Links & Stats

I have linked all of our selections to their Wikipedia page. I have also calculated the average age of each Buzzard's draftees. Much like last year, Jim went for the aged and decrepit, whereas I went with a younger, cancer-ridden strategy. Beware the lingerer!

Famous Enough?

When people learn that I am in a death pool, they are oddly fascinated by this "sick" behavior. While most people seem to think that my participation demonstrates an obvious moral flaw in my character, they usually alert me to famous deaths. I wish that they would tell me about people who are really really sick and about to die - but no, just deaths.

The most common question that I get is, "How do you decide if a person is famous enough?" I usually have two answers: 1) My fellow buzzards and I vote during the Reaper's selection (i.e., the December draft); and 2) My personal rule is - if a person gets an obituary in the NY Times, then they are famous enough for me.

Hence, I present the following NY Times obituaries:

Zelda Rubinstein, Clairvoyant in 'Poltergeist,' Dies at 76
Zelda Rubinstein, a 4-foot-3-inch character actress best known for playing the indomitable ghost-purging psychic in “Poltergeist,” died on Wednesday in Los Angeles...

J. D. Salinger, Literary Recluse, Dies at 91
J. D. Salinger, who was thought at one time to be the most important American writer to emerge since World War II but who then turned his back on success and adulation, becoming the Garbo of letters, famous for not wanting to be famous, died on Wednesday...

Typical Izzy

In typical fashion, Izzy has quickly jumped into the lead with back-to-back deaths. The first was his top pick Zelda Rubinstein. She was best known as the psychic in the movie Poltergeist. Rubinstein was 76 years when she died on Wednesday.

On Thursday author J.D. Salinger died. He was best known for for the novel Catcher in the Rye. Salinger was 91.

The two deaths give Izzy a combined 33 points for the early lead this year. He also gets the side bet for the first death.

The Lists Are Now Available

It is a little late but I finally got everything entered. Please scroll down to see the results of the 2010 Death Draft! You may notice that only four players entered this year - Dave was not able to make the draft and dropped out (for now.) The draft took place on January 1 and as of yet, no one has died. But Teddy Pendergrass would have been a nice choice!

2010

I've run into a snag putting up the draft results for the 2010 season. Please stand by.