# The Celebrity Death Pool 2004 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359 "2003-12-01T22:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/261 "2004-01-03T01:33:39Z")
Just to clarify: Saddam Hussein _is_ a legal pick under the rules, right? Otherwise, a whole lot of us need to pick an alternate. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/262 "2004-01-03T01:41:08Z")
**Gyrate** , Saddam Hussein is a perfectly legal pick - but if he dies by official execution, you don’t get any points. Should he tragically accidently fall down some stairs onto a knife and have a heart attack, then the points are all yours. It’s only official execution that makes him invalid. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SuperNova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNova)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/263 "2004-01-03T04:33:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by a35362 \* > \*\*No, that’s invalid, per rule #6 (“must specify a name”). \*\* Ah, come’on. Just a game 😉 Could always make an addendum to the rules, something like, “if you enter late, -1 point for each day.” ---
**Author:** ![SuperNova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SuperNova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNova)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/264 "2004-01-03T04:33:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by a35362 \* > \*\*No, that’s invalid, per rule #6 (“must specify a name”). \*\* Ah, come’on. Just a game 😉 Could always make an addendum to the rules, something like, “if you enter late, -1 point for each day.” ---
**Author:** ![SuperNova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SuperNova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNova)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/265 "2004-01-03T04:34:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by a35362 \* > \*\*Ummm, youse guys, **Mr. Babbington** ’s post is the last valid entry. Any submissions or changes after that are no good. > > And…on with the game! \*\* Not only did I double-post, I also quoted the wrong one…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/266 "2004-01-03T05:14:28Z")
What we _SHOULD_ do next year is ask the mods if it’s ok to close this thread as soon as the nominations close, and then start a new thread to post celebrity deaths and discussion to. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/267 "2004-01-03T05:31:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by a35362 \* > \*\*Godblessit, it gives me bad info when I’m not signed in. Forget my last post, there. > > **SandyHook** ’s post is the last valid post. > > And on with the game… \*\* You counted my change of Saddam to Musharraf, right? ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/268 "2004-01-03T05:57:42Z")
Thanks for the files, **SpazCat** and **cazzle**! I’ll get the final tallies posted to my web site sometime tomorrow. Can’t … quite … keep my eyes open just now… ::snooze:: ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/269 "2004-01-03T07:17:59Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by tolyri \* > \*\* > 6. Betty Ford (I think she’s the oldest first lady left)_\* No, that honor goes to Lady Bird Johnson, who was born in 1912. Betty came along six years later. Also still around are Nancy Reagan (b. 1921), Barbara Pierce Bush (1925), Rosalynn Carter (1927), Laura Bush (1946), and Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/270 "2004-01-03T09:05:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Should he (Saddam Hussein) tragically accidently fall down some stairs onto a knife and have a heart attack I am reminded of Don Cheadle in **Out of Sight** : > [@](#): > > Well, the man don’t just have to die, Foley. I mean, he could accidentally hurt himself falling down on something real hard, you know? Like a shiv, or my dick? I’m laughing like a scandalized schoolboy at that. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/271 "2004-01-03T20:51:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > \*\*You counted my change of Saddam to Musharraf, right? \*\* Yes, that’s a valid change. ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/272 "2004-01-03T21:59:19Z")
Hi folks, just to let you know - with the flurry of changes toward the end, there are some differences between the two lists I’m working with. If I can’t figure them out on my own based upon previous posts, I’ll be asking some of you for clarifications. I’m also trying to make names consistent across the board, so when you see the final list it might be a little different from what you submitted, e.g., John Lee Malvo’s correct name is Lee Boyd Malvo. I’m heading out for the evening, so … the list ought to be posted tomorrow. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/273 "2004-01-03T22:40:44Z")
Eh, okay, last post for now - **Mac Guffin** , you mentioned Michael Jackson but then didn’t include him in your numbered list. Do you want him on your list or no? If yes, who do you want to take away? **ArchitectChore** , you have 14 rather than 13 people too (you listed #4 twice). Tell me which one’s outta here: Pope John Paul II Ron Santo John Goodman Muhammed Ali Robert Plant Nikki Sixx Brian Wilson Syd Barrett Billy Joel Pete Townsend Dave Navarro David Crosby Brian May Jay-Z ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/274 "2004-01-06T02:05:02Z")
I still need to hear from **ArchitectChore** and **Mac Guffin** regarding their final selections, but otherwise the quick-and-dirty final tally is together and posted on my web site, [starting here](http://home.earthlink.net/~sunfish9n/SDMB/deathpool.htm). Since the lists are rather large files and slow to load at the moment, here’s the list of top 30 celebrities by number of votes: 1. Pope John Paul II (88 votes) 2. Ronald Reagan (84 votes) 3. Michael Jackson (37 votes) 4. Richard Pryor (25 votes) 5. Gerald Ford and Jerry Lewis (21 votes each) 6. Walter Cronkite (20 votes) 7. Charleton Heston, Kirk Douglas and Osama bin Laden (19 votes each) 8. Marlon Brando and Saddam Hussein (17 votes each) 9. Lady Bird Johnson (16 votes) 10. Yasser Arafat (14 votes) 11. Bob Barker, Courtney Love and Keith Richards (13 votes each) 12. Dick Cheney and Johnny Carson (12 votes each) 13. Fidel Castro, Julia Child, Margaret Thatcher and Rodney Dangerfield (11 votes each) 14. John Goodman 10 15. Boris Yeltsin, George W. Bush, Ozzy Osbourne, Prince Phillip, Scott Weiland and Whitney Houston (9 votes each) ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/275 "2004-01-06T02:14:26Z")
I’d still like to get some clarification from those who’ve picked Barbara Bush - unless they specify whether they mean George W’s mother or daughter, they’re getting a two for one. Should we have a rule that it’s BB senior unless they notify otherwise before either passes away? Should the younger one die tragically young and one of our players was to claim she was the BB they had chosen all along, I would be skeptical. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/276 "2004-01-06T02:21:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cadolphin \* > \*\*Please drop Greg Louganis and add Janet Frame. > > Thank you. > > Kathy \*\* Thank you for all your hard work. I see you missed this change. Kathy ---
**Author:** ![GWVet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@GWVet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GWVet)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/277 "2004-01-06T03:05:03Z")
Dang, last I heard Tug McGraw was on the mend. 4 people banged out 41 right outta the gate. Gonna be a grim year. ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/278 "2004-01-06T03:41:33Z")
Pull Muhammed Ali off my list. He’ll still be shaking in 2005. I’m sorry for creating confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Squonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squonk)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/279 "2004-01-06T05:43:12Z")
Major bummer about [Tug McGraw](http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/6982351) Anybody have anyone else Phillies related? Paul Owens died last week and we all know these things happen in threes. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/280 "2004-01-06T06:35:09Z")
Sunfish: You also missed my change of Saddam Hussein to President Musharraf of Pakistan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359.md?page=15)