# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/161 "2010-12-08T14:42:18Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Interesting choice. He’s not sick, but he’s certainly not making any friends in the intellegence community. Plus he’s worth a bundle of points. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/162 "2010-12-08T14:58:01Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Interesting choice. He’s not sick, but he’s certainly not making any friends in the intellegence community. He probably is, now… ---
**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 8, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/163 "2010-12-08T15:16:49Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > Plus he’s worth a bundle of points. 😉 Your logic is sound. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/164 "2010-12-08T16:55:41Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > Julian Assange Yeah, but **aren’t we more than certain that he has, or will receive, a death sentence somewhere**? I mean, if he hasn’t pissed up the top 8 enough, there are what, 185 or so other countries left? Probably an even 200 if he pisses of BofA, BP, and others. I’ve yet to visit the site, but I would figure the people he names are probably worse off than he is. But, good topical pick, either way. And if you excuse me, I will run to the shoulder so the stampede can now join your bandwagon. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/165 "2010-12-08T16:59:10Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I just mentally high-fived you. 😃 So they CAN Exist in the same place at the same time! Oh it was mental? Drat. Ok, last and for all : I figured it was a Funny Anneurism moment, as the entire game thought Edwards had 3 weeks left at least. That the entire bubble grew and popped in less than 24 hours should be noted, and I thought that Funny Anneurism was the best fitting trope. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/166 "2010-12-08T17:10:39Z")
More on \*\*Julian Assange \*\* > [@amarone](#): > > \*\*The Rules: \*\* > > 1. Valid picks are not: > > f. political prisoners, 'cause we’re macabre but not THAT macabre. > > 1. Persons under sentence of death will be valid for scoring points only if they die by means other than official execution. I have a feeling I don’t fully understand 3f. However, As I type, he is under arrest and well, I don’t think anyone would argue he is not a political. [Of his own crusade, or whatever his notion is.] And as I said before I think 7 will get him. I guess as worded you can still select him, but I don’t really see the, heh, point. **If Someone goes out Via #7, does the pick still count on Quantity not Quality?** ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/167 "2010-12-08T17:53:45Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > More on \*\*Julian Assange > \*\* > I have a feeling I don’t fully understand 3f. However, As I type, he is under arrest and well, I don’t think anyone would argue he is not a political. [Of his own crusade, or whatever his notion is.] > > And as I said before I think 7 will get him. I guess as worded you can still select him, but I don’t really see the, heh, point. > **If Someone goes out Via #7, does the pick still count on Quantity not Quality?** Someone is either eligible (for everything), or not at all. With respect to political prisoners, that would mean that they are imprisoned for political reasons. I don’t think sexual assault counts as political. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/168 "2010-12-08T18:40:25Z")
You can still get points for the death of someone under sentence of death if their death is via natural causes or extra-judicial means (e.g., beaten to death by a guard). Considering the VERY high likelihood (IMHO) that Mr. Assange might be on the receiving end of a CIA or MI:6 bullet before all is said and done, he’s a good pick. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/169 "2010-12-08T19:07:43Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > You can still get points for the death of someone under sentence of death if their death is via natural causes or extra-judicial means (e.g., beaten to death by a guard). Do we have rules for what happens if a pick is not under a death sentence at 1/1/11 but manages to get convicted, sentenced to death and executed by 12/31/11? For example, if, say, Julian Assange pisses off Kim Jong-Il, who sends out some North Korean agents to grab him, drag him off to Pyongyang for a show trial, find him guilty of something, then have him shot by a firing squad. Would the people who picked him get the points because he wasn’t on death row when the Pool started, would he be discarded and everyone’s first alternate would move up, or what? ---
**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 8, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/170 "2010-12-08T19:38:36Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Do we have rules for what happens if a pick is not under a death sentence at 1/1/11 but manages to get convicted, sentenced to death and executed by 12/31/11? For example, if, say, Julian Assange pisses off Kim Jong-Il, who sends out some North Korean agents to grab him, drag him off to Pyongyang for a show trial, find him guilty of something, then have him shot by a firing squad. Would the people who picked him get the points because he wasn’t on death row when the Pool started, would he be discarded and everyone’s first alternate would move up, or what? Man, that’s the kind of scenario that keeps me up nights. And what if the Mole People are the ones that do this instead of the North Koreans?!? It’s enough to drive a man to drink!! ---
**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 8, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/171 "2010-12-08T19:40:47Z")
It doesn’t matter if they were arrested or charged when you picked them. If they are executed, they don’t count. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/172 "2010-12-08T20:51:39Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Do we have rules for what happens if a pick is not under a death sentence at 1/1/11 but manages to get convicted, sentenced to death and executed by 12/31/11? For example, if, say, Julian Assange pisses off Kim Jong-Il, who sends out some North Korean agents to grab him, drag him off to Pyongyang for a show trial, find him guilty of something, then have him shot by a firing squad. Would the people who picked him get the points because he wasn’t on death row when the Pool started, would he be discarded and everyone’s first alternate would move up, or what? The subject came up early in the Iraq war, as when I was writing my list it was conceivable that Saddam Hussein (in hiding at the time) could be arrested, tried, sentenced and executed before the end of the following year. Word from the top was that it wouldn’t count because his death was via state-sanctioned execution. ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/173 "2010-12-08T21:06:47Z")
So is [Aretha Franklin](http://scoop.todayshow.com/_news/2010/12/08/5612856-reports-aretha-franklin-has-pancreatic-cancer) the new Elizabeth Edwards? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/174 "2010-12-08T21:14:14Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > I suggested this as a new rule, but it was shot down. However as a matter of courtesy, please refrain from discussing hot tops on list candidates in this thread while nominations are open. > > You could be messing up someone’s otherwise unique pick by doing so. > > FWIW, I consider discussing hot tips in the current game to be fair. > > ETA: Discussing why you picked some for your list is fine. I’m talking about stuff like “I just read that Atilla the Hun has terminal ass cancer. Let’s all pick him!” I like this suggestion. Otherwise, it’s a bit like “let’s play a ‘guess-the-number-I’m-thinking-of’ game. By the way, the answer is 7” ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/175 "2010-12-08T21:34:22Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Someone is either eligible (for everything), or not at all. > > With respect to political prisoners, that would mean that they are imprisoned for political reasons. I don’t think sexual assault counts as political. And I’m saying give the world a week. I didn’t know if Political Prisoner was a euphemism for anything. A, excuse the pun, politically correct term for a regular citizen that is a victim of the state. Tibet. Not that I know anything about that. But again, that’s what was was nagging at me earlier. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/176 "2010-12-09T01:16:27Z")
After a year of tragically forgetting to enter in time, I’m back with my themeless list of the old and infirm: Fidel Castro Michael Douglas Aretha Franklin Annette Funicello Zsa Zsa Gabor Judith Krantz Robert Loggia Gina Lollabrigida John McLaughlin Gerald McRaney Nolan Miller Vidal Sasson Elizabeth Taylor Alternates: Dick Clark Liza Minelli ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/177 "2010-12-09T01:23:06Z")
Too late to edit, but I wanted to correct to Vidal Sassoon and Liza Minnelli. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/178 "2010-12-09T04:30:26Z")
Exhaustive research has given me next year’s winning list: Desmond Harrington (actor on _Dexter_) Ariel Sharon (comatose politician) Colonel Bob Sheridan (boxing announcer) Michael Douglas (actor) Dick Cheney (heartless droid) Ruth Bader Ginsburg (cancerous supreme court justice) Martin Rayner (sick actor playing Broadway role of sick character) Bishop John Steinbock (will God save him?) Zsa Zsa Gabor (Eva was funnier, but is already dead) Aretha Franklin (rumors or pancreatic cancer) Mike Heimerdinger (NFL asst. coach) Harley Hotchkiss (Calgary Flames owner) Gordon Murray (Lehman Brothers director and author) Alternates: Ali Khamenei (Iran Supreme Leader ) Orlando Thomas (former NFL player) Larry King (radio/IV interviewer) In the uninteresting format: Desmond Harrington Ariel Sharon Colonel Bob Sheridan Michael Douglas Dick Cheney Ruth Bader Ginsburg Martin Rayner Bishop John Steinbock Zsa Zsa Gabor Aretha Franklin Mike Heimerdinger Harley Hotchkiss Gordon Murray Alternates: Ali Khamenei Orlando Thomas Larry King ---
**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 9, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/179 "2010-12-09T14:30:38Z")
Updated list due to the completely selfish passing of Elizabeth Edwards 4 weeks early. Come on, Aretha, hang in there. Michael Douglas Ruth Bader Ginsburg Steve Jobs Connie Newton Needham Jason Becker Zsa Zsa Gabor Ariel Sharon Jerry Lewis Peter Tork Dick Cheney Aretha Franklin Margaret Thatcher Elizabeth Taylor Chris Christie Roger Ebert Bob Barker ---
**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 9, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523/180 "2010-12-09T15:02:02Z")
> [@critter42](#): > > So is [Aretha Franklin](http://scoop.todayshow.com/_news/2010/12/08/5612856-reports-aretha-franklin-has-pancreatic-cancer) the new Elizabeth Edwards? Hey! All of you off this bandwagon. We need to change the sign! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2011/562523.md?page=10)