# The Celebrity Death Pool 2007

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** death-pool\
**Created:** [December 2, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620 "2006-12-02T22:07:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 31

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**Author:** ![Barely\_Adequate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Barely\_Adequate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barely_Adequate)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/601 "2007-02-04T20:46:10Z")

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HOLLY HILL, Fla. (AP) – Singer Billy Henderson, a member of the band _ **The Spinners** _ who sang _I’ll Be Around_ and other hits, has died. He was 67.

Henderson died Friday (2.02.2007) of complications from diabetes at a Daytona Beach health care facility, his wife, Barbara, said. The 1972 song _I’ll Be Around_ was part of a string of Top 20 Spinners hits that included _Could It Be I’m Falling in Love, Then Came You_ and _The Rubberband Man._

The five-member band of high school friends formed in 1954 in Ferndale, MI, a Detroit suburb. They went on to be nominated for six Grammy Awards and became the second black musical group to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Four of the original band members, including Henderson, continued to perform together until recently.

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**Author:** ![Barely\_Adequate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Barely\_Adequate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barely_Adequate)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/602 "2007-02-07T03:58:11Z")

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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Frankie Laine, the big-voiced singer whose string of hits made him one of the most popular entertainers of the 1950s, died Tuesday. He was 93.

With songs such as “That’s My Desire,” “Mule Train,” “Jezebel,” “I Believe” and “That Lucky Old Sun,” Laine was a regular feature of the Top Ten in the years just before rock ‘n’ roll ushered in a new era of popular music. Somewhat younger listeners may remember him best for singing the theme to the television show “Rawhide,” which ran from 1959 to 1966, and the theme for the 1974 movie “Blazing Saddles.” He sold more than 100 million records and earned more than 20 gold records.

_Full Article:_  
[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070207/ap\_en\_mu/obit\_laine\_13](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070207/ap_en_mu/obit_laine_13)

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/603 "2007-02-08T20:50:01Z")

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[Anna Nicole Smith has died.](http://www.cbsnews.com/)

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/604 "2007-02-08T20:52:25Z")

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[QUOTE=Fear Itself]  
[Anna Nicole Smith has died.](http://www.cbsnews.com/)  
[/QUOTE]

Damn Damn Damn…  
That’s a lot of points.

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**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/605 "2007-02-08T20:55:43Z")

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Sixty-one to be exact.

I had no idea–I wonder if she got the same cardiac arrhythima her son did that killed him.

What a life. Poor thing.

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**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/606 "2007-02-08T21:17:42Z")

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Looks to be about 10 people who had her.

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**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/607 "2007-02-08T22:03:39Z")

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[Alan MacDiarmid,](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10423031) whose work in demonstrating polymers’ ability to conduct electricity led to his sharing the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with two colleagues, has died at the age of 79. MacDiarmid was a member of the Order of New Zealand, as well as a 2001 recipient of his native land’s top science award, the Rutherford Medal.

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**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/608 "2007-02-08T22:17:01Z")

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[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus]  
Looks to be about 10 people who had her.  
[/QUOTE]

I pulled up the news to see what’s ahappenin’ and I see big screaming headlines about Anna Nicole Smith.

The first thing out of my mouth is… day-ummm that worth like 61 points in the death pool! I thought I was alone… I wasn’t. Unbeknownst to me da boyfriend had walked into my house and back to my study (back of the house) and heard me. He looks at me and says, “the poor woman collapses and dies and I hear you talking about points???” :o

He knows about celebrity death pool because I told him about it. He thinks we’re a bunch of sickos. I thanked him for the compliment on behalf of everyone. 😃

Where am I going and why am I in this handbasket!

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/609 "2007-02-08T22:21:34Z")

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[QUOTE=swampbear]  
I pulled up the news to see what’s ahappenin’ and I see big screaming headlines about Anna Nicole Smith.

The first thing out of my mouth is…  
[/QUOTE]

Mine was, “WTF is she?” 🙂

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**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/610 "2007-02-08T22:23:02Z")

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Well **Swampy** , I’m right there with ya in that handbasket! I heard about Anna Nicole’s death at the bus stop this afternoon, and in all honesty, the first thought that crossed my mind was similar to yours, “Damn! I just scored big in the Celebrity Death Pool!” Her name was picked by my daughter, though, as was K-Fed, who has apparently taken up wrestling with the WWE. Still though, it’s quite a shock when someone so young and apparently healthy passes away. RIP, Anna Nicole. ☹

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**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/611 "2007-02-08T22:27:36Z")

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News and CNN is reporting Anna Nicole Smith died…

Edit: Well, hell, seems to be old news in this thread by now. I shoulda expected. :smack:

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**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/612 "2007-02-08T22:39:38Z")

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[QUOTE=Idle Thoughts]  
News and CNN is reporting Anna Nicole Smith died…

Edit: Well, hell, seems to be old news in this thread by now. I shoulda expected. :smack:  
[/QUOTE]

as if TrimSpa isn’t in enough trouble already…

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**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/613 "2007-02-08T22:41:26Z")

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[QUOTE=tarragon918]  
Well **Swampy** , I’m right there with ya in that handbasket! I heard about Anna Nicole’s death at the bus stop this afternoon, and in all honesty, the first thought that crossed my mind was similar to yours, “Damn! I just scored big in the Celebrity Death Pool!” Her name was picked by my daughter, though, as was K-Fed, who has apparently taken up wrestling with the WWE. Still though, it’s quite a shock when someone so young and apparently healthy passes away. RIP, Anna Nicole. ☹  
[/QUOTE]

At least you got some points **Herbs**. 😃

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grits_and_Hard_Toast)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/614 "2007-02-08T23:08:29Z")

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[QUOTE=swampbear]  
He looks at me and says, “the poor woman collapses and dies and I hear you talking about points???” :o

He knows about celebrity death pool because I told him about it. He thinks we’re a bunch of sickos. I thanked him for the compliment on behalf of everyone. 😃

Where am I going and why am I in this handbasket!  
[/QUOTE]

My first thought was I was glad my husband wasn’t around to witness me swearing because I had considered using her, but didn’t. I was thinking an accidental suicide by drug overdose was likely with all she had been through last year. But when I looked at my list, I sort of had a theme of dictator/politicians and evangelists going. I didn’t set out to do that, it just sort of happened. And then I thought Anna Nicole would look out of place on my list.

Silly, silly, girl! :smack:

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/615 "2007-02-08T23:14:58Z")

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[QUOTE=swampbear]  
The first thing out of my mouth is… day-ummm that worth like 61 points in the death pool! I thought I was alone… I wasn’t. Unbeknownst to me da boyfriend had walked into my house and back to my study (back of the house) and heard me. He looks at me and says, “the poor woman collapses and dies and I hear you talking about points???” :o  
[/QUOTE]

I’m right there with you, **swampbear**. My coworker came by my desk around 3 o’clock and told me the news. I spit out the first thought that popped into my head: “I took her off my Deathpool list this year!” :smack: Coworker was a bit shocked at my callousness.

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**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/616 "2007-02-08T23:21:29Z")

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Look at what you people have done to me!!  
I swear I’m a decent person!!  
I didn’t _intend_ for my first reaction to this news to be “heh, heh I got points”. :eek:

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**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/617 "2007-02-08T23:40:15Z")

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Dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit! She was one of my alternates! But when Gerald Ford died back in December, I moved up J.D. Salinger instead! Now I can’t say “Anna Nicole Smith took my Dead Pool virginity!”

We’re a sick lot.

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**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/618 "2007-02-08T23:44:24Z")

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61 points in one swell foop. That’s a big lead for a lot of people to overcome.

And a loss to mankind…send not to know for whom the bell tolls…yadda yada.

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/619 "2007-02-09T01:13:44Z")

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Of more import than Anna Nicole (at least in my opinion): [Antonio Pierro](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Pierro), world’s oldest living WWI (that’s _one_) veteran died today.

Tripler  
Yeah, some former supermodel ties? Granted, it’s bad. A veteran who lived a history like his? Now that’s tragic.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2007/382620/620 "2007-02-09T01:20:17Z")

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[QUOTE=Sternvogel]  
[Alan MacDiarmid,](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10423031) whose work in demonstrating polymers’ ability to conduct electricity led to his sharing the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with two colleagues, has died at the age of 79. MacDiarmid was a member of the Order of New Zealand, as well as a 2001 recipient of his native land’s top science award, the Rutherford Medal.  
[/QUOTE]

They say they come in threes. First Anna Nicole, now Dr MacDiarmid…no that can’t be right.

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