# The Celebrity Death Pool 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523 "2010-12-01T09:16:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/321 "2010-12-27T16:33:10Z")
“Celebrities that played in their high school bands and did not have a career in music with the instrument they played” deals with the issue of Aretha Franklin, but seems like a cop-out. Not many people end up being celebrities playing the instruments in a typical school band, but plenty could have started in band before moving into more popular music. Not every well-known musician played in their high school band, but I’m guessing a significant number did. edit: Of course, it’s not like he went straight for low hanging fruit for the entire list, so it’s reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/322 "2010-12-27T18:51:10Z")
Sounds like the locals are in favor, so I will give **critter42** his asterisk. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/323 "2010-12-27T19:42:28Z")
**critter** , where the heck did you hear that George Stephanopoulos played in the band? I thought I knew quite a bit about him, and I’ve never heard this! He was an altar boy in his father’s church, of course, but he worked and was on the wrestling team and played golf with his friends when he was in high school. No mention of learning any musical instrument. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/324 "2010-12-27T20:06:00Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > **critter** , where the heck did you hear that George Stephanopoulos played in the band? I thought I knew quite a bit about him, and I’ve never heard this! He was an altar boy in his father’s church, of course, but he worked and was on the wrestling team and played golf with his friends when he was in high school. No mention of learning any musical instrument. I’m guessing from [this list](http://www.menc.org/v/parents_press_others/a-celebrity-orchestra/). I can’t find any other mention of it, either. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/325 "2010-12-27T21:36:36Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > **critter** , where the heck did you hear that George Stephanopoulos played in the band? I thought I knew quite a bit about him, and I’ve never heard this! Outing yourself as a Stephanopoulos fan should be on the\*\* Shameful Secrets \*\*thread, shouldn’t it? I thought the BLACK SWAN was creepy! This beats it by a mile! ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/326 "2010-12-27T21:43:33Z")
_Ahem,_ I have by actual count 47 autographed copies of his book (so far). I used to be quite the fan, yes. Not so much since he became a talking head, for _morning television_, no less! What a waste of a mind and an education. hijack[/] ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/327 "2010-12-27T21:54:41Z")
Dick Cheney Karl Rove George W. Bush George H.W. Bush Sarah Palin Glenn Beck Rush Limbaugh Senator Mitch McConnell Rep. John Boehner John Kasich Chief Justice John G. Roberts Associate Justice Antonin Scalia George Will Theme: People I would not shed a tear for if they left this veil of tears. Alternates Stan Musial Yogi Berra If either of the alternates passes, I would shed a tear. ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/328 "2010-12-27T21:56:25Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I’m guessing from [this list](http://www.menc.org/v/parents_press_others/a-celebrity-orchestra/). I can’t find any other mention of it, either. That’s where I first saw it, but I had been trying to source where they got it from. I found reference to an interview with faculty members of his high school and him on GMA on Jan 4, 2010, but have not been able to find the video or transcript yet. however at some point I realized I was going through way too much work for this game and let it fly any way 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/329 "2010-12-27T22:01:13Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Dick Cheney > Karl Rove > George W. Bush > George H.W. Bush > Sarah Palin > Glenn Beck > Rush Limbaugh > Senator Mitch McConnell > Rep. John Boehner > John Kasich > Chief Justice John G. Roberts > Associate Justice Antonin Scalia > George Will > > Theme: People I would not shed a tear for if they left this veil of tears. > > Alternates > > Stan Musial > Yogi Berra > > If either of the alternates passes, I would shed a tear. I’ll give you a theme asterisk if you swap out Roberts and Scalia for a couple of prominent conservatives. Hannity and O’Reilly? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/330 "2010-12-27T22:06:43Z")
Roberts and Scalia _aren’t_ prominent conservatives? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/331 "2010-12-27T22:14:29Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > I’ll give you a theme asterisk if you swap out Roberts and Scalia for a couple of prominent conservatives. Hannity and O’Reilly? Swap Hannity & O’Reilly for Berra and Musial as alternates. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/332 "2010-12-27T22:20:46Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Roberts and Scalia _aren’t_ prominent conservatives? Not, to me, in the same sense as all the others. They are not actively involved in promoting the Republican party, which all the others are. The nature of their job is that they are limited to some extent in how conservative they can be. It’s not a big deal, though. I can afford the prize money, so on any of these theme things if others disagree with me, I can be swayed. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/333 "2010-12-27T22:37:36Z")
Put Hannity and O’Reilly on the main list and make Roberts and Scalia your alternates ---
**Author:** ![Squonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squonk)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/334 "2010-12-27T22:59:42Z")
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia - 1924 (can’t find a date, not even on the Saudi embassy web page) Chuck Bednarik (former Philadelphia Eagle) - May 1, 1925 Fidel Castro (I say it every year, I’m picking him until one of us goes) - August 13, 1926 Ariel Sharon - February 27, 1928 Dean Smith - February 28, 1931 Tariq Aziz (yes, I know the rule about executions) - April 28, 1936 Kim Jong Il - February 16, 1941 Michael Douglas - September 25, 1944 Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi (Lockerbie bomber) - April 1, 1952 David Lee Roth - October 10, 1955 Greg Rusedski (tennis player) - September 6, 1973 Urban Meyer (former Florida head football coach) - July 10, 1964 Miley Cyrus (the youngest person I could find who would be eligible from Jan 1) - November 23, 1992 Alternate Dick Cheney - January 30, 1941 Plain List: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Chuck Bednarik Fidel Castro Ariel Sharon Dean Smith Tariq Aziz Kim Jong Il Michael Douglas Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi David Lee Roth Greg Rusedski Urban Meyer Miley Cyrus Dick Cheney Plain List if Kim Jong Il is hyphenated King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Chuck Bednarik Fidel Castro Ariel Sharon Dean Smith Tariq Aziz Kim Jong-Il Michael Douglas Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi David Lee Roth Greg Rusedski Urban Meyer Miley Cyrus Dick Cheney Plain List if you just want King Abdullah King Abdullah Chuck Bednarik Fidel Castro Ariel Sharon Dean Smith Tariq Aziz Kim Jong Il Michael Douglas Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi David Lee Roth Greg Rusedski Urban Meyer Miley Cyrus Dick Cheney and finally, plain list if KJI is hyphenated and you don’t want Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Chuck Bednarik Fidel Castro Ariel Sharon Dean Smith Tariq Aziz Kim Jong-Il Michael Douglas Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi David Lee Roth Greg Rusedski Urban Meyer Miley Cyrus Dick Cheney ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/335 "2010-12-27T23:25:50Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Not, to me, in the same sense as all the others. They are not actively involved in promoting the Republican party, which all the others are. The nature of their job is that they are limited to some extent in how conservative they can be. > > It’s not a big deal, though. I can afford the prize money, so on any of these theme things if others disagree with me, I can be swayed. Roberts is pretty much a bag man for the Republican party, a pure political hack without any real experience as jurist. Scalia is not only solid GOP, he has his own “Christian” agenda that he feels he can use as a weapon, being chosen by God and all. Together are more conservative and more political than is seemly for Supreme Court Justices, but then this is the worst Supreme Court the country has had since the Dred Scott decision in 1857 – a year the GOP would love to return the US to. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/336 "2010-12-27T23:28:27Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > _Ahem,_ I have by actual count 47 autographed copies of his book (so far). Ladies and Gentlemen, in front of you is the Scary Door. :D:dubious::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/337 "2010-12-28T00:42:38Z")
Verne Gagne Superstar Billy Graham Ruth Bader Ginsburg Jimmy Carter Meat Loaf Keith Richards Joe Paterno Betty White Andy Griffith Ian McKellen George H. W. Bush Tina Turner Jesse Jackson **Alternates:** Mike Ditka Vince Young Kobe Bryant ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/338 "2010-12-28T02:20:16Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > Put Hannity and O’Reilly on the main list and make Roberts and Scalia your alternates No thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/339 "2010-12-28T03:05:12Z")
Ok screw it, I am punting my list and going with a theme. I will attempt to go with all unique people. I am quite certain these are not actually unique as I haven’t really read the other entries. This is not likely to be the most successful of entries, it does replace my earlier list however: James Best Richard ‘Dick’ Winters Tracy Morgan Wes Bentley Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Maxon Crumb David Rainey Joseph Kony Hector Murguia Lardizabal Travis Pastrana Ralph Friedgen Wilford Brimley Marcus Vick Alternates: Evi Quaid Ted Kaczynski Jean Bertrand Aristide With comments: James Best (Roscoe P. Coltrane from the Dukes of Hazzard. One of those people I was just surprised to find still alive) Richard ‘Dick’ Winters (I would happily lose every death pool if he keeps going, but I was watching Band of Brothers again today and he is still with us) Tracy Morgan (A kidney transplant and diabetes is a pretty bad combo, that and he is the least funny thing about 30 Rock may well doom him) Wes Bentley (Drug issues since American Beauty have kept him out of the spotlight) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Being a grandmotherly democratically elected leader in a country like Liberia can’t be a recipe for a long life) Maxon Crumb (Wacko brother of R. Crumb, lives in a hotel and may or may not suffer from epilepsy) David Rainey (Puck from the Real World - I was not at all shocked to hear he was seriously injured in a DUI accident earlier this year) Joseph Kony (Leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda, if only Dick Winters was a young man he might be able to take care of this) Hector Murguia Lardizabal (Chief official in Ciudad Juarez, I might do just as well picking names out of the Mexican phone book in Juarez) Travis Pastrana (X games guy, he will probably die at 95 from a goiter, but if he does go it should be in some spectacular manner) Ralph Friedgen (Hefty ex-University of Maryland coach. Fired after a good season. A return to the Little Debbies must be tempting) Wilford Brimley (He will always be on my list until he is gone. Diabeetus is a killer.) Marcus Vick (The dumbest of the Vicks and that is saying something) Alternates: Evi Quaid (Wackjob wife of wackjob Randy Quaid) Ted Kaczynski (Life may not be worth living unless you have an audience for your manifestos) Jean Bertrand Aristide (Exiled president of Haiti living in South Africa) ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/340 "2010-12-28T03:44:23Z")
> [@Squonk](#): > > Tariq Aziz Thanks for all the work producing different formats. I want to remind you of this rule: > [@](#): > > 1. Persons under sentence of death will be valid for scoring points only if they die by means other than official execution. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=18)