of points should they shuffle off). This past year demonstrated the “high risk” part of that strategy, with no deaths from my list. I’m just straight rolling over my 2017 list into 2018.

This list has a bit of a through line – relatively young folks with a (sometimes tenuous) connection to Chicago – but I consider the connection too weak to post as themed list in the the new version of the game. If I can muster the energy, I might throw together a proper themed list for the other thread. (The themed version is a great idea, phungi!)
Clean List

Heather Mack
Chief Keef
Lil Durk
Jereme Richmond
Louis King Johnson Jr.
Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar
Jeremiah Ratliff
Giuliana Rancic
Jesse Jackson Jr.
Jose Canseco
Melodie Gliniewicz
William Perry
Joe Walsh

No alternates… will take my chances that all the above 13 are still alive and valid picks!
With Commentary. Current age (or thereabouts) in parentheses:

[ul]
[li]Heather Mack (21) – Co-perpetrator in the Bali suitcase murder case. Serving prison time in Indonesia. From a Chicago suburb.[/li][li]Chief Keef (22) – a/k/a Keith Cozart, perpetually troubled “drill” rapper from Chicago. For a while he was popping up in the local news about monthly for yet another DUI, drug charge, shooting incident, etc.[/li][li]Lil Durk (25) – a/k/a Durk Banks, another drill rapper from Chicago that seems to find annual trouble with gun charges. His manager was gunned down in 2015.[/li][li]Jereme Richmond (26) – Former University of Illinois basketball player frequently in trouble with the law. Native of north suburbs.[/li][li]Louis King Johnson Jr. (30) – Chicago-based drill rapper better known as “King Louie” or “King L.” Shot in the head in December 2015.[/li][li]Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar (30) – Son of drug kingpin Joaquín Guzmán. Recently kidnapped and released. Indicted in a Chicago court (though still roaming Mexico, I think?).[/li][li]Jeremiah Ratliff (36) – Defensive lineman fired from the Chicago Bears in October 2015 after bizarre behavior and outbursts. Committed DUI a couple years ago.[/li][li]Giuliana Rancic (43) – TV personality who has battled cancer on and off. Lives in Chicago.[/li][li]Jesse Jackson Jr. (52) – Son of famed civil rights leader. Former Chicago Congressman. Out of prison after serving time for campaign fraud. In the middle of a rough divorce. Has been battling bi-polar disorder and depression for several years.[/li][li]Jose Canseco (53) – Former baseball player with penchant for risky behavior. Played for the White Sox in his final MLB season.[/li][li]Melodie Gliniewicz (53) – Widow of Joe Gliniewicz, a cop from the far northwest suburbs who committed suicide (but staged things to appear as if he was killed in the line duty) to cover up fraud. Melodie is in trouble for her involvement in the scheme.[/li][li]William “The Fridge” Perry (55) – Former Chicago Bear.[/li][li]Joe Walsh (56) – Former congressman representing northern suburbs. Current talk radio blowhard in Chicago.[/li][/ul]

167

John McCain
Eddie Olczyk
Sinead O’Connor
O.J. Simpson
Ric Flair
Leah Remini
Jo Dee Messina
Big Van Vader
Shannen Doherty
Toni Braxton
Lindsay Lohan
Kim Jong Un
Bernie Sanders

Alternates:
Colin Kaepernick
Rosie O’Donnell
Lamar Odom

168

Shannen Doherty
John McCain
Stefán Karl Stefánsson
Linda Nolan
Olivia Newton-John
Stephen Hawking
Clive James
Valerie Harper
Albert Finney
Ronnie Wood
Jill Gascoine
Penny Marshall
Leah Bracknell

Alternates:
Queen Elizabeth II
George H.W. Bush
Jimmy Carter

Shannen Doherty, actress
John McCain, politician
Stefán Karl Stefánsson, actor
Linda Nolan, singer, actress
Olivia Newton-John, singer, actress
Stephen Hawking, physicist
Clive James, author
Valerie Harper, actress
Albert Finney, actor
Ronnie Wood, Rolling Stones guitarist
Jill Gascoine, actress
Penny Marshall, actress, director
Leah Bracknell, actress

Queen Elizabeth II, monarch
George H.W. Bush, former US president
Jimmy Carter, former US president

169

Marieke Vervoort
Dwight Clark - former SF 49er
Fernando Ricksen
O J Brigance
Doddie Weir
Lou Brock
Pele
Kathleen Blanco
Devin Lima
Olivia Newton John
John McCain
Mel Stottlemyre - former Yankees pitcher
Leah Bracknell

Alternates
Valerie Harper
Carol Burnett
Brian Wilson - Beach Boys

170

Mostly the same as last year:

Pope Benedict
George HW Bush
Jimmy Carter
Billy Graham
Valerie Harper
Devin Lima
John McCain
Emporess Michiko
Pele
Prince Philip
Gloria Vanderbilt
Dick Van Dyke
Leslie Wexner

171

You rock phungi!

  1. Fernando Ricksen, b. July 27, 1976. Footballer.

  2. Joe Kapp, b. March 19, 1938. Footballer.

  3. Steve Gleason, b. March 19, 1977. Footballer.

  4. Paul Gascoigne, b. May 27, 1967 Footballer.

  5. Wes Scatlin, b. June 9, 1972. Puddle of Mudd singer.

  6. Bill Browder, b. April 23, 1964. Businessman. Enemy of Putin.

  7. Leonard Peltier b. September 12, 1944. Political prisoner.

  8. Michael Schumacher, b. January 3, 1969. Race car crasher.

  9. Mark Mangino, b. August 26, 1956. Football coach.

  10. Richard Collier, b. October 23, 1981. Footballer.

  11. Matt Cappotelli, b. November 12, 1979. Professional Wrestler.

  12. Grace Mugabe, b. July 23, 1965. The worst secret shopper in all of Zimbabwe.

  13. Slim Dunlap, b. August 14, 1951. Musician

Alt. Dr. Know (Gary Miller), b. September 15, 1958. Musician.

Plain text list:

Fernando Rickson
Joe Kapp
Steve Gleason
Paul Gascoigne
Wes Scatlin
Bill Browder
Michael Schumacher
Leonard Peltier
Mark Mangino
Richard Collier
Matt Cappotelli
Grace Mugabe
Slim Dunlap

Dr. Know

172

Why does Leonard Peltier not show up?

  1. Leonard Peltier b.September 12, 1944
173

This year’s stab at immortality for 13 souls:

John McCaine
Salvatore F. DiMasi
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
George H.W. Bush
Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh
Sumner Redstone
William Jefferson Clinton
Jimmy Carter
Larry King
John Young
James “Whitey” Buldger
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Bob Dole
2017 was a wash, maybe this year…

174

Just sent my updated list via secret form phungi. I will post with comments later or tomorrow.

175

Here goes my stupid attempt. Everyone is over 90. Just gimme something! One of 'em HAS to go, right?

Bob Barker
Harry Belafonte
Mel Brooks
Carol Channing
Doris Day
Queen Elizabeth
Glynis Johns
Angela Lansbury
Prince Philip
Carl Reiner
Eva Marie Saint
Dick Van Dyke
Betty White

Stan Lee

Happy New Year, everybody!

176

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - ISIS leader
Kathleen Blanco - former Governor of Louisiana
Leah Bracknell - English actress
Jessica Falkholt – Australian actress
Greg Gilbert – English Singer (Delays)
James “Kamala” Harris – wrestler
José José - Mexican musician
Liam Miller - Irish footballer
Linda Nolan – Irish singer
Fernando Ricksen – Dutch footballer
Stefán Karl Stefánsson – Icelandic Actor
Nobby Stiles – English footballer
Marieke Vervoort – Belgian Paralympic Athlete

Alternates
Tessa Jowell - English politician
Devin Lima - LFO singer
Chris Rea – British musician
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Kathleen Blanco
Leah Bracknell
Jessica Falkholt
Greg Gilbert
James “Kamala” Harris
José José
Liam Miller
Linda Nolan
Fernando Ricksen
Stefán Karl Stefánsson
Nobby Stiles
Marieke Vervoort

Alternates
Tessa Jowell
Devin Lima
Chris Rea

177

Odd. Conspiracy? Can’t list Leonard Peltier.

178

Leah Bracknell
Sal DiMasi
TotalBiscuit
Liam Miller
Dean Francis
Christy Dignam
Stefan Karl Stefansson
Quincy Jones
Matt Cappotelli
Devin Lima
Spanky Manikan
Jarrod Lyle
Kathleen Blanco

Alternates:
Tommy Chong
Willie Thorne

179

Coming off a (yet-to-be-confirmed) 2nd-Place finish (2017), 5th-place (2015) and 6th-place (2016) finish, I offer the following parade of terminally ill patients for 2018:

Peter Frates - Bucket Challenge - December 28, 1984
Matt Cappotelli - WWE wrestler - Nov 12. 1979
Greg Gilbert - singer/guitarist - Dec 7 1977
Stefan Karl Stefansson - actor - July 10, 1975
Leah Bracknell - actress - July 12 1964
Liam Miller - footballer - February 13, 1981
Colin Butts - writer - September 11, 1959
Tim Curley - ex-Penn State Athletic Director - April 28, 1954
Catherin Nevin - Oct 1, 1950 - Black Widow
Chris Rea - singer - March 4, 1951
Jonathan Densem - musician - 47
Jill Gascoine - Actress - April 11. 1037
John McCain - Senator - 8/29/1936

Alternates
Steve Smith - NFL RB - August 30, 1964
Rickey Dixon - Dec 26, 1966
Chris Mortensen - Nov 7, 1951

Clean List:

Peter Frates
Matt Cappotelli
Greg Gilbert
Stefan Karl Stefansson
Leah Bracknell
Liam Miller
Colin Butts
Tim Curley
Catherin Nevin
Chris Rea
Jonathan Densem
Jill Gascoine
John McCain

Alternates
Steve Smith
Rickey Dixon
Chris Mortensen

180

Official time is past 1:00:00 CST, so entries for the 2018 Celebrity Death Pool are officially closed