# 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:** 33
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/641 "2004-10-31T00:24:30Z")
Another question. What is the definition of “Celebrity”? It obviously doesn’t have to be someone well liked, what with Kim Jong Il, Saddam Hussein, and so on. You see, there’s a guy living in my home town, who’s been on national news more than once, featured on the show _20/20_, and a guest on several talkshows. I’ve heard rumors he is ill(kind of hope they are true), and he’s getting up there in years. Nobody else has picked him though, and if he dies it would be a quick 23 or 24 points for me. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/642 "2004-10-31T00:33:55Z")
My definition would be someone generally well known - the list is full of people I’ve never heard of (sportspeople) but lots of other people do know who they are and their profiles are significantly high enough that news sources would carry their obituaries if they were to die. [WordNet](http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn2.0?stage=1&word=celebrity)defines celebrity as “a widely known person”. I guess you need to decide if the man you’re talking about fits that bill. FTR, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anyone challenge another person’s selection over whether or not they qualify as a celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/643 "2004-10-31T00:39:37Z")
To some people, I might be giving it away, but when he showed up in San Francisco several years ago, on the other side of a street from a church, he was on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/644 "2004-10-31T00:44:17Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > To some people, I might be giving it away, but when he showed up in San Francisco several years ago, on the other side of a street from a church, he was on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN. Are his initials F.P? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/645 "2004-10-31T00:50:11Z")
Yup! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/646 "2004-11-01T19:09:22Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Sick, I know, but isn’t this whole game a little sick? And your point is? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/647 "2004-11-04T18:50:08Z")
As of November 4 (sorry for the delay), the scoreboard reads as follows: STILL with a comfortable lead at 95 points is **Captain Lance Murdoch**. Tied for second with 75 points each are **Diogenes the Cynic** and **Mikie**. In third place with 73 points is **SpazCat**. **Spiff** has 65 points. **notfrommensa** has 58 points. **Sternvogel** has 55 points. **cadolphin earthpuppy** and **Mudshark** are tied with 54 points each. **Rico** has 50 points. **Stephe96** has 49 points. **Angel Heart** and **zoog** are tied with 48 points each. **Munch** has 47 points. **Ebola Gay** has 44 points. **Caricci** and **Mullinator** are tied with 41 points each. **Santos L Halper** has 40 points. **smam** has 38 points. **BiblioCat** has 34 points. **Shirley Ujest** has 33 points. **eman77** has 31 points. **Uvula Donor** has 30 points. **Diceman Etherman Harlow JerH Krebnar the Magnificent Mona Lott** and **SandyHook** are tied with 27 points each. **Lathe of Heaven Max Torque** and **tolyri** are tied with 25 points each. **DeVena gobear** and **skammer** are tied with 23 points each. **NoGoodNamesLeft** has 22 points. **amarone Cicada2003** and **lel** are tied with 19 points each. **Desert Geezer drm Mac Guffin Saitou** and **twickster** are tied with 18 points each. **mishaa Nurse Carmen** and **Wicked Blue** are tied with 16 points each. **Single Serving Friend** has 13 points. **Mr. Babbington** has 12 points. **5 time champ** has 11 points. **Ataraxy** and **JavaMaven1** are tied with 9 points each. And finally: **a35362 Already in Use Annie-Xmas ataraxy22 BIH Boy BJMoose Brad Pittiful cbawlmer CowPatty Dr\_Xadium Earthman Evil One Flymaster Frumious Bandersnatch The Great Zamboni Gyrate Hal Briston Horseflesh Hugh Jass Idle Thoughts Infectious Lass Irreverent Tone Kat katie1341 kka Little Nemo Lok Lsura Mad Matt Mehitabel Miabella Ms Macphisto Omniscient plnnr Royal Nonesuch Squonk Stinkum Sublight sunfish swannguy thumbupmybum vivalostwages WIGGUM williamweigand wolf\_meister zamboniracer** are tied with 7 points each. For those who’ve been asking: I’ll open up the 2005 game on December 1st and accept submissions through (midnight, Chicago time) December 31st. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/648 "2004-11-05T16:58:27Z")
Whats the record for points scored in this thing? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/649 "2004-11-05T18:03:44Z")
Well…I’m not sure. **Cisco** won last year’s game with 115 points. Before that, the game was run by **Little Nemo**. The 2002 game fouled because the players’ submissions were lost in a board crash. I can’t find any post with the final scores for the 2001 game, and someone called **smug** won the 2000 game with 66 points. So I guess your answer is 115 points. As far as we know. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/650 "2004-11-08T06:30:18Z")
Howard Keel, star of such film musicals as _Seven Brides for Seven Brothers_ and _Annie Get Your Gun_, has [died at the age of 85.](http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200411081110.htm) ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/651 "2004-11-08T16:08:15Z")
But nobody picked him. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/652 "2004-11-09T15:09:42Z")
[Yassir Arafat](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20041109/ts_nm/mideast_arafat_dc_126), finally? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/653 "2004-11-09T15:11:40Z")
[CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/09/arafat/index.html) is reporting that the Palestinians are denying his death. Again. Unless he is dead and they’re just waiting for him to be buried before they make the announcement. Robin ---
**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:** [November 9, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/654 "2004-11-09T15:12:44Z")
[BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3994667.stm) is reporting that he has only “hours to live”, so either Yahoo has the scoop or is a little premature. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/655 "2004-11-09T15:17:42Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > [BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3994667.stm) is reporting that he has only “hours to live”, so either Yahoo has the scoop or is a little premature. The Yahoo story is a mirror of Reuter’s, and it appears on The Drudge Report as Arafat Dead Not Dead Each one being a story. The “Arafat Dead” is on top, and newer. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/656 "2004-11-09T15:20:30Z")
So who picked Yasser “That’s My Baby” Arafat? ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/657 "2004-11-09T15:21:04Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > [Yassir Arafat](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20041109/ts_nm/mideast_arafat_dc_126), finally? Dead or alive, let’s agree to spell his name right. Yasser Arafat. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/658 "2004-11-09T15:24:33Z")
Diceman Dr\_Xadium drm Earthman Flymaster fruitbat gonzoron Little Nemo Mehitabel Menocchio Nurse Carmen Shirley Ujest Single Serving Friend vunderbob ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/659 "2004-11-09T15:25:59Z")
When he is offically dead, not mostly dead, I will celebrate the pointage. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359/660 "2004-11-09T15:50:00Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > [BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3994667.stm) is reporting that he has only “hours to live”, so either Yahoo has the scoop or is a little premature. Or they haven’t gotten around to putting a stake through his heart yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2004/216359.md?page=34)