WHAT'S NEW AT THE O.B.E
MEMORIAL CELEBRITY DEATH WATCH?
(This page reads from the bottom up)

JUNE 13, 2008

Lot's of folks say, "Hey guy from the O.B.E., you're big ass." To that I reply, "Nah, I'm just a little behind."

We'll be updating before the weekend is over. We'll be emailing then too. As we count it we're four deaths behind. Tim Russert! Wow. Who'd have thought it.


JANUARY 9, 2008

By now some of you know that THE PAGE IS UP. THE CONTEST IS UNDERWAY. WOO HOO. The only thing left for us to do is to let you guys know our feeling on how this years picks would pan out in next years entries. We'll do that by posting a list with opinions in the next few days. In addition, we'll comment over the course of the year as people croak. Hopefully, this will get all of you thinking about how you will craft next year's lists (chocked full a real celebrities we hope).


JANUARY 9, 2008

Lists are up. Check them for accuracy of team names and picks. Note the deletions where appropriate. Stats are up. They should be correct. We've already had a hit (Yo-Sam Choi). That will be dealt with shortly. Also, we'll soon (tomorrow maybe) be posting all the picks (including the Non-Celebrities) and where we think such picks will fit in under next year's rule structure. This should give everyone a year to let the way WE think about celebrity sink in before they join next year.

But for now.....

SEND IN THE LISTS

It is a bitch!
Doesn't seem fair!
Entries come into our Pool,
We pull out hair.
Send in the Lists.

Aren't we pissed,
Drinking our booze?
You all find obscure people,
We'd never choose.
What are these Lists?
Send in the Lists.

Just when we'd nailed all of the rules,
Finally making the no names unusable tools
Making this Death Watch again a celebrity throng,
Sure of our rules!
We were so wrong.

Don't you love FAME?
"NO!" we now fear.
We thought that you'd want we want.
Sorry, my dears.
But where on the Lists?
Quick, tally the Lists!
We sure need more beer.

"If they are rich,
Oldsters or queer,
I think that makes it on my
Entry this year?
And here is my List!
You must take my List!"
Aw screw it, more beer.


JANUARY 6, 2008

Well, so much for new rules. After a four hour conference call going through approximately 200 (YES 200) questionable picks, we've narrowed elimination down to about 20 picks. The rest of them pass the rules for this year when we rigidly applied them.

Of course, this has resulted in some pretty wacky outcomes. Some clearly less famous people are in while other more famous people are out. Then again, fame is not celebrity. Bottom line is this. We tried to craft rules to push the game away from the obscure. Plenty of you got it. Some pushed it.

Next year will be VERY different. Of the approximately 200 names in question, we think about 40 (maybe less) would make the cut next year. Folks, unless you plan on submitting truly BIG NAMES next year, plan on a blood bath. If that's not something you like the idea of, seriously consider not playing this pool any longer. It is a CELEBRITY DEATH WATCH. We want CELEBRITIES. If you ask 10 strangers on the street about your picks, a minimum of seven should immediately know them! More on this to follow.

Point is, plenty of you loopholed the rules this year. Next year, no rules. Just our opinion. If the entries are like this next year, the red ink is going to fly.

We'll publish a list of the names we questioned and we'll keep you up to speed on how we plan to guide you through "Our Opinion" to make it reasonably fair to all. However, we're just not going going to have another year like this. Period!

Beer please.


JANUARY 5, 2008

As far as we can tell, the standings look like they're pretty well locked in. Of course, we wait to Jan 10 to make the final announcement. As it is today the winners are:

1)Plot, Plot, Fizz, Fizz - $250
2)Goatsucker - $70
3)One Foot In The Grave - $30

Congrats!

Now what about 2008? Well, we think we're on target for the Jan 10 launch. Many of you took to the new rules like Britney Spears to prescription pain killers and Paris Hilton to no underwear. Thank you! Thank You! And, if it isn't too redundant, THANK YOU!

Other players figured they'd push the envelope. A few simply just ignored the envelope all together. There will be several ***Non Celebrity*** picks. Knowing this, and having increasing frustration over what some folks want this pool to be we are (1) issuing a policy on ***Non Celebrity*** picks for this year (2008) and (2) Giving you a glimpse into what the future holds.

First this year:

The Guys will discuss each and every pick we have any questions about, will apply the criteria as published in the rules, and will make a determination. It will be final. We will not answer emails regarding the determinations and we will not justify the determination to any player. As the rules clearly state (and always have stated) The Guys make the final decisions. That's it for this very frustrating year.

The Future:

Next year the rules for Celebrity Status are going to be simplified from our end and complicated for those of you who like the fringe picks. Simply put, the rules will indicate that your picks must be WELL KNOWN Celebrities who are READILY IDENTIFIABLE BY THE GUYS or who, when BRIEFLY RESEARCHED BY THE GUYS are EASILY IDENTIFIABLE as VERY FAMOUS. This is going to eliminate tons of minor political, business, sports, and entertainment figures who may sneak by this year. If you still want to push the envelope, go for it. Take your chances. However, recognize that if you have any doubts, you're probably going to have the pick eliminated.

Heck we actually had folks who picked people that they tried to justify on their entry forms. What does that say about the Celebrity status of the Pick? It certainly says the pick wasn't Fidel Castro or Britney Spears.

After looking at the over 140 lists to-date we've found plenty of "rare" picks" that are clearly Celebrity Picks, so the argument that our rules will result in a group of 20 to 50 names is, in a word, "bullshyte." Examples include: Tom Bosley, Shane McGowan, and Charlotte Rae. Great picks, not on many lists, and Celebrities! Woo Hoo. Great Job. Well thought out. Why then must we spend countless hours looking up the likes of Edgar Wyman, Jack Weil, and Charles Friedgood (not to say these folks won't count this year as we've yet to determine that)? Why? Because some folks think a good "rare" pick means an obscure pick. No mas.

This is the future of this game. We love this Pool and you, the Death Watchers, more than some of you will ever know. Look plenty of the folks who pick the obscure have been great players, funny people, and folks we really like. The problem is, looking up Edgar Wyman on New Years day just isn't fun. Watching to see if Richie Cunnigham's dad croaks is! This is the future. Embrace it.


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