Octopus of Odstock

29 AD, I always thought. So, you're only out by oh.. 971 years....

Sounds nasty. Apparently the report says he's having problems with his stitches as well.

Ion Dinca, ex-Romanian Deputy Primer Minister & Mayor of Bucharest (or to put it another way, one of Nicolai Ceaucescu's chief henchmen) has died. Romanian Obit Only Main reason I mention him is with all the furore about death sentences right now, is because he was sentenced to death back in 1990, but later was commuted to life, then release into the wild. The other reason I mention him is that growing up in that era too, I found the whole Ceaucescu regime, revolution and death fascinating as a kid, and I suppose I still do now. Anyway, no great loss.

Well, that more or less sums up how I feel. I first heard of Barzan years back, and after a couple of good years, I think that point 3. is likely to happen for me this year. I was going to post some thoughts, but then saw CP's post and it was one of the first on here that made sense. (quite rare, too ) My team is somewhat of a mistake, as there isn't too much uniqueness about it - maybe a few big names off it but most of it is run-of-the-mill stuff, but it's in & done now. Already I've decided, what with other commitments that make DL & DP'ing really not that important, that 2008 will likely be more a case of naming a few very ill people and bung in a few extra names out of the hat for fun & see what happens. Ultimately though, I can't say todays events have meant any great jubilation. But I was damned if I picked them, and damned if I didn't (especially as I didn't choose J Grove), so.... I agree with Banshees though (another rarity ), I certainly won't be congratulating anyone for picking them, and I, too, hope the winner of DDP 2007 is someone who hasn't picked either of them or J Grove.

Firstly, I e-mailed DDP, as I clearly stated, not the Guardian. Secondly, Bezzerides isn't on my team anyway, so e-mailing the Guardian wouldn't made a difference? So, less of the "cheating", MIB.

Brecker obit - a proper one - from The Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2547420,00.html

Well, I e-mailed them, bringing up the point with the Bezzerides obit (and the other small bits of info re Gardiner & Muhammad) If Rude Kid doesn't mind me putting it here, I think the general consensus is "yes" but it depends on the type of the article - he mentioned he had to disqualify an AP mention of Bobby Hamilton's death as it a) wasn't a permament article (like Miura's last year) and b - not really an article on Hamilton, per se. Ultimately, though, this is still in the rules: "Obituary" simply means an article which mentions the fact that the person has died. It doesn't have to be the conventional biographical write-up. To be honest, though, it makes no difference to me. The Guardian's been doing this kind of trick for some time and I've accounted for it accordingly. Had Wilma Dykeman or Ellis Rubin made it to 2007, my only hope of an 'obit' would've been the Guardian. If I were going to be harsh and bring in a rule, I would say that only an obituary in the Guardian obituary section should count from there in future years, but it ain't my DP. The only reason I say don't scrap the Guardian completely is because one of my picks (Baroness Jeger) is an ex-Guardian obit writer!

You have a point, but I'll accept it either way as Messner will more than likely fall under the same bracket. Either way, Ruth Bernhard has been removed so all is tickety-boo except none of my team have died yet.

Well if they did, they have the points The Guardian newspaper - 1st at reporting the most obscure deaths imaginable

He's got one - courtesy of you know who... Guardian Obit

Not quite, if only Andy bloody diving cheat Johnson had missed. Still, nice to wipe the smirk of Sly Stallone's face - can't say that often about a football game.

Michael Brecker, the famous saxophonist, has died aged 57 from leukamia. A bit of a surprise as I thought he had his disease beaten, hence why I dropped him from my lists a while back. Also died on the 13th, so the first DDP 13th Day bonus goes to at least 2 teams, including last year's runner-up Go Fish.

Well, on that note, Stewart Udall breaks his leg, but is in "excellent health"

Aye, but thought I was in 2005 & 2006 too.... Let's put it this way, he's not been seen or heard in public for quite some time... (I know this isn't always a sign they are near death's door, but considering his political history you'd think he'd say something...) I thought the same was true of Lord Carr until I saw a note saying he was "fine, but now retired".

or you'll do what? Have some bleeding patience man. These guys not only have to put all the teams up, with links and everything, but also keep updated with who's dead, and remove all the dead people from those idiots who don't know what they're doing AND have to do the work they're actually paid for as well. There's 11 and a half months for you to preen at your team selection. A week or two isn't going to hurt.

Initially, cancer. Now has a form of dementia, I'm led to believe. No idea if the cancer has been beaten, but I know he was having treatment for it a few years back. What I do know for sure is the fact that he is on a permament leave of absence from the House of Lords due to ill health, one of only a compartively small amount who are.

Latest from Benny's family & the hospital: Parsons was having breathing difficulties. His doctors performed a scan and found no cancer. However, the original tumor in his left lung was large and the radiation used to treat it was so extensive that the lung is now damaged. Parsons' right lung is healthy and strong, and doctors believe Parsons' body will eventually adjust to having just one healthy lung. But until then, the former Winston Cup Series champion driver will need to use oxygen to assist his breathing. The lung specialist put Benny in Charlotte MC the day after Christmas with blood clots in the right lung and behind his right knee and on blood thinners to dissolve the clots, caused from the aggressive radiation treatment. They have Parsons on complete bed rest and Parsons will be at CMC from 5 to 7 days. (as from yesterday 12-01-07) So looks like he'll pull through after all. I don't know if this is also being reported in the news, but this is direct from one of his oldest friends and is also one of my US motorsport contacts.

Except for Ruth Bernhard, unless my page isn't refreshing properly, which I think it's not, because I've been told Bezzerides is on the front page... Same here with Wilson and selection. Now that really will be bad luck if Wilson doesn't get an obit either. Yeah, Bernhard's still on on the version I have as well..

Yes. Not a well chap at all. Been on my DDP for years, and will continue to be until he drops. Used to live near him and also used to work for the NHS in Bedfordshire (where he lives) so I've known since 2003 he's been ill. Yet he carries on regardless....

Ah sorry, DDT, I've just seen what you meant - I couldn't see the end of the video last night (computer problems). I've only just now seen it again. I presumed wrongly you were asking about the main crash and then it was to do with the main crash footage, as Rohmer received burns in the Muller death crash and was the only person I could think of who would be running & burning. Either way, they're dead now.

Kudos to the great Baboon & Kid. All the stiffs are removed, the Greg Page & Jack Ramsay stuff cleared up before we'd even blinked to check twice. and still nothing for Bezzerides, Smyth, Betty & Hamilton thus far.

8 days in - 2 down, both Italian. Italo Sarrocco is also dead

Read the report, DDT. The crash, which you asked about, was the death of Herbert Muller. The "running man" to whom you refer was Karl-Josef Romer who raced again but was killed, also at the Nurburgring, 5 yrs on.

No. He died instantly. His name was Herbert Mulller, and more information can be found here. The race carried on for 3 laps before Nelson Piquet was pronounced winner. Although the fact that drivers had to pass by ambulance man with a body covered by a blanket is in very poor form.

John Lyall won the FA Cup twice. Ignored totally by the US press. But Walsh will get an obit as the Guardian loves obscure Americans.