Octopus of Odstock

A lot of acting deaths lately, so... Harry Morgan to keep that record up.

Last year, son - he's in the Dead of 2008 thread

Same here, but I've gone for Stephen Lewis on a "hunch" instead. Very, very saddened to hear of his death though. Many a good memory of my sporting youth is through Vine's coverage as front man or commentator. In other news, Friaca, who is one of the select group to have scored a goal in a World Cup Final - the 1950 one for Brazil - has died - link - considering he got a UK Obit very quickly, it might be worth putting Juvenal, the only survivor of the final's losing team in a team for consideration....

There once was a actor named Patrick, who starred in many a big flick, but then he got ill, and along with WWI vet Bill, could for some be a DDP hits hat-trick Okay, that was crap. I blame stress.

If he could hang on until... ooh about Wednesday, or ideally, longer that would be ideal. But I must admit when I read DDT's post.. "He's doomed."

Oh, ho, ho - if only it was. I know people want to see as much as possible as early as possible, but sheesh... "your pages are blank" I know (Jan 1st) "why no teams/celebs yet?" (Jan 2nd) "why are my placings in 2008 wrong?" - because I'm halfway through it! "why is my celebrity not there"? Because they're already freaking dead! Anyway, good news. 1) I have come up with an easy solution for the entry forms for 2009/2010 to avoid the same mess. 2) I have booked 25th-31st December 2009 off from work already. That way the uploading is more likely to be done sooner rather than later... To be honest, TMIB, it's more me wanting a bit of time to myself rather than worry about the DDP - I'd rather get ALL the 2009 stuff done & then all I need to do is death here & there whenever - when it's like that, it's gooooooodddd

IT problems aren't the reason for the delay (although the submission problem has delayed it a bit longer than normal), it's time. If someone could cover my shifts at work today & tomorrow, the whole jamboree will be up properly. I'll also award that team 1,000 points The truth is, whilst I'm poorly at the mo, I pulled a sickie solely to complete the DDP's 1st phase on Wednesday. I could pull another sickie but it's not going to help me really at work. Basically, I think I have no option but to put in a huge slog on Sunday night & get the site, bar pics & hyperlinks, up & then it's done. * Sigh * Right now, I hate the f*****g DDP. Give it two weeks & I'll be fine.

If anyone wants a sneak preview of this year's competitions - the scores, teams, who's dead & celeb pages are up: HOWEVER: Due to a submission problem, there are still around 40 or so teams who are to be added on at the next update. A lot of the 2008/2009 crossover needs finishing, the front page needs changing & the team placings need confirming & changing too. Time is at a premium between now & Tuesday, but I will endeavour, having got this far, to finish off the whole initial process on Tuesday, and then it's onto pics/hyperlinks/bios the usual...

Hello, As young Rude Kid has posted on the 2007 thread, I have been chosen, and duly accepted, to run the Derby Dead Pool next year. I'd like to clarify a few things for next year already & also run a debate over some small rule changes for next year, so that by the time the entry opening date comes around, everyone is clear of what the rules will be. Firstly, thanks for the support so far. The Derby Dead Pool will remain under the same name. The Odstock Dead Pool has a ring to it, but there's no need for a name change & being linked to Derby ahs never done the site any harm... yet. The competition will remain free - no admin charges, but any voluntary contributions will always be welcome. Likewise, there will be no cash prize - the competition & the award is for deadpooling greatness, not personal enrichment, and so it shall remain. I can also confirm that the rule over no animals, fictional people, already deceased people etc. will remain. I don't really want to make sweeping changes, as the DDP must be doing something right, but there are a few things I would like to change, and a few issues on which a number of people are divided - I can't please everyone of course, but I can at least take on board people's wishes & incorporate them where I can. So, your feedback on the following will be much appreciated & will help me decide on what changes need to be made for the 2008 (and subsequent years) competition: Executions Famous for being Famous Age Limits Amount of subs Team Entry Limits Obituary Requirements Unique Picks Wallpaper Scoring System Executions Ultimately, I don't really want to run a restricted death pool, but I do know that many players feel that choosing someone due to be executed is a bit, shall we say, against the spirit of the game, if not against the rules, per se. I am open about potential executionees, but if there is a big tidal wave of opposition to allow soon-to-be executionees on the DDP, then I have two options - one to ban them altogether, another to reduce their points score by half. I'd appreciate feedback on this issue particulary. Famous for being Famous I can see what people mean when the likes of say, Dorothy Webb or that old fellow that killed all those people in his car are picked. But as HCW posted on the 2007 rules, make the most of the openess & the rules. Personally, I'm happy to allow anyone to be picked & not change/limit the rules, as otherwise it'll be like the dull & frustrating Rotten Dead Pool. But am I the only one who feels this way? Age Limits If you asked me currently, what the lowest age limit will be, I will say sixteen still. No way is that being reduced, so, sorry MPFC, no 8 or 9 year olds with cancer. But, again, if there is a big sea change that 16 should become 18, I will consider upping the age limit. Again, your opinion on this one will be very important. Amount of Substitutes I would like to make it 3, as a number of us have many good candidates in the lists, only to annoy us by dying in the last weeks of the year. Anyone object to having 20 names & 3 subs, rather than just 1? Team Entry Limits I am aware that I will be taking on a behemoth of a Dead Pool. But that's fine. I like the theme teams, and hope they continue. I also will be having no limits on the amount of teams - if it's 121, or 6, or 1,000 so be it. However, to narrow down the time taken, with processing entries & candidates I have pondered whether I should restrict the entry per person to just one team? This is one is more a thought, than a potential ruling, but I'd be interested on feedback with this one. Obituary Requirements RK has summed up my feeling with this one in the 2007 thread. The Derby Dead Pool will remain British. "We shall fight them on the beaches.... we shall fight them.." ahem. But I do know the DDP has a large global following & I don't want to alienate them too much. Also, both the AP feed & the Guardian newspaper have proved sticking points in the past, so this is my compromise idea: All current obituary requirements remain the same EXCEPT: The Guardian now has to be an obituary from their obituaries page & not simply an AP (or other news feed) on their site. To balance this out, a full obituary from the New York Times will be accepted in its place. Either that, or the rules remain as they are. I can confirm that CNN, despite its reputation, will not be accepted as, otherwise the DDP loses the thing that makes it unique - there should be a struggle for obits, not just wham bam thank you. Unique Picks The one rule I WOULD like to introduce, if I can, is 3 points for a unique pick hit & not just one. I feel those who research harder should get some recompense. Any thoughts/objections? Wallpaper Initially, it'll stay the same. But I have agreed terms with a highly regarded Technical & Aethsics expert, who will act as my advisor in a non-executive directorship. We might fiddle around once all the names are up in the early part of the year. Scoring System I think, generally, this years new scoring system has been a breath of fresh air & generally a success & will, more than likely, be retained for next year. I certainly don't want to make the scoring system more complex - I'd like it to be easy to understand for both organiser(!) and contestants. But again, feedback on this would always be good. Non DL'rs will also get their say. If you want to PM or e-mail me suggestions, that's fine, but for now I'll leave it open to you. A few other things - I will probably be accepting entries in the first week or so of December - that's to be confirmed shortly. Secondly, I shall still be posting on DL, but maybe my postings will go down a little in January.... Thirdly, I will accept Tempus back if he wants to come back. Fourthly, I will still enter the team I had in mind & if I win, then huzzah! But, I'll enter it early and therefore will not take advantage of any good, potential unique pick candidates in proposed teams. Cheers, OoO

Yes, a few teams. VSB, nice try, but I'm afraid a word of a Belgian means nothing in the DP world. Anyway, Dave Burns, my old boss - Head of Airtours for many years & who also worked for a number of holiday companies, as well as being an executive for the Football League (where perhaps he is more widely known) has died, aged only 52. The DDP is getting there now - probably more likely tomorrow than tonight I think it'll go up.

Very briefly, but yes, Hingle is a hit - not unique, but not many chose him - surprising when you consider how ill he was for the last two years & blood cancer. But an excellent start for moi! TH - Cheers - am trying to get it all uploaded overnight with luck, if not by Tuesday 6th at latest. Clijsters was chosen by a number of teams too.

I wouldn't mind entering but as Pat Hingle as already died, I don't think it would be fair to enter my DDP team on this AFTER he has gone. So, in the issues of fairness, I'll sit out. Good luck to all teams & MPFC.

Peter Arundell JOKER Evelyn Dall Basil D'Oliveira Ahmad Fatfat Sir Cosmo Haskard Pat Hingle General Wojciech Jaruzelski Ingemar Johansson Erland Josephson Miriam Karlin Helmut Kohl Stephen Lewis Edwin Morgan John Mortimer Little Richard Wendy Richard Ieng Sary Gloria Stuart Zeljko Sturanovic Patrick Swayze A much toned & watered down team from me, but a lot of the favourites are there... I have very high hopes for Arundell (chronic lung disease), Hingle (blood cancer) and Dall (dementia & other problems) to score well...

Just tidying it all up now.. but well done Devon Death Trip & to everyone else in what was an excellent year for the DDP!

Here, I don't know, but overall, yes.

I don't mean to make it worse... but she would've been an unique hit had you left her on, Handy. No-one picked Rayan, but two teams picked Claiborne Pell. More soon.....

Llewyllen

The only comment I have is that keeping on Eli Wallach is utterly, utterly foolish. But a good list all in all, I suppose.

Hi, Just got back from NY celebrations/stay-over - I've got 150 teams to sort out today, so RA, Deathlist, TMIB, MPFC - I'll be as quick as I can with the submissions. Some very interesting teams, I must admit...

Well, the pick is unique, so I better keep shtum for now. But yes, you will recognise the name

Anyone who doesn't want to post their teams until it's all confirmed, I will try & do tomorrow's bunch asap. But I have a NY party to get drunk to instead! A couple of things to say:- Team-wise, it should be around the same amount again - we may lose a couple of the older stalwarts, but most big guns are still here and there's a lot of newcomers. Less out-and-out theme teams this year, but those that have.. have been interesting... very interesting. Famous for being ill? Well, all the expected suspects have been chosen - Evans, Endersby etc - but not a plethora of them, which is something. One of the most controversial, most personal, yet probably one of the funniest picks of all time has been chosen by one team. Swayze, Wisdom, Kennedy, Fidel, Mags & Kirky D are all popular & will not be unique hits. Neither will the likes of Novak, Atkins, Birch, Cundy & Maurice Allais. Fingers crossed, I'll have 08 sorted & 09 up asap. Thanks for your patience in advance!

Surely, the DL is THE place for morbid thoughts???? If they can lock Robbie Keane up instead of Gerrard and throw away the key, I'll be happy.

Nah, Thornton's immortal anyway He's not an unique pick on the DDP, so I might as well tell you - Stephen Lewis (Smiler) is not too well, I hear.

There will be so much uproar from the elderly, the Daily Mail et al, that it will NEVER finish. Mind you, with Peter Sallis nearly blind and one of the recent more popular cast members apparently in very poor health, it's not a surprise if they do finish.

2008 is not so bad - the computer just awards the points automatically once I enter it in. 2009 is a pain as I have to scroll through the whole list to find out who entered him & Kitt & f**k knows who else who is going to be a complete arse & die before the 31st December....