Wanna play a game?

Time to make your list for The 2009 SMFML Celebrity Dead Pool

...where you can win a sweet trophy by picking which stars are going to burn out. Playing is easy; all you do is create your own "Dead Pool" by selecting ten famous (infamous) people that you believe will die between the start and finish of the game. There is no entry fee but the winner will receive a trophy. All rosters of 10 celebrities are due December 28th, 2008. Please submit your list of celebrities and what they are famous for- Eg. Brad Pitt- actor. You will not receive any credit for celebrities who die before the start of the game at 12:00am Jan. 1, 2008.

The Rules:

* Pick 10 “celebrities” who you believe will die between 12:00am Jan. 1 2009 and 11:59:59 pm Dec. 31, 2009.

* The “celebrity” must be a living human, no famous animals or fictitious characters.

* The “celebrity” can be from any walk of life, entertainment, sports, politics, crime etc.

* Missing persons are eligible but if it is determined that they died before the start of the game you will not be awarded any points. (If you pick Nathlie Halloway and it is shown she died in 2005, you get no points. If you pick her and she dies this year, you get her points)

* Your “celebrity” cannot be on death row, in a coma or a "permanent vegetative state, involved in a war (Osama is not valid as he is a target of the "war on terror"), or the recipient of a vital organ transplant from an animal or an artificial organ at the start of the game. (A pacemaker is not an artificial organ, Dick Cheney is eligible.)

* You cannot directly or indirectly contribute to the immediate death of any "celebrity" on your roster. (You know who you are)

* To be considered “famous”, the death of your “celebrity” must be published by two major news organizations, eg. Washington Post, New York Times, London Times, CNN etc. from 2 different cities. Online publication counts as long as it is a major organization not a private blog entry.

* Since news organizations love to post the deaths of journalists any “celebrity” news figure must have a national following.

* Names can appear only once on your list.

* Administrators are not responsible for the accuracy of your roster, YOU ARE.

* One point will be awarded for each "celebrity" death on your roster.

* The scoring is weighted. One additional point will be awarded for each year under 100 your dead "celebrity" is. Eg. Billy Graham is 91 and will get you 9 additional points.

* Whoever has the most total points when the ball drops ringing in 2010, wins.

* This year two trophies will be awarded: One for most points and one for most correct picks. (If the same person wins both, on trophy will be awarded reflecting such)

You can keep track of the game’s progress at the official site.

To enter send your list of 10 celebrities, with one (identified) alternate in case someone dies before the start of the game, to smfmldeadpool(at)gmail(dot)com. Make your subject line Dead Pool and include the name you wish to use.