# The Celebrity Death Pool 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2007, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439 "2007-12-01T11:46:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 65
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1282 "2008-12-09T19:23:06Z")
[Jan Kemp](http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3756812), the professor whose criticism of the University of Georgia’s lax academic standards for athletes led to reforms not only at her employer but throughout the NCAA, has died at the age of 59. After complaining that UGA allowed athletes who had failed remedial classes to remain not only enrolled but active in varsity sports, Kemp was fired in 1982. She sued the university, and was awarded $2.57 million (later reduced to $1.08 million). Not only was she reinstated, but all NCAA member institutions now require varsity athletes to meet standards related to grade-point averages, test scores, and the types of courses taken in high school. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1283 "2008-12-09T19:26:56Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Jeez, it’s the end of the year and they’re dropping like flies. But not the right ones. At this rate, I won’t make the Top Ten. Then I’d have to give up my spot in Hell. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1284 "2008-12-09T23:28:29Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > [Jan Kemp](http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3756812), the professor whose criticism of the University of Georgia’s lax academic standards for athletes led to reforms not only at her employer but throughout the NCAA, has died at the age of 59. The scary thing is that she died of Alzheimers at 59. I didn’t know it could get you that young. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1285 "2008-12-09T23:30:59Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Jeez, it’s the end of the year and they’re dropping like flies. Maybe it is the excitement of the season causing people to post this news. I mean the season for putting together next year’s list, of course. None of the recently reported demised have been on anyone’s list. The last one that “counts” was October 31. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1286 "2008-12-10T01:30:27Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > The scary thing is that she died of Alzheimers at 59. I didn’t know it could get you that young. Yep. My mom died of it last year at 59. She started developing it when she was 50. See also [Quasimodem’s blog](http://wheretobud.blogspot.com/). ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1287 "2008-12-10T03:49:57Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > Yep. My mom died of it last year at 59. She started developing it when she was 50. > > See also [Quasimodem’s blog](http://wheretobud.blogspot.com/). Bummer - I had seen Quasimodem’s “I think I have Alzheimer’s” thread and never opened it, never imagining that he really would. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1288 "2008-12-10T19:16:50Z")
Character actor [Robert Prosky](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postmortem/2008/12/actor_robert_prosky_dies.html). Hollywood screenwriter [John Michael Hayes](http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/11/26/john_michael_hayes_89_screenwriter_adapted_rear_window_peyton_place_for_hollywood/). Comedy-Script Writer [Irving Brecher](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/movies/19brecher.html). Multiple Academy Award Winning Producer [John Daly](http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081031/film-and-music-entertainment.htm). French actor (and son of Gerard Depardieu) [Guillaume Depardieu](http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/oct/14/obituary-guillaume-depardieu). Shark fisherman (and inspiration for the character of Quint in the book _Jaws_ [Frank Mundus](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/19/usa). Actor (he played young George Bailey in _It’s a Wonderful Life_) [Bob Anderson](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25023421/). Author of _the French Connection_ and _the Green Berets_ [Robin Moore](http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/02/24/robin_moore_82_author_of_french_connection_green_berets/). ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1289 "2008-12-10T23:48:41Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#): > > Multiple Academy Award Winning Producer [John Daly](http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081031/film-and-music-entertainment.htm). Fortunately **Fear Itself** added “PGA golfer” to his nomination of John Daly, else we would need to resolve how to handle having more than one celebrity with the same name. My view - assume the nomination is for the more famous one, albeit there will be some circumstances where that is not clear. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1290 "2008-12-11T01:43:34Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Fortunately **Fear Itself** added “PGA golfer” to his nomination of John Daly, else we would need to resolve how to handle having more than one celebrity with the same name. Are we sure they are not one in the same? I hear that between tournaments and binges, John Daly was a multi-talented over-achiever. And no one ever saw them in the same room… I’m just sayin’… ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1291 "2008-12-11T03:08:54Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Are we sure they are not one in the same? I hear that between tournaments and binges, John Daly was a multi-talented over-achiever. And no one ever saw them in the same room… > > I’m just sayin’… I am not sure there ever was any time between tournaments and binges. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1292 "2008-12-11T04:18:36Z")
11 months later… None of my people have died? Not even the dictators who aren’t well liked in or outside their countries? Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1293 "2008-12-11T04:36:30Z")
Tell me about it… I have been posting the exact same list since 2007… ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1294 "2008-12-11T05:05:28Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Tell me about it… I have been posting the exact same list since 2007… Amateurs, I have had the same list since 2004. I have had 2 people die since I started playing, Reagan in 2004, worth a whole 7 points, and Gerald Ford, who was on my alternate list for 2007 and died before the year started. I don’t know if I am going to be able to outlive my list.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1295 "2008-12-11T14:08:16Z")
I have Ted Kennedy on my list. Guy gets a freaking brain tumor, but my list guarantees immortality. Except for Peter Jennings in 2005. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1296 "2008-12-12T03:47:44Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > I don’t know if I am going to be able to outlive my list. and I can’t add a Doper to mine… ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1297 "2008-12-12T03:51:54Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > and I can’t add a Doper to mine… Interesting twist on this rule: what if a celebrity is a secret Doper and that fact came out after his/her death? Maybe **Diogenes the Cynic** is really Dick Cheney for example. Would we have to negate all the Cheney points? ---
**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:** [December 12, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1298 "2008-12-12T03:53:55Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Interesting twist on this rule: what if a celebrity is a secret Doper and that fact came out after his/her death? Maybe **Diogenes the Cynic** is really Dick Cheney for example. Would we have to negate all the Cheney points? Funny; I was just wondering what would happen if someone chose Weird Al ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1299 "2008-12-12T03:57:04Z")
Bettie Page has died at 85 [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap\_en\_ce/obit\_bettie\_page](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_ce/obit_bettie_page) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1300 "2008-12-12T04:00:46Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Interesting twist on this rule: what if a celebrity is a secret Doper and that fact came out after his/her death? Maybe **Diogenes the Cynic** is really Dick Cheney for example. Would we have to negate all the Cheney points? And would the _method_ of his passing have an effect on this? I mean, being **DtC** or not, I could _totally_ get behind a rule which said that if Cheney cacked in some kind of particularly ironic or spectacular manner, he’s worth double points. (I do think that if Cheney dies and it turns out that not only was he a Doper, but he had a Death Pool List, he should be completely stripped of any points he’d won up until the time of his death, and those points awarded to the Dopers who had the least.) Another thought, what if, say, Tom Cruise, was a secret Doper, knew he had a terminal illness, and put himself on his _own_ Death Pool List? Should he get the points for himself? ---
**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:** [December 12, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439/1301 "2008-12-12T04:55:04Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Another thought, what if, say, Tom Cruise, was a secret Doper, knew he had a terminal illness, and put himself on his _own_ Death Pool List? Should he get the points for himself? I’m thinkin’ and it _hurts._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439.md?page=64) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2008/428439.md?page=66)