# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/41 "2008-12-03T06:30:36Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > Alrighty then three on the outside chance (I don’t know why I was thinking a list of ten…): > > Stan Lee > Harlan Ellison > Nolan Bushnell > George Lucas > Hayao Miyazaki > Steve Jackson > George R. R. Martin > William Shatner > Alan Moore > Shigeru Miyamoto > **Joss Whedon** > **Terry Pratchett** > **Neil Gaiman** You had better not be very good at this. If those last 3 go, a lot of people will want to hunt you down and hurt you badly. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/42 "2008-12-03T13:31:12Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > You had better not be very good at this. If those last 3 go, a lot of people will want to hunt you down and hurt you badly. I betting on a terrorist attack at the San Diego Comic Con. ---
**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 3, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/43 "2008-12-03T13:41:41Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Looks like Paul Harvey (assuming you mean he) is going to have a very bad year. I will insert Ali as choice number 13 until I hear otherwise. I mean Paul Harvey Aurandt, the radio guy. Sorry for the confusion. Thank you for all your hard work on this project each year. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/44 "2008-12-03T15:33:05Z")
John Paul Stevens Ted Stevens Amy Winehouse Mary-Kate Olsen Liza Minelli Janet Jackson Jade Goody Bob Barker Tony Curtis Ron White Tim Conway Eminem Eddie Van Halen ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/45 "2008-12-03T17:04:54Z")
John Dingell Pat Swayze Liz Taylor Ted Kennedy Cloris Leachman Allen Shellberger Michael Jackson Amy Winehouse Alan Osmond Dan Rather Dick Cheney George Bush the Elder Fidel Castro ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/46 "2008-12-03T17:07:53Z")
You need 3 more, **Gonzo**. RTFR. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/47 "2008-12-03T17:28:51Z")
Except for the conch (to steal from another game) - Patrick Swayze- and the perrennial Jacko pick, I’m going to go with my tried and true, shares the same birthday as me method – which I’ve just realized takes one out of the running becuase he’s already dead (Jerry Falwell) … but I digress. 1. Patrick Swayze - cancer patient 2. Michael Jackson - freakshow 3. Melky Cabrera - member of the Evil Empire 4. Lee Suggs - American Football player 5. Andy Bell - ex-member of Oasis 6. Joe Rogan - funny tough guy 7. Richie Ramone - Ramones drummer (82 - 87) 8. Joe Jackson - Steppin’ Out singer who had much better songs that were never as popular 9. Terry Bollea - aka Hulk Hogan 10. Steve Wosniak - Apple dude 11. Eric Carmen - musician who was all by himself 12. Ian McDiarmid - Emporer Palpatine 13. Claus von Bulow - insulin administrator Plain List Patrick Swayze Michael Jackson Melky Cabrera Lee Suggs Andy Bell Joe Rogan Richie Ramone Joe Jackson Terry Bollea Steve Wosniak Eric Carmen Ian McDiarmid Claus von Bulow ---
**Author:** ![Draconova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@Draconova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draconova)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/48 "2008-12-03T17:55:25Z")
John Mccain Paul Mccartney Ruth Bader Ginsberg Ray Bradbury George Lucas Micheal J. Fox Mr. Miyagi Michael Savage Richard Adams Nancy Reagan Stan Lee Bob Dole Ted Stevens Random picks 😕 Or if you want it formatted 1. John Mccain 2. Paul Mccartney 3. Ruth Bader Ginsberg 4. Ray Bradbury 5. George Lucas 6. Micheal J. Fox 7. Mr. Miyagi 8. Michael Savage 9. Richard Adams 10. Nancy Reagan 11. Stan Lee 12. Bob Dole 13. Ted Stevens Explanations: John Mccain - Pure laugh at Palin possibility choice. Paul Mccartney - Paul is dead man, paul is dead Ruth Bader Ginsberg - cancer + Obama administration Ray Bradbury - Gotta do an author George Lucas - An enraged fan to prevent messing with a movie Micheal J. Fox - How do you trace a scatter plot… Mr. Miyagi- I only refer him to that because that’s what he’s better known as Michael Savage- We can all wish Richard Adams- 2nd author, but he’s getting on in years. Nancy Reagan- no explination needed. Stan Lee- That’s gonna suck Bob Dole - and ending on 2 politicians Ted Stevens - Death is a series of tube ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/49 "2008-12-03T18:21:32Z")
Just to get things on the up and up – a re-listing of my picks to get Hulk Hogan in there instead of his given name: Patrick Swayze Michael Jackson Melky Cabrera Lee Suggs Andy Bell Joe Rogan Richie Ramone Joe Jackson Hulk Hogan Steve Wosniak Eric Carmen Ian McDiarmid Claus von Bulow ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/50 "2008-12-03T18:47:24Z")
John Goodman Fidel Castro Fyvush Finkel Kirk Douglas Ariel Sharon Eartha Kitt Patrick Swayze Lex Luger aka Lawrence Wendell Pfohl Jack Kevorkian Ray Harryhausen Forrest J Ackerman Zsa Zsa Gabor Jerry Lewis Alternates: William Schallert Beverly Clearly Doris Day ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/51 "2008-12-03T18:56:01Z")
> [@Draconova](#): > > John Mccain > Paul Mccartney > Ruth Bader Ginsberg > Ray Bradbury > George Lucas > Micheal J. Fox > Mr. Miyagi > Michael Savage > Richard Adams > Nancy Reagan > Stan Lee > Bob Dole > Ted Stevens > Random picks 😕 > > Or if you want it formatted > > 1. John Mccain > 2. Paul Mccartney > 3. Ruth Bader Ginsberg > 4. Ray Bradbury > 5. George Lucas > 6. Micheal J. Fox > 7. Mr. Miyagi > 8. Michael Savage > 9. Richard Adams > 10. Nancy Reagan > 11. Stan Lee > 12. Bob Dole > 13. Ted Stevens > > Explanations: > > John Mccain - Pure laugh at Palin possibility choice. > Paul Mccartney - Paul is dead man, paul is dead > Ruth Bader Ginsberg - cancer + Obama administration > Ray Bradbury - Gotta do an author > George Lucas - An enraged fan to prevent messing with a movie > Micheal J. Fox - How do you trace a scatter plot… > Mr. Miyagi- I only refer him to that because that’s what he’s better known as > Michael Savage- We can all wish > Richard Adams- 2nd author, but he’s getting on in years. > Nancy Reagan- no explination needed. > Stan Lee- That’s gonna suck > Bob Dole - and ending on 2 politicians > Ted Stevens - Death is a series of tube Pat Morita who played Miyagi died like 3 years ago. ---
**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 3, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/52 "2008-12-03T21:07:13Z")
Please forgive me. I seem to have listed Paul Harvey twice. Further, I did not pick up on it even when someone tried to give me a clue. Please add ex-FLOTUS Nancy Reagan in for the second Paul H. Again, I appreciate all your work on this and am sorry to have caused you the trouble. Billy Graham Kirk Douglas Margaret Thatcher Elizabeth Taylor Ronnie Biggs Harold Pinter Dick Cheny Fidel Castro Paul Harvery Bob Barker Ariel Sharon Nancy Reagan Ernest Borgnine Alternate: Mohammed Ali ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/53 "2008-12-03T21:08:24Z")
Frank Cady Michael Foot Jack LaLanne Art Linkletter Karl Malden Kevin McCarthy Mitch Miller Harry Morgan Les Paul David Rockefeller Sargent Shriver Gloria Stuart Norman Wisdom Alternate 1: Eli Wallach Alternate 2: Courtney Love Thanks for doing this, **amarone**. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/54 "2008-12-03T21:13:55Z")
Dear God, \*Frank Cady \*is still alive! (He’s 93!) ETA: and his wife died less than four months ago after 58 years of marriage! ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/55 "2008-12-03T21:36:46Z")
I am going with a lot of long shot druggies with a few old people/cancer patients thrown in for luck. Here is my list: Patrick Swayze Lil Wayne Amy Winehouse Blake Fielder-Civil David Letterman Ed McMahon Mary-Kate Olsen Scott Weiland Axl Rose Farrah Fawcett Steve-O Gary Dourdan Tom Sizemore Alternates: Queen Elisabeth II Ed Furlong ---
**Author:** ![meghan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@meghan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meghan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/56 "2008-12-04T16:09:02Z")
While never admitting that this is one of the prmary reasons I joined the Straight Dope (because how weird is that?), I submit the following list. Ted Kennedy Keith Richards Amy Winehouse Jerry Lewis Kim Jong-il Bill Clinton MaryKate Olsen Brittney Spears Fidel Castro Dick Cheney Lance Armstrong Vladimir Putin Hamid Karzai Alternate: Nancy Reagan Billy Graham ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/57 "2008-12-04T16:34:47Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Here we go for 2009. The rules are exactly as before, but with one change to the awards: the “Inside Track with the Grim Reaper” Award now goes to the person with the most unique picks, not shared by everyone who had a unique pick. 17 of 41 deceased celebrities in 2008 were unique, so too many people were sharing this award. > > \*\*Please note my request at the bottom of the post that you submit your list in a specific format. \*\* > The Rules: > > 1. You pick 13 celebrities (that’s thirteen, not ten) whom you predict will die within the calendar year 2009. If any of your celebrities dies, you score 100 points minus their age at death. Whoever has the most points at the end of the year wins the undying _snort_ admiration of the SDMB. > > 2. All picks must be time- and date-stamped by midnight Chicago time, Dec. 31st, 2008. (That’s U.S. Central time, which is six hours behind Greenwich.) > > 3. Valid picks are not: > > a. already dead > b. a fictional character > c. non-human > d. under age 18 at death > e. a registered member of the SDMB, 'cause that would be weird > f. political prisoners, 'cause we’re macabre but not THAT macabre. Please see Rule 7 regarding the likes of Saddam Hussein. > > 1. You can pick people who are 100 or more years old but you won’t score points for them. See the “Quantity Not Quality” award, below. > > 2. If we are uncertain about the celebrity’s age at death, we will go by the higher age (lower score). > > 3. Your picks must specify a name: listing “anybody from [the cast of your most hated TV show or boy band]” as a pick will be ignored. > > 4. Persons under sentence of death will be valid for scoring points only if they die by means other than official execution. > > 5. Any poster who kills or otherwise contributes to the death of any celebrity mentioned in this thread is disqualified. It’s just a game, people. The only exceptions to this rule would be deaths caused by those posters serving as members of the police or armed forces of any country, in the line of duty. > > 6. Editing your choices: be careful! You can make changes to your list before the end of the year, but it has to be clear which names are your final choices. You may submit one or more “alternates” with your list in the event that one of your picks dies during December 2008, or submit an alternate after the death of the original pick, as long as this is posted by Dec 31, 2008. If you do not submit a name, I will submit the rest. You can have no more than 13 picks. If you pick more than 13, or if any of your picks is otherwise invalid, I may ask for clarification. Otherwise, I will submit the first 13 names on your list. Do me a favor: check twice, post once. > > We have no rule about submissions having to be unique, despite claims of “copying” anyone else’s list. We will just turn up our noses at you if you do this. Sharing news of celebrities in ill health and whatnot is up to individual posters. > > We have no rule about valid SDMB memberships (disqualifying members who have been banned). If you submit a list and then change your username at some point, please post this news on the thread so I know who you are. > > We have no rule about what constitutes “celebrity,” because it makes our heads hurt to think about this. > > Spelling counts! Please try to spell celebrities’ names correctly. > > Some celebrities have common, identical or similar names. It is helpful to be specific. > > Additional awards: > > The “Quantity Not Quality” Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the greatest number of celebrities who died, regardless of their actual point value. > > The “Inside Track With the Grim Reaper” Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who had the most unique picks that died. > > The “Opening Kickoff” Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the first listed celebrity to die in 2009. > > The “Final Hours” Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2009. > > List Format > > I have a spreadsheet that will allow me to post updated standings quickly and produce various other statistics. The pain is “loading” the data into the sheet. I can do each list in a single cut and paste if you use the following format and guidelines: present a plain, unnumbered list that contains just the celebrities’ most commonly used names (e.g. use “Al Gore”, not “Albert Gore”), correctly spelled. So, to use my 2007 list as an example, it would be: > > Garry Betty > Ronnie Biggs > Fidel Castro > Farrah Fawcett > Dan Fogelberg > Jane McGrath > Magnus Magnusson > Tammy Faye Messner > Benny Parsons > Suzanne Pleshette > Ariel Sharon > Yuri Shtern > Chuck Strahl > However, I know that many of you like to include commentary within your lists, such as: > > George “the younger” Bush > Yogi Berra, baseballer/malaproper, age 81 (82 in May 2007)- because it ain’t over till it’s over. > > That is fine - it adds to the entertainment. But if you do that, please also include the list again in plain format for me to copy & paste. > > Have fun, you bunch of fellow sickos. Can you modify your list until dec 31 or are you stuck with it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/58 "2008-12-04T16:51:47Z")
Did you really need to quote the entire OP to ask that question? Ah, I’m just cranky because not a single person on my '08 list had the decency to die. The good news is that I have a perfectly good list, which I herewith replay: Pete Doherty Farrah Fawcett Mitzi Gaynor Wink Martindale Liza Minnelli Jaye P. Morgan Bettie Page Ron Popeil William Safire Vidal Sassoon Phyllis Schlafley Paul Verhoeven Amy Winehouse Alternate: Joyce Brothers ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/59 "2008-12-04T17:11:54Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Can you modify your list until dec 31 or are you stuck with it. You can change at will up to 13:59:59 CST on 31 December. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262/60 "2008-12-04T17:22:26Z")
Make that 23:59:59 CST. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2009/475262.md?page=4)