# The Celebrity Death Pool 2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574 "2009-12-01T11:44:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/1 "2009-12-01T11:44:21Z")
Here we go for 2010. The rules are as before, but with one change to eligibility of picks - people famous solely for being ill or for actions associated with their illness (e.g. charity walks) are not permitted. See next post for more details as to how this will be administered. 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 2010. 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, 2009. (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. g. famous solely as a result of their illness or associated actions/events. 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 2009, or submit an alternate after the death of the original pick, as long as this is posted by Dec 31, 2009. 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 2010. The “Final Hours” Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2010. **List Format** I have a spreadsheet that allows 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. If anyone is known by initials, include a period and a space after each. Soas an example, it would be: O. J. Simpson 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, 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. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/2 "2009-12-01T11:45:24Z")
Here are further details on the rule change to not allow people who would be unknown but for their illness/injury. For someone to be valid, there needs to be online evidence of their celebrity status separate from (and preferably before) their illness. Any poster nominating a person about whom they have doubts should also submit alternates, and request a ruling by January 7. I will make a decision, possibly including throwing it open for vote. If the nominee is vetoed, the first alternate is used. You can ask for a ruling before December 31, but note that I am a player too, so you may be giving me information about a good pick. After January 7, a nominee can be challenged by any other player (including me), and if s/he is vetoed, is not replaced by an alternate. I want to minimize the chances that the decision could be colored by a change of “status” of the alternate. I do realize that this process requires me to take exactly the sort of decision that I am avoiding for candidates in general, i.e. determining whether someone is a celebrity. However, I think it is worth it. Otherwise, we get a bunch of entries like this, which hardly fits the definition of a Celebrity Death Pool. ---
**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 1, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/3 "2009-12-01T14:18:37Z")
It’s time to do the Death Pool. It’s the Straight Dope’s sickest thread. If you’re a drama queen Make a list of the thirteen Folks that you wish dead. It’s time to do the Death Pool, And if you think it’s grim. When you hear someone’s dead First thought in your head: Well, who had her or him? And though you wish them dead Killing them is lame. You’ll be disqualified Folks, it’s just a game. And if everyone on your list dies, You’ll say with a grin: I’ve defeated the odds, I deserve a few nods. And furthermore–I WIN! Alan Alda Barbara Bush (the elder) Courtney Cox Donna Dixon Emilo Estavez Fannie Flagg Gloria Gaynor Helen Hunt Joe Jonas Kristin Kreuk Lyndsey Lohan Marilyn Manson Nick Nolte ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/4 "2009-12-01T14:22:53Z")
Surely you could find an “I”? I offer you Ivana Trump. Or Ivanka. Nice poem! ---
**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 1, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/5 "2009-12-01T14:25:01Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Surely you could find an “I”? I offer you Ivana Trump. Or Ivanka. > > Nice poem! Thank you.. I’ve always thought that rule #7 was hysterically funny, and I was glad I could work it in. You didn’t notice the matching initials? I couldn’t find an “I.I.” and Google was no help. And I am honored to be first in the Death Pool. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/6 "2009-12-01T14:26:30Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Thank you.. I’ve always thought that rule #7 was hysterically funny, and I was glad I could work it in. > > You didn’t notice the matching initials? I couldn’t find an “I.I.” and Google was no help. Ah - the fact that both initials were the same went over my head. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/7 "2009-12-01T14:45:06Z")
I’m in! 1. Muhammed Ali (boxer) 2. Art Donovan (former NFL player, Baltimore Colts) 3. Brooks Robinson (Baltimore Oriole) 4. Merle Haggard (country singer) 5. Pat Robertson (of the 700 Club) 6. Nancy Reagan (former First Lady) 7. Nick Carter (of The Backstreet Boys) 8. Paul Michael Glaser (actor, Starsky & Hutch) 9. Jerry Lewis (actor, telethon guy) 10. David Hasselhoff (actor, Baywatch) 11. Bob Barker (The Price Is Right) 12. Kirk Douglas (actor) 13. Elizabeth Taylor (actress) Alternates: 1. Maura Tierney (actress, ER) 2. Jimmy Carter (former President) 3. Queen Elizabeth of England Plain List: Muhammed Ali Art Donovan Brooks Robinson Merle Haggard Pat Robertson Nancy Reagan Nick Carter Paul Michael Glaser Jerry Lewis David Hasselhoff Bob Barker Kirk Douglas Elizabeth Taylor ---
**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 1, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/8 "2009-12-01T14:48:05Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Ah - the fact that both initials were the same went over my head. Good whoosh. And I’m glad, cause it got me to name Nick Nolte, who looks half-dead anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/9 "2009-12-01T14:54:27Z")
Ha! Pretty slick, **Annie**! Per usual I expect to be busy around the holidays and since I just organized my notes whatnot, I might as well post now: 1. [Russell Johnson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Johnson), b. November 10, 1924. Actor. 2. [Jack Kevorkian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kevorkian), b. May 26, 1928. Doctor. 3. [George Steinbrenner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Steinbrenner), b. July 4, 1930. Businessman. 4. [Elizabeth Taylor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor), b. February 27, 1932. Actress. 5. [Garrick Utley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrick_Utley), b. November 19, 1939. Journalist. 6. [Stephen Hawking](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking), b. January 8, 1942. Physicist. 7. [Muhammad Ali](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali), b. January 17, 1942. Boxer. 8. [Aretha Franklin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin), b. March 25, 1942. Musician. 9. [Roger Ebert](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ebert), b. June 18, 1942. Film Critic. 10. [Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdelbaset_Ali_Mohmed_Al_Megrahi), b. April 1, 1952. Convicted terrorist. 11. [Steve Jobs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs), b. February 24, 1955. Businessman. 12. [Orlando Thomas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Thomas), b. October 21, 1972. Football player. 13. [Amy Winehouse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Winehouse), b. September 14, 1983. Musician. Alt1. [Kim Jong-il](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il), b. February 16, 1941. Dictator. Alt2. [Chuck Berry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Berry), b. October 18, 1926. Musician. Alt3. [Fidel Castro](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro), b. August 13, 1926. Dictator. Adding a few death pool staples this year, thus ensuring their continued existence, and bumping down Kim Jong-il and Fidel Castro to alternates, presumably sealing their fates. Thanks so much for running the pool again, **amarone**. Plain list: Russell Johnson Jack Kevorkian George Steinbrenner Elizabeth Taylor Garrick Utley Stephen Hawking Muhammad Ali Aretha Franklin Roger Ebert Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi Steve Jobs Orlando Thomas Amy Winehouse Kim Jong-il Chuck Berry Fidel Castro ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/10 "2009-12-01T15:48:04Z")
Pat Burns Robert Byrd Stephen Hawking Morley Safer Stan Musial Duke Snider Jean Kennedy Smith Emile Bouchard Jacques Parizeau Margaret Thatcher Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Arnold Palmer George Steinbrenner Alternates: Elmer Lach Grace Slick Notes: Pat Burns–former NHL coach Robert Byrd–U.S. Senator Stephen Hawking–physicist Morley Safer–60 Minutes correspondent Stan Musial–Baseball HOFer Duke Snider–Baseball HOFer Jean Kennedy Smith–former Ambassador, JFK sibling Emile Bouchard–Hockey HOFer Jacques Parizeau–former Premier of Quebec Margaret Thatcher–former British PM Philip, Duke of Edinburgh–Consort of Queen Elizabeth II Arnold Palmer–golfer, mixed drink namesake (half ice tea, half lemonade) George Steinbrenner–New York Yankees owner Elmer Lach–Hockey HOFer Grace Slick–Jefferson Airplane/Starship frontwoman ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/11 "2009-12-01T15:58:27Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I couldn’t find an “I.I.” and Google was no help. Let us see if I can redeem myself with Google fu: [Iain Irwin-Powell](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694136/). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/12 "2009-12-01T18:03:42Z")
Excellent! It’s that time of year again! I am suspiciously hoarding my picks until the last moment, or at least a moment that is closer to the last moment than this moment is, but am nonetheless looking forward to the festivities! God, this is morbid. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/13 "2009-12-01T18:13:40Z")
I’ll really have to get to work. I am among those who have no points for 2009. It was my first attempt, but still . . . surely _somebody_ could have obliged me? Sharon Stone, no offense, but did you really have to get your swine flu shot? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/14 "2009-12-01T19:40:11Z")
Kurt Angle Adam Copeland Ron Wayne Farris Oscar Gutierrez Scott Hall Booker Huffman Ed Leslie Marty Jannetty Randy Orton Ken Patera Roddy Piper Randy Savage James Ware notes: Adam Copeland also known as Edge Ron Wayne Farris also known as the Honky Tonk Man Oscar Gutierrez also known as Rey Mysterio Booker Huffman also known as Booker T. Ed Leslie also known as Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake James Ware also known as Koko B. Ware alternates: Shane Helms Vince McMahon Ricky Steamboat Kevin Nash Bret Hart notes: Shane Helms also known as The Hurricane ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/15 "2009-12-01T22:59:28Z")
Seve Ballesteros Roger Ebert Andrew Lloyd Weber Barack Obama Darlene Cates Ryan Oneil Steven Hawking Steve Jobs Mohammed Ali David Hasselhoff Orlando Thomas Jaoquin Phoenix Robin Williams alt. Don Imus Liz Taylor Bobby Brown ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/16 "2009-12-01T23:39:09Z")
Dennis Hopper Amy Winehouse George Steinbrenner Fidel Castro Bob Barker Elizabeth Taylor Dick Cheney Elizabeth Edwards Sharon Osborne Jim J Bullock Owen Wilson OJ Simpson Courtney Love Alt 1.George Wendt Alt 2.Pope Benedict XVI ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/17 "2009-12-02T00:01:15Z")
Vernon Baker John W. Finn Tibor Rubin Amy Winehouse Harry Morgan Kim Jong-Il Ernest Borgnine Tim Conway Kirk Douglas Olivia de Haviland Joan Fontaine Shirley Temple Black Lindsay Lohan For alternates, I’ll nominate Robert E. Simanek Robert Mugabe Fidel Castro As last year, I’m starting with a selection of Medal of Honor honorees, then going mostly to Hollywood/entertainment for the rest. With the exception of Kim Jong-Il, who is worth more points than the former dictator I’d had on the list: Fidel Castro. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Andrew\_21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_21)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/18 "2009-12-02T00:57:50Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I couldn’t find an “I.I.” and Google was no help. [Ion Iliescu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_Iliescu) ---
**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 2, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/19 "2009-12-02T05:05:34Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > **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 2010. > > The “Final Hours” Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2010. Still no love for the **Robbing the Cradle Award**? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574/20 "2009-12-02T07:48:11Z")
Helen Hunt, Annie? Hugh Hefner’s 83 and is rumored to be in poor health. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2010/519574.md?page=2)