# The Celebrity Death Pool 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262 "2008-12-01T23:40:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**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 31, 2008, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/301 "2008-12-31T12:44:57Z")
1. Susan Atkins, Manson girl 2. Kenechi Udeze, Minnesota Vikings defensive end 3. Shelley Morrison, actress (_Will & Grace_) 4. Geraldine Ferraro, former vice-presidential candidate 5. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Senator 6. Robert Novak, columnist and political commentator 7. Teri Garr, Actress 8. Ken Kercheval, actor (_Dallas_) 9. AQ Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientist 10. Dame Maggie Smith, veteran actress 11. Steve Jobs, Apple CEO 12. John Daly, PGA golfer 13. Jack Van Impe, televangelist Alternates: 1. Roddy Piper, former professional wrestler 2. Sharon Osbourne, music manager and promoter 3. Johnny Pesky, former Red Sox shortstop Susan Atkins Kenechi Udeze Shelley Morrison Geraldine Ferraro Arlen Specter Robert Novak Teri Garr Ken Kercheval AQ Khan Maggie Smith Steve Jobs John Daly Jack Van Impe Alternates: Roddy Piper Sharon Osbourne Johnny Pesky ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/302 "2008-12-31T12:54:45Z")
I have, as promised, revised my list in light of the great nominees so far. I hope this does not cross the line into plagiarism. 1 Billy Graham 2 Kirk Douglas 3 Margaret Thatcher 4 Ronnie Biggs 5 Shirley Temple Black 6 Ariel Sharon 7 Elizabeth Edwards 8 Charlton Heston 9 Fidel Castro 10 Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman 11 Roger Ebert 12 Robert McNamar 13 Paul Harvey Alternate None Clean list Billy Graham Kirk Douglas Margaret Thatcher Ronnie Biggs Shirley Temple Black Ariel Sharon Elizabeth Edwards Charlton Heston Fidel Castro Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman Roger Ebert Robert McNamar Paul Harvey As always, congratulations to all the nominees. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/303 "2008-12-31T13:02:14Z")
**Paul in Saudi** , Heston is already dead! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/304 "2008-12-31T13:19:09Z")
Ooo, crap…good thing Michael Silver used the phrase “head-coaching death pool” in his column today, or I might’ve forgotten to put my picks in. 1. Barack Obama - President-elect, wet dream for morons with good aim 2. John McCain - Non-president-elect, old guy 3. Amy Winehouse - Fucking trainwreck 4. Osama Bin Laden - Top prize 5. Gough Whitlam - 21st Prime Minister of Australia 6. Emilio Navaira III – Tejano singer, chronic drunk driver 7. Robert Novak – Political writer 8. Salvatore “Fat Sal” Scala - accused Gambino crime family captain 9. Rosanne Cash - Country singer 10. Al Davis - Oakland Raiders Owner 11. John Madden - NFL Commentator 12. Fred Phelps - Raging Douchebag #1 13. Reverend Donald Wildmon - Raging Douchebag #2 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/305 "2008-12-31T13:20:04Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Ooo, crap…good thing Michael Silver used the phrase “head-coaching death pool” in his column today, or I might’ve forgotten to put my picks in. > > 1. Barack Obama - President-elect, wet dream for morons with good aim > 2. John McCain - Non-president-elect, old guy > 3. Amy Winehouse - Fucking trainwreck > 4. Osama Bin Laden - Top prize > 5. Gough Whitlam - 21st Prime Minister of Australia > 6. Emilio Navaira III – Tejano singer, chronic drunk driver > 7. Robert Novak – Political writer > 8. Salvatore “Fat Sal” Scala - accused Gambino crime family captain > 9. Rosanne Cash - Country singer > 10. Al Davis - Oakland Raiders Owner > 11. John Madden - NFL Commentator > 12. Fred Phelps - Raging Douchebag #1 > 13. Reverend Donald Wildmon - Raging Douchebag #2 Provide a bare list, too, please. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/306 "2008-12-31T13:41:55Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > **Quartz** , you’ve got fourteen on your list. Who’s going to get bumped off and thereby rendered doomed? Bother! And well spotted! I’ll slide Amy Winehouse to first alternate. Revised list: Tara Jones Tom Buckley Elizabeth van Sickle Patrick Swayze Allister Boyd Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi Alex Macomber Pete Doherty Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim Steve Phillips Steve Jobs Seve Ballesteros Colin Howe Alternates: Amy Winehouse Ariel Sharon Robert Mugabe Kim Jong Il ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/307 "2008-12-31T14:02:17Z")
replacing the already dead heston with Fred Phelps, a weak choice, but hope springs eternal Billy Graham Kirk Douglas Margaret Thatcher Ronnie Biggs Shirley Temple Black Ariel Sharon Elizabeth Edwards Fred Phelps Fidel Castro Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman Roger Ebert Robert McNamar Paul Harvey ---
**Author:** ![MarkF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MarkF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkF)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/308 "2008-12-31T14:23:45Z")
There’s some terrific picking here, (Bobby Robson - Of Course!!) I am sooooo looking forward to this, \ I just wanted to say a public thankyou to **amarone** for not only carrying out this gargantuan task but doing it with grace and style and forgiving newbs who may cause him/her extra work. well done and have a wonderful new year! Cheers 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/309 "2008-12-31T14:33:53Z")
Gore Vidal Billy Graham Dominic Dunne Burt Bacharach Maggie Smith John Olsen Jack Brabham Don Burrows Gough Whitlam Patrick Swayze Peter O’Toole Ariel Sharon Ted Kennedy John Olsen is an Australian artist of some note. In Australia, at any rate. Don Burrows is an Australian jazz musician. The rest should be self explanatory. Happy New Year all!) ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/310 "2008-12-31T14:35:30Z")
I’ve never participated in this before…and I only read the first page of this thread, so if my list looks too much like others…sorry! Patrick Swayze Steve Jobs Fidel Castro George Steinbrenner Amy Winehouse Shia LeBoeuf Pope Benedict XVI Kim Jong-Il Sadaharu Oh Jack Klugman Richard Kiel William Shatner O.J. Simpson ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/311 "2008-12-31T15:12:39Z")
Darnit, I haven’t had time to refine my list so I will just have to narrow it down on the fly. I went with predominantly old people to increase my odds of scoring. I didn’t have time to dig up my old list but I remember Jack Kevorkian was on it and I am going to keep trying with him. Milly Del Rubio Amy Winehouse Patrick Swayze Carl Reiner Jack Chick Jack Kevorkian Helen Gurley Brown Michael Ansara Dave Brubeck Nancy Reagan Jack Klugman Nanette Fabray Ed McMahon alternates: Jimmy Carter Pat Hingle Barbara Bush ---
**Author:** ![texasoysterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@texasoysterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/texasoysterman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/312 "2008-12-31T15:17:50Z")
Kirk Douglas Les Paul JD Salinger Art Linkletter Ed Asner Mitch Miller Walter Cronkite Helen Thomas Ted Kennedy Soupy Sales Harry Belafonte Jimmy Carter Abe Vigoda Alternates Brittany Spears Ray Bradbury Jack Lalanne ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/313 "2008-12-31T15:19:06Z")
My group: Muhammed Ali (not at all well) Amy Winehouse (trainwreck) Pete Doherty (ditto) Margaret Thatcher (ancient) HRH Prince Phillip (likewise) Prof Stephen Hawking (borrowed time) Kirk Douglas (another oldie) Patrick Moore (and another) John Hurt (I hope not, but he has been looking a little fragile lately) Robert Mugabe (we can but hope) Peter Falk (old and ill) George Bush Senior (I’m running out of ideas here) The Pope (_really_ running out!) ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/314 "2008-12-31T15:23:04Z")
Basic List in no particular order. Bob Novak Ronnie Biggs Ariel Sharon Wendy Richards Khaled Marshaal Patrick Swayze Paul Casciogne Fidel Castro Bobby Robson Alex Macomber Billy Graham Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed Al Megrahi Mohammed Dief Alternates: Dom Deluise Elizabeth Edwards Peter O’Toole And Now, The Demented Reasoning Behind : **The Terrorists:** The hardest thing about picking a terrorist is which one. The hours I’ve spent combing Wiki are countless. I’ve bumped Osama Bin Laden off my list ( on since 2002.) for someone that has been seen lately which means he will die January 1, 2009, just watch. 1. [Abdel\_Basset\_Ali\_al-Megrahi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdel_Basset_Ali_al-Megrahi) (1952) 2. [Kaheld Marshaal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaled_Mashaal) Hamas leader . Given the state over there lately, really, just naming 13 people of note, six from each side and one wild card would make for easy pickin’s. ( 1956) 3. [Mohammed Dief](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Deif) (1960) Random, obscure, critically injured terrorist in a war zone. Not a good combo. 4. [Bob Novak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Novak) I know zero about politics, but when an old guy runs over someone in his car and doesn’t realize it, that ain’t good. Brain Tumor.(1931) 5. [Robert Maudsley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maudsley) He has made it to my final 20 for the past few years. I short listed him this year. (1953) 6. [Ronnie Biggs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Biggs) (1929) He’s been on my list before and seems to have Keith Richards Longevity Super Powers. 7. Ariel Sharon. (He could be an easy pick or he could be in cryogenics. Who knows.) The Man Who Just Won’t Die. 8. [Wendy Richards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Richards) (1943) Cancer. 9.[Bobby Robson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Robson) 1933. 1. Patrick Swayze. Cause everybody is doing it. Pancreatic cancer ain’t nice. 2. Fidel Castro. 2009 is the end of his reign. Permanently. 3. Billy Graham. Band wagon. easy points. 4. [Alex Macomber](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008538075_cancer19.html). When I came across this one, I instantly thought it wouldn’t be qualified. \*Famous because they are ill and not for something else \* and all that. However, it looks like there is a loophole and in I slide. He bumped Dom Deluise down. Good luck to everyone and \*\*thank you very much AMARONE \*\* for doing all of this! I look forward to seeing which of my chosen I have given the Gift of Life too. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/315 "2008-12-31T15:24:27Z")
Elizabeth Taylor Patrick Swayze Michael Jackson Keith Richards Bob Dylan Don Imus Ed Koch Brigette Bardot George Steinbrenner Mike Francesa Dick Cheney Billy Graham Don Deluise ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/316 "2008-12-31T15:25:38Z")
Alan Greenspan Ariel Sharon Boris Spassky Charlie Watts Donald Rumsfeld Eunice Kennedy Shriver Farrah Fawcett Hugh Hefner Michael Jackson Ricardo Montalban Terry Jones William Shatner Woody Allen ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/317 "2008-12-31T15:26:16Z")
I think next year there should be a sub catagory:\*\* Pop Your Cherry.\*\* Pick who you think will be who dies first on your list and if you are right, you get five extra points. Whaddya think? Sick and Twisted? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/318 "2008-12-31T15:26:43Z")
With respect to “who is a celebrity”, I just inherited the previous rules. Personally, I think there should be some restrictions. I don’t think we should have people who are solely known for their illness - even if they achieve fame through other efforts that are related, e.g. fund-raising activities. I have found several such people in searches, but do not think it right to use them. I also think we should avoid relatives of celebrities, unless the relative is famous in their own right. For example, I would view Earl Woods as a celebrity, but not Phil Mickelson’s dad. But the issue with this is that we then need some way of adjudicating. I guess we could have a vote - I would be happy to administer some sort of voting process - I would set a deadline then count the votes and announce the result. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/319 "2008-12-31T15:26:44Z")
> [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](#): > > My group: > > Muhammed Ali (not at all well) > Amy Winehouse (trainwreck) > Pete Doherty (ditto) > Margaret Thatcher (ancient) > HRH Prince Phillip (likewise) > Prof Stephen Hawking (borrowed time) > Kirk Douglas (another oldie) > Patrick Moore (and another) > John Hurt (I hope not, but he has been looking a little fragile lately) > Robert Mugabe (we can but hope) > Peter Falk (old and ill) > George Bush Senior (I’m running out of ideas here) > The Pope (_really_ running out!) You need to submit a plain list, as in no parenthetical comments, bullets, or numbers. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/320 "2008-12-31T15:32:35Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > With respect to “who is a celebrity”, I just inherited the previous rules. Personally, I think there should be some restrictions. I don’t think we should have people who are solely known for their illness - even if they achieve fame through other efforts that are related, e.g. fund-raising activities. I have found several such people in searches, but do not think it right to use them. > > I also think we should avoid relatives of celebrities, unless the relative is famous in their own right. For example, I would view Earl Woods as a celebrity, but not Phil Mickelson’s dad. > > But the issue with this is that we then need some way of adjudicating. I guess we could have a vote - I would be happy to administer some sort of voting process - I would set a deadline then count the votes and announce the result. I like this rule and will personally follow it. (I did have one person on my not-yet-submitted list that was known solely for being a cancer patient, but will strike him and replace him with an actual celeb.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=17)