The Derby Dead Pool

The online competition to guess which famous people won't make it to the end of the current year. If they're elderly, ill, or just live a high-risk lifestyle, stick 'em in your team, and for each one whose death you correctly predict, you'll score points. DDP was dreamt up in Derby, England (hence the name...) by Big-Iain back in 1996, then was run from 2003 to 2007 by Siegfried Baboon and Rude Kid. From 2008 to 2009, it was run by Octopus of Odstock, but from 2010 onwards it's the turn of The Man in Black to run the DDP.

Latest Stiffs: 23rd September 2013

Pardee on, dudes!

It says a lot about the relative lack of hits in recent weeks, that a death in April takes top billing. But this one could be signficant. Jack Pardee was a former American Football player and coach. He died on April Fools Day aged 76, but a "proper" obit (i.e. one from a British national news source on the web) seemed to be lacking. It was an important pick for some of the contenders for DDP 2013. The irony was that the obit from Yahoo.co.uk was hidden in plain sight all along. The main beneficiary is Octopus of Odstock, who had been in 2nd place all summer, gets his 13th hit of the year and moves past the magical 100 point barrier. But its still a slim lead over Thomas Jefferson Survives, so a tense finale is in prospect...

(23 teams) = 7pts, (3 teams) = 14pts

Excommunication for the pope of literature

Germany's foremost literary critic Marcel Reich-Ranicki has died. Reich-Ranicki was respected but often controversial, with an infamous feud with writer Günter Grass and other literary figures, as Reich-Ranicki pulled no punches. He died aged 93. German theme team Falling Like The Wall grabs the points.

+ = 8pts

Crisp the Berg

Rabbi Philip Berg has died. Berg was the leader of the Jewish Kabbalah movement, a once obscure and difficult teaching, which became briefly fashionable in the 2000s, endorsed by the likes of Madonna et al.
Berg died aged 84. Two teams see the light.

(2 teams) = 6pts

Latest Stiffs: 14th September 2013

Hayhoe, let's go! Hayhoe, let's go!

Former government minister Barney Hayhoe has died. Hayhoe served under Margaret Thatcher, but he didn't get very far as he was something of a wet and was sacked in 1986. But like many other slighted ministers sent to the backbenches, Hayhoe would have his revenge and was a vocal advocate of the Iron Lady's removal from office, backing Michael Heseltine's campaign. Hayhoe was 88. Thatcher theme team Iron Lackys profit...

+ = 9pts

Misch's Der Untergang

Rochus Misch, the last survivor of Hitler's bunker, has died. Misch served as a bodyguard and telephone operator for der Führer in the final years of the war. Unlike many of the more regretful (or at least publicly regretful) associates of Hitler, Misch had nothing but praise for his former boss. He died aged 96.
A healthy smattering of teams score including defending champion The Living End. Time for a autumnal assault to retain the title?

(40 teams) = 5pts, (2 teams) = 10pts

Drop the pilot

The news of Wing Commander Ken Wallis's death aged 97 arrived just as I was posting the last update. Wallis served with the RAF for over 20 years, covering the Second World War (a fair few have died this year that were involved in the conflict). But he is best known for his prowess with Autogyros and held several world records. He doubled for Sean Connery in the 1967 Bond film 'You Only Live twice' using said machine. That was worthy of a BBC obit. Pedro’s Catacomb Collective er...collect.

+ = 8pts

Latest Stiffs: 3rd September 2013

Who would lie in hearse like this? David, it's over to you

One of the more surprising passings of the year is that of Sir David Frost, the satirist, TV mogul and celebrity interviewer, who has died of a heart attack. Frost burst onto TV screens in 1962 as the host of the pioneering satirical show 'That Was The Week That Was' and became a ubiquitous presence across six decades, taking in the creation of two TV franchises (LWT & TV-am), a raft of topical/chat shows ('The Frost Report', 'The Frost Programme'), the odd bit of fluff ('Through the Keyhole', 'Ultraquiz') and of course that interview with the disgraced ex-President of the USA, Richard M. Nixon in 1977. He famously "rose without trace" and his equally sudden demise on a cruise ship would have made his nemesis Peter Cook raise a smile.
Frost was 74. Aptly, three teams picked the TW3 frontman.

(3 teams) = 7pts

Juke Box Bury

Another well-known broadcaster to bite the dust is David Jacobs. Jacobs started his career as a voice actor on BBC Radio's 'Journey into Space', before presenting programmes on TV as well as the wireless: 'Come Dancing'. the Eurovision Song Contest and 'Pick of the Pops'. He even delved into politics as the host of Radio 4's 'Any Questions'. Jacobs is best known as the host of the pop show 'Juke Box Jury', which ran from 1957-69. He had only recently stepped down from his Radio 2 slot due to ill health. He was 87.
Only Pete Murray remains of the original hosts of 'Top of the Pops' in 1964.

(9 teams) = 6pts

Ronald's Coase of death unknown

Economist Ronald Coase has passed away at 102. Coase won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1991 for his work concerning macro-economics, i.e. the economics of large institutions and was a contrary voice against the burgeoning "neo-liberal" theories that would dominate. That's enough of the further education cobblers, 11 teams cash in, with one joker pick.

(11 teams) = 4pts (1 team) = 8pts

Frederik Pohl-axed

Prolific science fiction author Frederik Pohl has died. Pohl wrote many novels, with 'Gateway' in 1978 winning the Hugo award for best SF novel. He was a hugely respected figure within science fiction circles.
He died aged 93 and was a unique hit for debutant Lover Glovers.

+ = 8pts

List of the Lost - Latest Entrants

Soledad Mexia, Louise Currie

List of the Missed - Latest Entrants

Tommy Morrison, Marvin Rainwater, Ruth Patrick

Player of the Month - August

Drunkasaskunk - 15 points

Latest News

Rolf Harris is up in court, minus sketch pad. Muhammad Ali sees off another of his great rivals as Ken Norton heads for the great weigh-in in the sky. Former Queen Beatrix, who hardly put a foot wrong in her 33 year reign in Holland, falls and breaks her cheekbone 5 months after stepping down...
The Theme Team League page has been updated for September...

Message to all current competitors: There will be no more regular emails except in certain circumstances, such as rules and invitation to next year's competition.

Further Information

Derby Dead Pool is hosted by The Man In Black with contributions from Big-Iain, Rude Kid, Siegfried Baboon, Octopus of Odstock, WEP 2.0 - World's Eternity Prophet Reloaded and The Grey Horde

Archive

September