Octopus of Odstock

Just a mention to anyone who goes on the site & sees: Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage Don't worry - it's not been shut down or anything too serious - when trying to do the upload tonight, one of the anti-virus programs is causing a wobbly with the FTP package which I use to update the site - because that can't load, I can't amend or access the site. I've tried fiddling with it for a bit now, but it's far too late now & I need to get sleep for work tomorrow, so I've given up tonight & will try & fix it tomorrow & upload the updates tomorrow evening instead. I certainly don't want to leave the site with that message over the weekend, so I hope it'll be okay for 24 hours.

Ah... gazumped! I was just about to provide the same link. Picked by two teams on the DDP - which will be updated on Monday. He was excellent in the Shawshank Redemption.

No excuse for it, CP, but I'd better mention this is a local paper. Local journalists are the shittest of the lot, but they're also keen to impress. Most of the time they have to report on boring council meetings or a cat getting stuck up a tree, so the death of a Olympic medal winning sportsman is reasonable news for Bury. My local does the same - everything is magnified locally. I'm sure it's the same in the US & elsewhere. Anything that makes your dreary local town more exciting has got to be taken. After all, the most exciting news story in Aylesbury for aeons has been the man who lived in a house of rubbish - it even made The Sun - gazooks! If the Telegraph or the Times did it, however, I'd be appalled. If Hill gets a full UK obit (and he might, but it might take time), then an unique pick for The Final Whistle.

Completely snowed in today - can't even get the car out of the garage. Trouble is, I'm the only one that doesn't live in London at my workplace & they can all get in. So, I've spent most of this morning proving that Buckinghamshire is submerged.... Yet, because it isn't London, the media aren't making it out to be as bad as Monday. I can assure them that it is.... Really annoyed though - I won't hit any sales targets this month because everyone else will be taking calls & can't see any of friends, family or girlfriend because I can't bloody get out of Aylesbury... But at least I can do some more DDP Pics

One of those mentioned above is Lloyd Ruby, and another Les Leston. Likewise Jim Rathmann, not withstanding his US success - although is is the health in question. However, I was also doubtful that Jim McWithey, whose health was very poor in recent years would get a UK obit. Well, we shall see - McWithey died on Sunday.

I started watching it, watched 20 minutes & found myself utterly bored & sleepy. When they get the right person & the right history (Boris Johnson.. and amazingly, David Dickinson), this is excellent TV. When it's not (Ainsley Harriot & last night), it's crap. However the smouldering Fiona Bruce should entertain for at least a little while longer, one hopes, but the previews don't sound as promising as before. Only 5 as well.. maybe they're losing steam?

On the contrary, Teddy's death has come as quite a surprise to us all. Sad news. I would've named far more racing drivers on my DDP team, but I'm not confident of two getting obits, and of the health of another. But Arundell is very ill, and should get an obit.

Good-oo. Another death that I am surprised so few other teams picked. Once Arundell goes I will be in a strong position. I know I'm not supposed to win it but hell, I'm as competitive as anyone Must say, it's been an interesting DDP month (and a record - 22 hits compared to 21 last year). Few of the bankers (Atkins et al) have gone, and those that have gone have been perhaps those on the periphery of being chosen by many teams. Site to be updated Monday when I'm back.

Didn't you choose the Independent as your UK broadsheet source? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituari...as-1488590.html

A whole country turned up for his funeral? Man, I knew he was loved but I didn't realise Africa's war-ridden state were so keen on him....

It gets worse: Yugoslav stalwart Tomislav Crnkovic, who played in two World Cups in the 1950's, has died - link in Wiki page, but whilst a lot of these deaths are of old age, one that isn't and is very tragic indeed is that of; Fernando Cornejo, who was just 39, played in the 1998 World Cup - he lost his fight against terminal stomach cancer today. It's one thing for veterans of the 1958 World Cup to go - quite another for the veterans of 1998....

Last year was pretty decent for football - the top deaths were probably Tommy Burns, Emmanuel Sanon & Drazen Jerkovic. But this year is proving to be, if not more notable than Jerkovic, say, quite a horrific one for football with yet another ex-World Cup player going - this time it's Austrian veteran star, Karl Koller, who has died of Alzheimer's Disease.

About DDT's woman. No extra points. And that is only because we've already had a precedent, with Choi Yo Sam or whatever his name was - the boxer. I felt that, no matter how he ended up in the coma, he still died of "natural causes". So if I didn't allow it for him, I can't then turn round & award it for Enguluaaulu or whatever she is called. Extra rules 1) clutter it up 2) considering the incredible stupidity of some DDP players, is it really wise to make things even MORE difficult with sub-clauses? 3) It's all very well me doing all this, but what if I give it up? It might be a lot of headaches for anyone taking over 4) It's a very antiquated system when it comes to entries etc. It may completely bollock up the system 5) I have enough work to do 6) "OoO's whim" works just fine for me... TMIB, If people are picking Bobby Moore, FFS as a pick, do you really think for one minute, they are going to read this & think.. oh, I can pick John Darwin but not Noel Martin but I can pick Bobby Robson but not Linda Uttley etc etc.? I'm all for a new rule(s) but it really has to be kept as simple as possible, from both the players & organiser's (me or anyone else) point of view & that's why it's a bit difficult to enforce so simply.

As TAFKAG mentioned, Crowe was a Welsh international & he was part of the legendary 1958 World Cup squad that achieved heroics. However, one man who did his best to put a stop to all this enjoyment was Jaime Belmonte. By scoring in the last minute of the game between Mexico & Wales, he created history by becoming the 1st Mexican player to score in a World Cup game, only a mere 28 years after they first entered the competition... He also meant that Wales 1-0 potential win became a 1-1 draw & was part of the reason Wales ended up playing Brazil in the quarter-finals. Anyway, Belmonte died yesterday (Link in Spanish)

So Byrd & Kennedy down.. who else was at this function & more importantly, which DDP player works at the catering company providing the luncheon?

I knew three years ago. Hardly news & hardly a secret. I've told hundreds of people who he is & those of us who follow motor racing knew. And this makes front page news? Pathetic.

It was the 11th of January sezs Wikipedia - not seen anything yet to confirm that, mind.

It was more to do with the level of rudeness. And Rude Kid thought he was rude...! To be honest, it's more RK's story to tell, but to keep it simple 1) It was late 2) TF had an almighty strop about allowing the AP feed for obits & it was his reaction (completely over-reacting to a trivial matter in such a foul way) to that which saw his entry rejected.

I think Benitez WAS chosen this year actually....

PS TMIB - would you not be better off picking Rafa Benitez instead? It might solve a few problems & get you a few points too.

I never actually said her friend was female..... (But she is & she brought it up on our first ever meeting, without me mentioning the DDP. Something about Kerry Katona... More annoyingly, Tony Hart was on her list as well.. Had I seen the picture in the Daily Mail of him in 2008, though, I think I'd included him, but never mind. OoO's better half's reaction was not even of disgust. It was of "Oh, that's nothing wrong with that. Who did you pick? It's not as if you want them to die (True, bar Gloria Stuart. That bitch has thrawted me for long enough now.... )Who the HELL are they? Oh, Swayze. Good pick. Why don't you pick more motor racing people if you know they're ill? Oh. Well can I pick them? Can I play next year? Can I pick Swayze and er.. er.. Peter Falk. Oh you're on there are you? Well I pick you as well for 2010 (now I'm worried - an unique pick, a joker hit, unatural death er isn't that something like 40 points if she murders me on the 13th of the month.....!)" Indeed she nearly gave me a heart-attack when she told me Peter Falk was dead (she read something at the gym about an actor & "Columbo" & put two & two together. I later found out she meant McGoohan) & was the first to tell me Tony Hart was dead. When anyone famous dies now, her first question is "were they on your list?" Second question is usually - "Why not?" I would say it was down to my training, but she was like this anyway.... Besides, there are so many family or couple based teams in the DDP, one more won't hurt as long as she doesn't beat me

Oops. I meant Arvonen. But Arundell IS doomed. He won't see 2010 & is gravely ill. But I think I have been a bit hasty to announce his demise... MPFC, what is the reason for your obession with Tempus? Besides, Tempus is still banned from the DDP for his despicable antics in 2007 & wouldn't be allowed to enter without prior approval first, so none of those teams are him. TMIB, yes, she is likely to enter in 2010. She wasn't put off at all by me mentioning it. If I can persuade her friend to enter as well, it could be some good competition in the OoO household... Windsor - yes, please, if you want to get the debate going, go for it. I have a lot to do at the moment, so I'm not in a position to finalise a decision yet, but there's no harm in starting the ball rolling. Although someone like Evans not getting an obit is probably as helpful in that respect as any for these people to no longer be picked.

Shouldn't I have about 700 points too?

Me thinks there's going to be a lot of from TMIB.... I'm pleased, a 2nd DDP hit ( I don't want to win it, but I'll de damned if I do badly) - but I do hope there's not going to be too many DDP deaths in the next few days!- Heaven Knows They're Miserable Now is storming away with the competition right now!

To prove I've not completely shed my deadpooling hopes & dreams, I'm actually really chuffed about this - especially when I thought the theme team was somewhat watered down. I also vowed that anyone on my "Spanish" theme team would not be on the DDP, which is the only reason I didn't pick Montalban, who was struggling a lot in recent years. It would be nice to win this, especially as I run a deadpool that would be a bit... dodgy, shall we say, if I win? Hold on, didn't I win the theme team competition last year? If so, it's all since taking charge of the DDP. Interesting..... very interesting........