Well, here we go. I am playing in Corey and Joel’s “fan” Death Pool this year – along with eight other listeners of the show. Everybody sent in 30+ picks to Corey and Joel, and the guys did the draft for the fans. I ended up with the following picks:

1. Ariel Sharon (21)
2. Fidel Castro (19)
3. Elizabeth Taylor (25)
4. B.B. King (18)
5. Arthur C. Clark (10)
6. Charlton Heston (16)
7. Andy Griffith (19)
8. Osama bin Laden (50)
9. Dick Cheney (34)
10. Mel Brooks (19)
11. Bob Barker (16)
12. John Glenn (21)
13. Stan Lee (15)
14. Henry Winkler (38)
15. Frank Oz (37)
16. Paul Verhoven (31)

The number in brackets is the points each person would get me, although of course it does depend on their actual age at the moment of death. I’d say it’s an OK list. You can follow the death pool discussion over at the forums, but if and when I score some points I will surely boast about it here.

I just hope I don’t end up with 0 points. That’d be… sad.

Also, if I get only one death on the list…. please let it be Paul Verhoeven. I still hate him for what he did to Starship Troopers.

On March 7th, Dana Reeve died. This gives Kim – Joel’s girlfriend – a hefty lead, as she scores 56 points. Corey & Joel talk about the deathpool in their show #58. As they say, it’s too early to call the contest over – although of course it looks very rosy for Kim.

Finally, I got my first Deathpool points as Johannes Rau died while I was enjoying Malaysia. His death scores me 25 points. Nigel and Kim both get some points too as Al Lewis and Betty Friedan both died. Kim has 30 points, Corey 28, Nigel 18 or 5 (probably 18; Al Lewis’ age is in dispute). Joel and Bill have 0 points each. I on Corey’s trail now with my 25 points. Too bad the guys didn’t let me play officially. Guess they are afraid of the competition! ;-)

The Death Pool 2006 is in full swing. This week, Shelly Winters died resulting in 15 points for Kim (Joel’s girlfriend). Mike Lundy – one of the comedians at the Live Show – has pitched his unofficial death pool list in as well. Meanwhile, Ariel Sharon refuses to give up the ghost. He was born on February 27, 1928 – so he’d be worth a whopping 23 points before his birthday. Die already, will you? Sheesh.

Sorry, got carried away a little there, of course I wish Mr. Sharon all the best.

In the “official” Death Pool 2006, Corey Hall scores the first 28 points as Lou Rawls died on January 6th. Congrats Corey, sorry Mr. Rawls. And Ariel Sharon: I am pissed at you. You aren’t being very cooperative at all. You are worth only 16 points anyway, but at least I could have claimed first blood and would be on Corey’s trail.

Oh, well.

Corey & Joel have started the official Death Pool 2006 in Episode 49 of their podcast. Nigel Rosenblum, Joel’s girlfriend Kim, and Bill Bushart are also playing.

They only picked 20 people each this year, so I’ll just cut off my list at #20. Which is a bid sad, because there’s Osama at #21 which is a good random pick – but then he has evaded the US for so long, they’re not gonna get him this year either – and #25 Saddam who will most certainly get the death penalty. Clarke and van Allen are old anyway and thus not worth too many points – and I hope they don’t die anyway. Paris Hilton was just a wildcard pick anyway.

I am too lazy to check my list for doubles that the others picked. ;-)

Okay, I know this is premature, maybe I get the first points of Death Pool 2006. Ariel Sharon is in severe condition after a stroke. Sure, sure, I wish Mr. Sharon good luck in his fight. No, wait, I don’t, I never liked him anyway! He’s 77 years so that would be 23 points for me.

Speaking of the Death Pool: You’ll be able to track my commentaries and updates via a new category.

And, yes, before any of you complain, I know the Death Pool is cynical. That’s why I like it. You can make your own lists and pick me if you want. I am 31, so I’d be worth 69 points if I die before August, 68 after.

I am (inoffically, I guess) playing in Corey and Joel’s Death Pool 2006. My picks are:

1. Jalal Talabani (Iraqi President; 1933)
2. George H.W. Bush (Former US President; 1924)
3. Helmut Kohl (Former German Chancellor; 1930)
4. Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (Former Russian President; 1931)
5. Nelson Mandela (Former South African President, 1918)
6. Paul McCartney (Former Beatle, 1942)
7. Ringo Starr (Former Beatle, 1940)
8. Pete Best (Even Formerer Beatle; 1941)
9. Gerald Ford (Former US President; 1913)
10. Joe Cocker (Singer; 1944)
11. Bob Geldof (Annoyance; 1954)
12. Julio Iglesias (Singer, 1943)
13. John Astin (Actor; 1930)
14. Henry Winkler (Actor; 1945)
15. Robert Blake aka Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi (Actor, 1933)
16. Stan Lee (Comic artist, 1922)
17. Paul Verhoeven (Director; Rapist of Starship Troopers; 1938)
18. Ariel Sharon (Israeli Prime Minister; 1928)
19. Johannes Rau (Former German President; 1931)
20. Ibrahim Jaafari (Iraqi Prime Minister; 1947)

(Update January 6th, 2006: The official Death Pool is 20 entries only, so cut here. My other 5 picks were…)

1. Osama Bin Laden (Terrorist; Former US henchman; 1957)
2. Paris Hilton (Slut; 1981)
3. Arthur C. Clarke (Writer; 1917)
4. James van Allen (Physicist; 1914)
5. Saddam Hussein (Former Iraqi President – no way the US will let him live; 1937)

It turns out I don’t know enough celebrities with drug habits, illnesses or otherwise dangerous lifestyles, so my picks are mostly strategic.

To make the Death Pool a little more fun I wanted to sponsor a Toffifay package for the winner, but since no listener lists will be accepted for the official death pool, I guess I won’t.