Derby Dead Pool 2023

[Death Impends 7,364]

Yes, deadpoolers, it’s that time of year again. Even in a world without the Queen, Gorbachev, and an old lady who danced with Obama, the Derby Dead Pool remains everpresent ahead of its 28th year running. After three Decembers of entering 500+ teams, @Grim Up North is retiring from his team entry duties and passing the baton to @Banana. @gcreptile and I retain our committee positions for the upcoming year.

 

 

Libby and Gorby had 24 verified DDP appearances - now only Keith Richards and Holly Johnson are in contention for a 25th next year

 

THE RULES (which also contain instructions on submitting a team) remain the same as before. Emails should be going out later tonight.

 

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

 

The spreadsheet method of entry that began in 2021 remains in service. The 2023 spreadsheet, identical to the 2022 one in all but filename, can be found here. It is heavily recommended to use the spreadsheet as means of entry to reduce Banana's workload as much as possible.

 

If you are absolutely unable to work with the Excel spreadsheet, still make sure to recheck GUN's DDP entry guide thread from 2020 to make the formatting of your email as smooth as possible.

[msc 17,755]

Wooooo!

 

Enjoy retirement, @Grim Up North - you were an absolute star setting up the Cmme, dealing with the spreadsheets and data entry, telling me off when I got too Glaswegian with the punters. 

 

This whole thing would have died a death in 2019 without him. 

 

Good luck @Banana - you've been vetted by the best so I have full faith!

[gcreptile 10,221]

Thank you for your service @Grim Up North!

I'm so glad we got to share the duties and it was such a huge contribution of you to cover that Decembre period in that critical time.

I also expect to pass eventually into the DDP afterlife, but I'm still here to welcome @Banana and look forward to our mutual work on next year's competition.

 

To All: Yes, the Excel spreadsheet helps a ton! Please use it, even if you've never used excel before. You really just have to write in names into the "box", or cell, as these spaces to be filled are called.

[justonecornetto 780]

Bravo to all those involved in running this. I will be entering for the first time, just a quick question about team entries. 

 

Do you need a separate spreadsheet for each team or can you just add a new Sheet for any additional teams?

 

TIA

[Grim Up North 3,565]

13 minutes ago, justonecornetto said:

Bravo to all those involved in running this. I will be entering for the first time, just a quick question about team entries. 

 

Do you need a separate spreadsheet for each team or can you just add a new Sheet for any additional teams?

 

TIA

I’m sending the entry email out later and I’ll put a copy of it on here (although won’t be able to attach the excel sheet)

 

I haven’t covered that in it before but I’ll add as it’s a common question - either copying to new sheets or separate are both fine - whatever you are comfortable with. Now I’ve got a football match to watch…

[Octopus of Odstock 1,855]

Thank you everyone. I would still like unique picks to get significantly more points (maybe as many as 8) than drop 40 as picking an poorly unique is a greater achievement than, say, picking Pele, but maybe for next time.

I will admit, in my first year back, underestimating the influence on the drop 40 on scoring.. not so 2023.

 

Good luck to everyone playing.

[YoungWillz 19,006]

Still sticking with Yahoo as a source?

[msc 17,755]

1 minute ago, YoungWillz said:

Still sticking with Yahoo as a source?

 

According to the rules, yes. Just as well, as the Guardian have been really lax with their musical obits of late.

[Death Impends 7,364]

1 minute ago, YoungWillz said:

Still sticking with Yahoo as a source?

 

Yes, obit sources will remain the same as this year's.

[Dying Probably 541]

Thank you @Grim Up North for your work!

 

Will submit my entry soon - hope it's better. I doubt I'll re-do the theme team though, that was awful.

[Captain Hemlock 638]

Thank you all for your diligent work. This is the gold standard of Dead Pools as far as I'm concerned.

[Banana 855]

Big thanks to @Grim Up North for all the work he's done. I look forward to this new challenge and undertaking. 

 

Hope everything is a bit patient with me as I get my footing. Best of luck to everyone this year!

[maryportfuncity 10,010]

3 hours ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

Thank you everyone. I would still like unique picks to get significantly more points (maybe as many as 8) than drop 40 as picking an poorly unique is a greater achievement than, say, picking Pele, but maybe for next time.

I will admit, in my first year back, underestimating the influence on the drop 40 on scoring.. not so 2023.

 

Good luck to everyone playing.

 

 

Yeah, I think that a good idea too - rewarding skill (or, more likely, luck) over the herd. 

[TheKeysOfMarinus 366]

As with last year, looks like my list is gonna be last-minute and slapdash! Should really do more planning over the year. Thanks for doing this and good luck to all! 

[Youth in Asia 1,023]

Any changes to the scoring or sources should only be made on a quadrennial basis imho. Nice to have some continuity. Looking forward to next year's comp.

[Book 3,343]

Once again a big thank you to everyone who makes the DDP (and also the DL side) possible; to all past organizers, all current ones and all future ones!

Without you there would not be this community, the games, the competition and the fun!  

 

I can only help again with the pictures - otherwise I'm unfortunately incompetent with regard to the technical creation of databases and homepages...

[Perhaps 1,365]

Polite request for the folk gathering pictures for the DDP, could you save the pictures in a format that doesn't mess up the quality (JPEG)?

 

There's some pictures that are more pixelated than genitalia in Asian porn this year.

[gcreptile 10,221]

35 minutes ago, Perhaps said:

Polite request for the folk gathering pictures for the DDP, could you save the pictures in a format that doesn't mess up the quality (JPEG)?

 

There's some pictures that are more pixelated than genitalia in Asian porn this year.

Ha! Well, some names are so incredibly obscure, we have to take what is there. I would hope that of these cases are these rare ones, and it's not something systemic.

[ladyfiona 2,035]

I'm entering for first time.

[Lafaucheuse 3,650]

Entering for the first time too ! Up to 3 theme teams + 1 main team is that it ? Are we allowed to share the name of our theme teams here ? 

[YoungWillz 19,006]

3 minutes ago, Lafaucheuse said:

Entering for the first time too ! Up to 3 theme teams + 1 main team is that it ? Are we allowed to share the name of our theme teams here ? 

3 teams max.

 

I have 1 main team and 2 theme, but you can have all 3 being general or alternatively theme or any mixture in between.

[msc 17,755]

3 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

3 teams max.

 

I have 1 main team and 2 theme, but you can have all 3 being general or alternatively theme or any mixture in between.

Yeah, just three teams. I did suggest ex-hosts with long shortlists should get an extra theme team and you wouldn't believe the Paddington Bear type stares I got in response! 

[JQW 228]

I've got my main team and theme team sorted, but I wont be submitting them until later in the month, as I'm not sure if four of the main list will still be around by then!

[Lafaucheuse 3,650]

Got it thanks a lot ! But if you don't have a "main list" your chances of having the drop 40 bonus are low aren't they ? 

I'll have a main list + a "gay icon/diva" theme team + an "artistic" theme team  

[maryportfuncity 10,010]

27 minutes ago, Lafaucheuse said:

Entering for the first time too ! Up to 3 theme teams + 1 main team is that it ? Are we allowed to share the name of our theme teams here ? 

 

 

That's a good question about revealing theme team names too early. Though I think sharing photos from the pre-season training camp is okay.