First Death

For the second year in a row we have a death in our pool without even having the lists complete. On Thursday morning, Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack along with at least 20 other people. While the death may be tragic and cause serious problems in an already troubled country, it was one hell of a pick. Bhutto was just 54 years old. That gives our newest member, Jacob, an early lead and also the side bet for first death.

The Bets - 2008

Although some interesting new bets were proposed, we agreed to keep the same bets from last year.

Bet 1 - cost $20 each: Highest number of points accumulated by the start of the next draft.
Bet 2 - cost $5 each: First death of the year, highlighted in green.
Bet 3 - cost $5 each: Last death of the year, highlighted in yellow.
Bet 4 - cost $5 each: Highest number of deaths during the year, no payout for ties.

The Leader of the Band has... DIED

The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I WAS just a living legacy
To the leader of the band

Dan Fogelberg, the singer and songwriter whose hits "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne" helped define the soft-rock era, died Sunday at his home in Maine after battling prostate cancer. He was 56.

This is worth 44 points for Greg and gives him a late lead and a possible late comeback to overcome Izzy. If this death is the last of the year in the pool, it could be a complete sweep for Greg getting the first and last deaths along total points.

Not So Evel

The legendary stunt man Evel Knievel died on Friday at the age of 69. That gives Greg 31 points and solidifies his second place status. Of course in this game second place gets you nowhere. But he is now just one good death away from catching Izzy. And, Evel's death could very well be the last of the year, giving Greg the SuperScoop on the first and last death bonus.

Pavawho? is Dead

The New York Times reports that Luciano Pavarotti, Italian tenor, is dead at 71

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/arts/music/06pavarotti.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian singer whose ringing, pristine sound set a standard for operatic tenors of the postwar era, died on Sept. 6, 2007. He was 71. The cause was pancreatic cancer. In July 2006 he underwent surgery for the cancer in New York and had made no public appearances since then.

Like Enrico Caruso and Jenny Lind before him, Mr. Pavarotti extended his presence far beyond the limits of Italian opera. He became a titan of pop culture. Millions saw him on television and found in his expansive personality, childlike charm and generous figure a link to an art form with which many had only a glancing familiarity.

Early in his career and into the 1970s he devoted himself with single-mindedness to his serious opera and recital career, quickly establishing his rich sound as the great male operatic voice of his generation -- the "King of the High Cs," as his popular nickname had it.

A Post-Mortem Boo-Boo

Apparently those of us involved in the Circling Buzzards missed an important death. Tommy Makem died on August 1 at the age of 74. He was chosen by Izzy and as I recall there were some questions regarding who in the hell Tommy Makem was!!! However, we allowed the pick and now we find out the he has died. Makem was an Irish folk singer who sang with the Clancy Brothers. In 1999 he was listed among the top 100 Irish-Americans of the 20th Century.

Yeah, whatever.

I feel we may be narrowing our criteria in the future.

Still, Tommy Makem died and is worth 26 points to Izzy. He is now on his way to a major victory. Unfortunately, he doesn't even know half the people he has chosen!!!

Really, who in the hell is Gloria Arroyo? Bronson's mom?

Another Lead Change

Former Yankee great Phil Rizzuto died on Tuesday. Rizzuto was a big part of the Yankees dynasty in the 1940's and 50's. He was a part of seven World Series Championship teams and won the AL MVP in 1950. After playing baseball he became a broadcaster for New York and coined the phrase "Holy Cow!" At the age of 89, he was the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame.

Rizzuto's death gives Izzy another 11 points and puts him back in the lead. This year's competition may not be decided until the end of December!

Bill Walsh Dies, Greg Takes the Lead

Former San Francisco 49er coaching great Bill Walsh died on Monday. He had been battling Leukemia.

Walsh led the 49ers to three Superbowl victories, two of them over the Bengals. Although he was credited as an offense genius, on his deathbed he wanted to be sure to thank Louis Breeden for the Superbowl XXIII victory.

His death gives Greg the lead in the Circling Buzzards. Would he trade another Death Pool victory for a Bengals Championship?

Greg Gets Close

Tammy Faye Messner (Baker) died on Friday. The former wife of televangelist Jim Baker had been battling colon cancer for years. She was 65.

At the announcement of her death, several cosmetic companies saw a severe drop in the price of their stocks.

Her death is worth 35 points for Greg. He is now only one good death away from taking the lead away from Izzy.

SON OF A BI**

The wife of President Lyndon Johnson died on Wednesday. Ladybird, who has been a death pool favorite for years, passed at home amongst family members. She died of natural causes, but had suffered a stroke in 2002. She was 94.

Her death increases Izzy's total to 89. Although the lead is not insurmountable, it is definitely strong.

Izzy pads his lead

Ruth Graham died on Thursday. She was the wife of famous (infamous?) preacher Billy Graham. She had been bedridden with osteoarthirtis for months, and contracted pneumonia a few weeks ago. She had requested, in agreement with her family, to stop receiving nutrients from a feeding tube several days ago. She was 87 years old.

The additional 13 points gives Izzy a total of 83 points at nearly the half-way mark of the season. While anything is possible, his lead may prevail.

Although I'm hoping her husband can't live without her, his measly 11 points would still leave me in last place.

The Great State of Wyoming Cast 26 Votes for Izzy

Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, a three-term conservative Republican died Monday. He was 74.

Thomas entered Congress in a special election in 1989 to replace Dick Cheney when the future vice president was named defense secretary by the first President Bush. Thomas won that race with 52 percent of the vote.

The senator's family issued a statement saying he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Just before the 2006 election, Thomas was hospitalized with pneumonia and had to cancel his last campaign stops. He nonetheless won with 70 percent of the vote, monitoring the election from his hospital bed. Two days after the election, Thomas announced that he had just been diagnosed with leukemia.

A Letter From the #1 pick

I have highlighted the health notes for those who are too lazy to read it all? Its not a matter of if, but when. Anyone want to make an over/under bet? Thanks for teh link Dave.

My Dear Faithful Friends,

Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, 4th of July and several birthdays of family and friends. Envelopes have become separated, or they are still in piles all over the place to send as yet. I have been on so much medication, so many have been trying to help with thank-you notes......I don't know.

Thank you for the rooms full of flowers, the tables full of cards, and beautiful little gifts laying everywhere. Thank you so much! I know I have missed so many gifts I should have sent for these special occasions. And then, trusting God to heal my sick stomach. Please try to understand.

The doctors have stopped trying to treat the cancer and so now it's up to God and my faith. And that's enough! But please continue to pray for the pain and sick stomach.My precious daughter, Tammy Sue, and her wonderful friends are staying with me while Roe builds churches. They don't want me falling down the stairs. I am down weight wise to 65 pounds, and look like a scarecrow. I need God's miracle to swallow.

To those of you who are suffering as I....."don't give up"!! Make up your mind you're going to LIVE !! That is NOT EASY! The path gets so long. I look at young people and wish with all my heart for just one day of "feeling great". You see, God gives out his promises, they do not lie, they do not fail. We do not have to BEG him for them, they are FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You CAN make it!

Greg leaps out of last

The Rev. Jerry Falwell has died at the age of 73. Not only does his passing put a touch of joy in Larry Flint's heart, it gives Greg 27 points. He is now in third place with a total of 34.

Dave Takes the Lead

Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin died early Monday morning. He was 76 years old.

His death gives Dave a total of 48 points as we near the half-way point of the year. Hopefully, these recent deaths for Dave will ease his bitterness much in the same way Yeltsin helped to bring down the Soviet Union.

Ho, Ho, Ho - Dave Jumps into 2nd Place

Do Ho died yesterday and left Dave 24 tiny points.

Thanks to all of you for your supportive words during this difficult time of uncertainty.

-Dave

P.S. Eat Shit

Falling Behind

By this time last year, there had been four deaths in the Circling Buzzards - Lou Rawls, Shelly Winters, Coretta King and Al Lewis. This year we only have three deaths so far. Of course I am sure Greg would like to point out that it is Dave that is holding the Buzzards back. I prefer to remain neutral. But next year I'm putting both Dave and Greg on my list as there could be a duel in the near future.

Hey, they'll both be worth 60 points!

A Wasted #5 Pick for Jim

DETROIT -- A recovering Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan will visit Detroit next month as part of the group's annual "Saviour's Day" observance.

Farrakhan, who last visited Detroit in November 2005, will speak at Ford Field on Feb. 25.

A Wasted #1 Pick for Greg

Tammy Faye Bakker reports in a December 2006 Christmas note on tammyfaye.com that:

"I'm doin' okay"

A Wasted #1 Pick for Jim

Castro health improves, regains weight.

Cuban President Fidel Castro is well enough to get out of his hospital bed and has started putting on weight again, according to an interview published in an Argentine newspaper yesterday.

The 80-year-old leader has not appeared in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in late July, handing power temporarily to his brother Raul.

Photos in leftist daily Pagina 12 showed a thin-looking Castro wearing a dressing gown. He told Argentine journalist and lawmaker Miguel Bonasso: "I lost 41 pounds (20 kilograms), but I'm putting weight back on already almost half of what I lost."

In his first media interview since the surgery, Castro said he was still able to give orders. "I can still talk pretty loudly if I want to," he was quoted as saying.

A Wasted #3 Pick for Dave

The consensus of the weakness of Dave's picks are only supported by the following story from CNN:

Farrah Fawcett's doctor says she is cancer-free
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/02/people.farrahfawcett.ap/index.html

Izzy Takes a Lead on Betrand's Death

Marcheline Bertrand (May 9, 1950 - January 27, 2007)

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Bertrand married Jon Voight on December 12, 1971. The couple had two children, actress Angelina Jolie and director James Haven. Bertrand and Voight separated in 1976 and divorced in 1978.

Jim takes the lead

Writer Art Buchwald died at the age of 81 on Wednesday. The long-time columnist had checked into a hospice last February due to kidney failure. However, his health improved and he managed to write another book last summer. His death is worth 19 points for Jim.

That gives Jim the early lead and it may grow in short time with the fading health of Fidel Castro.

Not Enough Research

Momofuku Ando, the inventor of Ramen Noodles died at the age of 96 on Saturday. And while none of the Buzzards drafted him, he deserves recognition. Few of us would have gotten through college without heating up his straw noodles in a styrofoam cup.

Ando would have been worth just four points if someone would have chosen him. But instead he is worth much more than that in late-night munchies.